OK ... so I've joined PSA Grading Services

[whereiswally78]

So what now ... I'd appreciate some guidance here.

I'd eventually like to get most of my GU'ed and Auto's graded; my reason for grading is
(a) Curiosity as to just how good my card is BUT
(b) Most importantly, when I display them in my house, and it looks really, really impressive (a display of graded cards).

I'm not fussed about how long it takes; but I want the card holder and the little report to look cool (and detailed). I've seen some great examples on here. Also, what is the most cost effective way??

Thanks for you help!!

 

[chadjaja]

Just wait. There will most likely be a cheap deal come out soon. Either a $5 per card deal or $10 or 10 days if you can't wait and hope it also covers auto cards. It rarely does though and that costs more especially if they are older autos that psa does verification on rather than just grade.

Submitting a lot at once does cost more but saves in the long term.

 

[WoobieZarz]

Also note that sending "regular" thickness cards, along with extra thick patch cards, etc, will cause some delays with your order.

As far as I know of, you're meant to send them in on separate orders.

Congrats on being a member, and good luck with your orders!!

 

[whereiswally78]

Are there different styles of cases (or slabbing as the term I've seen thrown around)? Any pics would be appreciated. I mostly have autos and >year 2k game used cards I would like to see graded.

 

[graham]

Sorry I missed this thread. You can send Autos from the manufacturer with regular cards as long as the card is dated 1998 onwards.

In regards to the slabs, there are a few different types, depending on the types of cards. The most common one is the one in my avatar. They use that one for the regular cards. If you have patch cards (or anything thicker than a Trilogy Auto Focus auto) they need to be submitted on their own order. They end up in the patch slab (which they also use for packs) These holders are huge, not only side to side but back to front (i will try and get a pic of the back of the holder for you to try and understand how huge they are).

Let me know if you need any more info.

 

[WoobieZarz]

Here's some of mine, might help show the size differences... (sorry for big scans, they pics from camera, not scans).

Both Examples:

Thick Holder on side:
1.5cm thick, 11cm wide, 17.8cm tall....

Hope it helps.

 

[ozguy3825]

How much is it to get a card graded thru bcg or psa? I've never had 1 done but got a few rookies i'd like to get done also how long does it normally take?

 

[chadjaja]

Must say that new PSA holder for thick cards is bloody ugly in person. :shock: :toimonst:

And the rates of card grading is on the two websites for each but waiting for the specials saves you a lot of money. BGS also don't require membership and bear in mind that shipping takes up a lot of the cost of submitting

 

[WoobieZarz]

I actually like them thick holders, they take up a lot of shelf space, but that just means more shelves!! he he he...

 

[whereiswally78]

I thought this post was dead and buried Good to see it's not!

Thanks for the pics and info. What do you all think of Beckett's style of grading, in terms that they break it down to a grade for corners, a grade for centering, a grade for surface etc. I quite like it, and it looks great. But Beckett seems to get quite a "cool" (ie. negative) response around here?

I joined PSA on the basis of recommendations around here, AND from what I could see on their website, they seem a fair bit more professional. Maybe that's just the IT guys that design their website!!!

 

[chadjaja]

The BGS bashing is mainly aimed at their customer service, lies and continued grading of fake patches and cards that have been trimmed. That and their changing the strictness of their grading to conform with collectors wants. First gold labels were very hard to get and therefore they highly sought after. Then collectors claimed it was too hard to get gold labels and they softened but of course lowered the value of them on the secondary market.

PSA are the main choice of the baseball card hobby and I don't think i have to tell you that IT is the main card hobby in the world by FAR. ;-)

Although a lot of high end baseball and basketball are being crossed over to SGC and its my choice as the best there is.

 

[graham]

If you want to see how serious Baseball collectors take their PSA grading, sign up to the PSA forums!

Chad also has a personal hate of BGS after they bent one of his prized cards. Card went in to them in between a bunch of other cards and was pristine before it left. It returned slabbed as below and BGS blamed it on being damaged "in shipping" even though no other cards were damaged. Take note of the big crease through the middle of the card.

 

[WoobieZarz]

I have no beef with BGS, I like their slabbing, but I wouldnt send any cards to them to have graded. I'd only buy something that's been graded already.

Hey guys, does trimming happen to moderm-day cards, or is it just the vintage stuff where centering is usually an issue??

 

[graham]

I have no beef with BGS, I like their slabbing, but I wouldnt send any cards to them to have graded. I'd only buy something that's been graded already.

Hey guys, does trimming happen to moderm-day cards, or is it just the vintage stuff where centering is usually an issue??

Trimming doesnt usually happen to make a card better centred. It is normally done to fix up an edge on a card that is damaged/miscut, or to fix up a touched corner. By doing this, it improves the appearance of the "condition" of the card, however to the trained eye, it is apparently fairly easy to tell when a card is trimmed - something about the way the edge of the card looks after trimming. Sometimes i've seen PSA send back raw cards pulled from packs deemed "suspected of trimming". Obviously they seem to err on the side of caution if a card looks suspect, however there has been evidence i've seen i've BGS slabbing trimmed cards. Perfect example, Lebron Exquisite /99 (?) sent into BGS twice and both times came back 8.5's because of a damaged corner. was sold off, then reappeared sometime later in a BGS 9.5 holder and the damaged corner was gone (not to mention the card was noticeably shorter on that one side! Now i'm led to believe these "trimmers" have fairly high tech equipment (involving laser cutting - not a stanley knife which is classed as technology in Tassie ) which would be required to cut the edge of an exquisite and not damage it. Fairly full on stuff, and definitely not something I condone. It really is against the "spirit" of the hobby. Just leave the damn cards alone!