Grading Service Level Confusion - Value?

[scomeau]

Why is speed of turn-around tied to a maximum card value???

Actually, I'm not confused. But am I the only one who thinks that Service Level should imply turn-around time and not be linked to an estimated value? After all, I'm not the grader, they are!

I mean, I get it. The 'top 2' graders want a piece of the pie, but it is a pretty circular concept! "I want to learn the condition/authenticity in order to know an appropriate value, but I have to make a SWAG grade/value first." I think the 2 must be independent.

I have no problem paying a fair price for the grading service, but that cost should be identical regardless of the card's value. If that is not so, then I can only think that less care is taken with my less noteworthy items, and that's not what I want.

I also have no problem paying a premium for quick turn-around. But tying one to the other is simply a way for the grader sharing in the value of my collection. That may be good for them, but not for me.

At least one grader, BVG, recognizes that Service Level and speed are independent.

As long as the grading company (Beckett or other) performs a professional level grading service with reasonable dependability, why in the world would I go elsewhere? Because I can sell a card for more if it comes from the big guy? It seems to me that if there is a fairly consistent perception that one company grades 'easier', then the market will take the grade number into account and factor it appropriately for sales.

Oh, and the 'top 2' have never answered my submitted questions asking for advice as to how to 'estimate'. If I understate my estimate, I fear that my 3.5 might become a 3 if it was a close call. If I overstate, then I waste money (like an altered card that I can't see). If I guess my 1955 Clemente is a 6 as opposed to a 5, then I pay a huge premium. Sounds a little like buying a good grade...

What do you think?

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

A big part of the reason for more expensive service for more expensive cards is the grader's liability while in possession of said cards. If they lose or damage your t206 Wagner or 1952 Topps Mantle they're on the hook for a little bit more than if they lost or damaged your Wade Boggs Rookie.

As for your thoughts about trying to estimate the grade to declare a value, I feel a LOT of people make this mistake, and some people even think that their estimate affects the final grade they receive.

In my experience this has no basis in fact. My declared value always reflects what I would need to be made whole if the cards were lost or damaged in transit and in no way reflect the value I hope to achieve after grading. I have never felt this has negatively impacted the grades I have received and often my declared value has been several multiples lower than the value for the grade eventually received.

[swarmee]

You seem to have an axe to grind, and the rules of the board require you to post your name any time you post an opinion about a person, company, or product.

[swarmee]

And Aquarian is correct, the "value" of the card is based on replacing an equivalent raw card in the same condition, not predicting which grade you're going to get and then submitting for the service level that way. In the case that you submit a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan to PSA and they assign it a 10, they'll contact you to upgrade the service level to cover the additional insurance needed to have it inside their facility.

[steve B]

As long as your assigned value is within reason I doubt there'd be a problem.

I wondered some of the same things when I went to send in the first few cards I got graded. I thought they were pretty nice, and didn't know if I should put the value of what I thought they'd come back as or some other value.

The SGC guy took a quick look and said "mid grade T206s put them down at 100 each. " The grades were all over the place, one didn't grade being cut too roughly the rest were between 40 and 84.

So the valuing isn't an exact thing. But if you're obviously way off, they'll probably ask for more. My in person ones I had done later were like that but also pretty easy. There was a limit for the "at the show" price, and two of the cards were easily over it. When they told me the prices they just said "we can't do these for the show special since they're worth more" Ok then, how much? They gave me a very reasonable price and I had them done. (Might have been so reasonable since the other seven were extremely easy as were the two more expensive cards. And I didn't pretend I didn't know the two better cards were over the limit.)

Steve B

[scomeau]

Thanks Steve. I had a pretty positive experience at a show as well. I just feel uncomfortable when submitting without the help of a consult. I also don't know what their remedy might be if my estimate is off.

It stings when I get an 'A' grade on what I thought was a nice card, and I never got a refund for over-estimating.

Some of my stuff was acquired quite a way back when few controls (or concerns, for that matter) were in place.

[scomeau]

Swarmee,

Thanks for your reply. My name is Steve Comeau. I am a collector and I have been frustrated to have received no response to my questions to grading companies regarding their policies if estimates are out of line. I do not feel that I have been cheated, but I do feel upset when I get a 'A' on a card I thought was fine and I have estimated a fair value. If I could spot all alterations, I would avoid such a problem, but I can't.

I still fail to see the connection between turn-around time and card value. I would rather pay a fair price for their expertise without the confusion with turn-around.

Thanks again

[scomeau]

Thanks Scott. I see what you mean, but I don't get the sense that there is any warrantee implied by estimating a value. Maybe the graders do there best to help customers when a problem occurs, but I don't see where they have any such commitment.

Good to know your experience of graded value to your investment is positive. As a collector, I don't know that would always be true. I try to do my best, but I usually pay close to fair retail pricing.

Thanks again, for your thoughtful response.

[swarmee]

I can see how that would be frustrating. But anyone who sends in an altered card (trimmed, recolored, etc) should expect it to be returned as Authentic, rather than given a number grade, no matter what they paid for the service. That's what 3rd party grading services do. And expecting higher grades for higher service levels seems like a fool's errand to me. If I'm sending cards in, I'll try to get as many cleared under the $99 and lower price $6/card bulk service special as I can. The other ones I use my annual renewal vouchers.

PSA and SGC charge higher prices for higher valued cards because of the insurance both at their facility and through the mail back to you. And they figure if you send in a $2000 card, you want it done quicker than a $25 card.

[scomeau]

Right. I'd never intentionally send in an altered card with a high estimate! I guess some might do that. That's why I'd be pleased to pay a fair price for the grading process irrespective of value.

As for insurances, while in their hands, they should certainly carry adequate coverage as part of the cost of doing business. For shipping, I have always paid the insurance charges when dealing with SGC - either through their coverage or the USPS.

[ctownboy]

I have some cards that I would like to eventually get graded and I also am having a problem estimating their value. The problem is that these cards are rare (less than 5 known for each one) and they don't come up for sale very often.

What do I do? Guess and hope the grading company and graders have more of an idea of what they are worth or give some sky high value thinking that if the cards are lost or damaged, I am going to have to spend a lot to replace them (if I can find more of them) ?

David