[bnorth]

Originally Posted by ReefBlue

Not really sure where to post this as it covers all eras.

How much of the cost of grading do you apply to the value of the card itself?

If you have a card that you'd value $750, and submit it to PSA, you pay $75 for the grading. Do you consider the card now worth $825?

If you don't sell it for at least $825, haven't you lost money?

I recently submitted a bulk order--$8/card, 103 cards. So that was a $824 submission, plus the shipping back and forth.

The actual set could be bought for probably less than $50. I'd also like to upgrade a few of the cards, which would require yet another bulk submission.

Someone has about 50% of a 1988 Topps set graded, the grading fees alone would be about $3,200, and that is just half the set.

In both cases above, I would think there is zero chance to recoup the grading costs of those cards if the set is ever sold. Plus, even if I were to sell my upgraded cards on ebay for an opening bid of $8, just to not be in a hole, I would doubt they'd sell.

I get that it is a hobby and buy/do what you like, not what you think will make you money, but there has to be a point where grading costs need to be accounted for, isn't there?

It really depends on the set and the grade the company gives it. A modern card that does not get a perfect 10 will more than likely cost you money you will never recoup. Now if that same card gets the magical 10 it just paid to grade several to several 100 cards.