Grading of T 206 cards

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Posted By: Jeff 

As I had posted recently, I'm new to the site. I have a huge collection of ungraded NM Topps sets from 1956 on; however, I am just starting to buy T 206 graded cards. I was about to purchase my first graded card on Ebay, a PRO graded card, when I noticed that another card graded by PRO was indicated by the seller to have been trimmed. This was not indicated on the PRO markings/grade. The seller informed me that PRO is notorious for grading trimmed cards and fakes. He also informed me that SGC, GAI and PSA are "safe" to buy from as they will not grade fakes or trimmed cards. Can anyone give me some info on this? Should I just stay with those companies? And if so, what is the consensus on which company overgrades, etc? I'm sure this topic has been discussed ad nauseum on this site but I could really use this info before I drop some serious money. Thanks to all, by the way, for supporting such a great site.

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Posted By: Lee Behrens

Hi Jeff,

Definately stay away from PRO and hopefully you didn't pay too much for the card.

I prefer SGC (whom I submit to), great customer service, fair grading and a nice looking holder.

I think GAI is doing a decent job, nice label on the end of the holder.

PSA is getting scarier and scarier (it's Halloween time so it's scary) about what you are geting. I recently bought a PSA 4 only to find out it had a tear in the card, how do you miss that? Plus all the examples that the board comes up with in there inconsitant grading. Don't get caught up in over paying for there high grade cards.

All the other companies seem to be a crap shoot. I picked up a FGS card that I was very happy with but don't know much about.

That's my experience.

Lee

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Posted By: Jason

I'm new to the board as well. I collect PSA, mainly because they are easier to find on ebay, and for the registry, which of course, SGC also has. I had 12 cards graded by them when I first got my old cards graded, and one of them came back trimmed that I didn't think was trimmed. I also have one in a holder as a PSA 5, that looks smaller than the rest of the cards I have so I wonder if it is trimmed (got it on ebay already in the holder). Other than that, I only felt misgraded on a couple of cards, a 4 that I thought would be a 3, and a 5 that I hoped might be a 6. Overall, I'm satisfied using PSA, though I am always impressed with high grade SGC cards.
PROs ALWAYS look too good to be true. No one can seriously think that all these people would only send to PRO when they had a great card to be graded! Ever seen a PRO 4 or 5? HA HA!
My question for you who have been at this longer than I have:
Have you noticed a jump in t206 PSA prices on ebay lately? About 3 months ago I routinely paid less than $100 for a PSA 6, and now they are easily going for $130 and up. Opinions on why?
Jason

http://www.psacard.com/new_set_registry/display_cards.chtml?rsetid=17743&alltime=no&rank=16&tied=0&requesttimeout=9999

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Posted By: Lee Behrens

Like I warned above you need to watch out that you don't overpay for PSA cards. There are times you get a couple of bidderrs that drive prices thru the roof. I wasn't that long ago that PSA 5's were going for $200. You just need to wait out these bidding wars, they all end eventually. There are times when ebay gets buyers with a bottomless pocket. At that time it's sell!!!!!!!!

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Posted By: Keith O'Leary

I agree word for word with everything Lee has stated.

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Posted By: Mike (18colt)

Yes, in general, SGC, GAI, and PSA do the best job, so if you have to have graded cards, go with these companies.

But keep in mind something that gets repeated over and over and over on this board -- buy the card, not the holder.

Good luck.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

Speaking as one who has been burned by them, DON'T EVER BUY A PRO CARD. Almost every example of an older card we (on the board) see in a PRO holder has been altered. They are the WORST.

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Posted By: Lee Behrens

Send all my pre 1900 cards to Lee for Christmas, don't forget to get his address.

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Posted By: Lee Behrens

here is an example of whaat scares me about PSA grading:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31718&item=2761243956

How does off register and back damage in any form warrant a 5. This card raw goes for $50-$60 at best.

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Posted By: mrc32

EX 5: Excellent.

On PSA EX 5 cards, very minor rounding of the corners is becoming evident. Surface wear or printing defects are more visible. There may be minor chipping on edges. Loss of original gloss will be more apparent. Focus of picture may be slightly out of register. Several light scratches may be visible upon close inspection, but do not detract from the appeal of the card. Card may show some off-whiteness of borders. Centering must be 85/15 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the back.

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Posted By: jay behrens

That still doesn't excuse the obvious back damage.

Jay

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Posted By: mrc32

I think it answers it....

"Surface wear or printing defects are more visible."

"Loss of original gloss will be more apparent"

There doesn't seem to be paper loss, just some scuffing.

My 2 cents

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Posted By: jay behrens

"There doesn't seem to be paper loss, just some scuffing."

that's like a car dealer telling you there is no rust on the car, just some surface oxidation. Unless the card is a Peter's Meats issue or some other issue with a thick, waxy surface, it's impossible to scuff the surface of the card without creating some sort of paper loss.

If PSA really does grade like this on a consistant basis, then I have some SGC 40 and 50 cards that should pull 6s or better.

Jay

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Posted By: Mrc32

I guess we will agree to disagree.

Cheers

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Posted By: Julie

Just thought I'd mention it.

I buy it raw, and if I can't find it raw, I take it out of its holder ASAP.