Crossover v. crack out

[36GoudeyMan]

Its probably been discussed to death elsewhere, but what's the view on crossing from on TPG to another in the original holder versus cracking out the card from the original TPG holder and submitting to the next TPG "raw"? I've noticed (twice now) that I cannot get my minimum stated grade on a crossover, but get it (or better) when I re-submit "raw." Is it a consciousness to appear tougher than the original TPG when the next TPG sees the original holder? Is it the randomness of TPG subjectivity?

[DeanH3]

Its probably been discussed to death elsewhere, but what's the view on crossing from on TPG to another in the original holder versus cracking out the card from the original TPG holder and submitting to the next TPG "raw"? I've noticed (twice now) that I cannot get my minimum stated grade on a crossover, but get it (or better) when I re-submit "raw." Is it a consciousness to appear tougher than the original TPG when the next TPG sees the original holder? Is it the randomness of TPG subjectivity?

I'd say its the appearance to appear tougher than the original TPG. PSA seems more reluctant to cross over other TPG cards.

[jfkheat]

I have sent three SGC high grade cards to PSA for crossover. They all crossed to the same grade, 9, 9 and 8.
James

[Luke]

I've had pretty good success with both methods. If you think a card is worthy of a higher grade, popping it out is the only way to get one. You have to be realistic. If you have a weak SGC 50, don't send it in asking for a minimum grade of PSA 4 because you won't get it (and vice versa).

[pclpads]

Think hard and be realistic B4 cracking it out, if it isn't in a PSA slab. Say it's in an SGC slab and you free it, PSA might return it as A or altered. Then, you've lost value and the orig. grade. If it is in a super low tier TPG slab, nothing to be gained by sending it in raw, since it will surely come back as A, altered, or trimmed. My rule of thumb is if I want to retain value in my PC, I will only buy a desired card in a PSA slab. Takes all the worry and guess work out of it.

[mechanicalman]

My sample size is about 10 cards, but I’ve had much better success cracking and submitting raw, even gaining a few bumps along the way.

[GasHouseGang]

I think you would be better off sending it in the slab and asking for them not to crack it out unless it will cross over to a minimum grade that you feel the card deserves. I went the other route and cracked it out, but it took submitting the card twice before it came back with the grade that I thought the card deserved.

[Touch'EmAll]

Lets say you send to PSA an "in the slab SGC card" for crossover. And lets assume the prior owner(s) have already attempted crossover, or for that matter you have already tried yourself. Do you think PSA has in its data base the SGC card with serial number and is aware of the prior attempts to cross?

[irv]

I think you would be better off sending it in the slab and asking for them not to crack it out unless it will cross over to a minimum grade that you feel the card deserves. I went the other route and cracked it out, but it took submitting the card twice before it came back with the grade that I thought the card deserved.

How easy is it to grade a card that is entombed? My guess is, it is fairly tough if you can't use a loupe or whatever else they use?

The highlighted part just reinforces with me that this whole graded/slabbed card thing is nothing more than a scam. It's too bad as I think protecting cards and having a grade assigned to them is a good thing, but when I read things like this, it removes all desire to get my cards graded.