value of the PSA half grade ?

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Posted By: steve

What is the general thought on the value of the new PSA half grade? Perhaps take a poll on the percentage increase?

Example: T206 PSA 5 = $1000, PSA 5.5 = ?
T206 PSA 6 = $1000, PSA 6.5 = ?
1933 Goudey PSA 6 = $1000, PSA 6.5 = ?
1933 Goudey PSA 7 = $1000, PSA 7.5 = ?

My guestimate is maybe a 25% increase, maybe more, maybe less?

Thoughts, thanks, steve

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Posted By: Lance

IMO, the half grade hasn't lived up to the hype.

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Posted By: Jason L

I have to say that my own personal opinion of these half grades is actually slightly negative. I went into this very neutral on the subject.

I am usually a glass half-full kinda guy (I believe in equities long-term, I am a Cubs fan, etc), but I have to say that my first impression when I see a half-graded card is a half-empty reaction...which is to say that when I see a 6.5 grade, for instance, rather than saying to myself, "Hey, that's better than a 6!" I find myself saying, "Oh, that's not good enough to be a 7."

to stay on topic, I apologize, but I have no idea about the value premium. To be honest, because of my reaction as stated above, I purposely try to AVOID the half grades when I buy.

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Posted By: leon

It seems as the pricing is sort of the same as always. Now a .5 grade bump up equals what used to be "nice for the grade", though I guess that price would be more now?....Maybe one of our resident statisticians will come up with an algebraic formular for us?

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

The best part about the half grade is that the same ebay sellers that insisted upon putting "++++++++" after the grades in each of their auction listings still do it -- despite the fact that if their cards truly were "++++++" they'd actually have received the half grade bump from PSA.

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Posted By: Rob D.

Following up on Jeff's insight, the half-grades have given another venue to those sellers prone to hype. Whereas before there weren't many instances in which a seller could legitimately say, for example, a "6" is a candidate for a regrade (when the bump would require a "7"), now you see the "possible candidate for a regrade" line of crap all time time -- because a half-grade bump seems more possible than a full-grade improvement.

Go browse the B/S/T for proof.

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Posted By: Jimmy

Really only makes a difference with some of the high priced cards and low population cards. I think the half grades have hurt many of the 1950s and 60s graded cards that have a grade of 7 or 8. I think it maybe to early to tell what prices maybe doing until we get more statistics.

Jimmy

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Posted By: Bobby Binder

Made a big difference on the T205 Young card.

Latest Auction Prices for: PSA 8 - Average Price: $18,826.80

Date Auction Bids Price
12/13/07 Mastro 17 $18,826.80
4/28/07 Mastro 17 $23,666.40

Latest Auction Prices for: PSA 8.5 - Average Price: $105,242.00

Date Auction Link Seller Buyer Bids Price Extra
10/1/08 Mile High Auction | Image 22 $105,242.00

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Posted By: Marty Ogelvie

That is a BEAUTIFUL card but 100k??  wowzzer.

martyOgelvie

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Posted By: andy becker

good question.

i actually had this conversation with a buddy last night.
set builders that are working on, let's say, a psa 4 set......they want consistency, would they pay (or even want a psa 4.5)?
i'm not sure they would want one.
versus the person working on a "mid-grade" set, they would probably take the 4.5, but would they pay more than a four? maybe, but if the demand isn't there then maybe they wouldn't have to pay up money.

there may be an buying opportunity there?

i know of collectors building sets in a specific grade. i do not know anyone building a set in 4.5 (or any half point).

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Posted By: Lance

Bobby,
Compared to a certain PSA 10 T206 that was discussed here recently, that T205 could easily be in a much higher grade. I hope it was yours....

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Posted By: Jason L

a 8.5?!?!?!?

I spy bat ears!

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Posted By: Matt Bojorquez

This PSA 8.5 Young and the PSA 8 that sold in the April 2007 Mastro Auction are one and the same. Someone paid $23,666 for the 8, submitted and received a bump to 8.5 from PSA; then sold it for a profit of nearly $60,000(depending on consignment deal). The top right corner does look slightly different now then it does in the Mastro catalog.

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Posted By: Anonymous

Everyone would agree the Cy Yound would be an extreme example.

But if the 1/2 grade adds 50% (for example) to a card, don't forget that the cards without a 1/2 grade will lose 10% (for example). The total value of all cards wouldn't change.

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Posted By: John

the half grade doesnt mean a whole lot to me because of all the major 3 graders i find psa's grading to be highly suspect. i'm not a pre war guy like most of you, and i've been reading this site for about a year or two just for information purposes and entertainment, but i do collect vintage cards from 60's-80's and in the past have purchased several psa graded cards only to submit them to bgs/bvg or sgc and have the cards come back 1-2 grades lower than psa. i'm done with psa graded cards. in my opinion, psa was late to the party with half point grades and waited as long as possible before implementing the new system so that they could bilk people out of more money for resubmissions which i find disgusting.

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Posted By: Brian T.

In my opinion, the half grades will only really come into play for more recent sets when the grades are among the highest in the set. My rationale is that people in the registry game may try to gain a few set strength points in hopes of eeking out the next higher ranking. That way they can claim "The Xth highest graded set on the registry" when selling it (or, I suppose, just for bragging rights).

That is what will push opposing whales to drive up the half points on the upper echelon grades. In general, I can't imagine a 5.5 bringing that much of a premium (unless again a 5 is notable or among the upper echelon on a particular type - T204 Ramly or 1914 CJ for example). In this example, though - for prewar stuff where such low grades can be stratospheric - that is primarily the domain of SGC, so it is kind of a moot point to me.

All in all, I view a PSA 8.5 < SGC 92 (8.5). PSA says as much in their grading scale as well - that the 1/2 point doesn't equal a half grade. As for me, give me SGC any day over PSA.