Why and with conditions would you grade a card

[AMBST95]

I think grading serves many benefits. I too enjoy the extra physical protection it provides my cards. In addition, since the majority of purchases are made online, I enjoy the 2nd opinion that the TPG provides, particularly on higher valued items. I would hope that I can spot a fake, but we're all human and in my mind, 2 sets of eyes is better than one. Lastly, if and when I go to sell my collection or my kids liquidate it after I'm gone, it will be harder for them to get swindled. I also like having my cards in the registries as another back up for insurance purposes.

[Jlighter]

Another thing for insurance purposes. I would have to believe it would be easier to say I have a WaJo PSA 5 vs. saying I have an VG-EX WaJo. Since self grading is very subjective the insurance company would probably hold a TPG in a higher regard.

[Scott T]

I am an OCD collector that likes all of my cards (in a certain collection) to have been graded by the same company for uniformity's sake.

[tonyo]

In the 3+ years since I've started collecting again in the TPG era, I've only considered having 3 cards graded:

1. an expensive (for me) card I bought raw a couple of years ago that now I'm suspecting may be a reprint. I'd like to know with some degree of certainty if it is "real" or not

2. A raw card I bought as a "probable reprint" (at a reprint price) that looks and feels like all the other cards I have in the set. I'm curious if I got a bargain on that card or if it is infact a reprint. If I send card #1 in, I'll probably let this one tag along just to see.

3. an expensive (for me) card that I bought in a BCCG holder. From what I gather, being in a BCCG holder should mean it is authentic, but beyond that, it would be nice to have it in a more respected holder to verify it is infact real and unaltered. I'll let it tag along with #1 and #2 if I pull the trigger on those.


Tony

[hammer]

Value.

[Paul S]

For an open market such as ebay i'd have it graded for value and buyer confidence. For something such as the bst where there is mutual trust between myself and a board member, i might keep it raw -- even for a pricier card -- and come to a fair market value. Virtually all my stuff is raw but i'm not a stickler about it, it's just the way i bought them. (If I bought a graded card I likely would not break it out).

[freakhappy]

Value, looks, and protection. Those are the three main reasons I currently use grading companies. Another reason that was mentioned was for insurance purposes and if you would pass your cards onto your children that they would be able to sell them or find the value more easily and not get duped.

I've dropped my cards more than once and although it sucks when you damage a slab, I'd rather have a crack or chip to the slab versus a card that gets significantly damaged because it was only in a top loader and fell out. I actually had this happen to me once...I was taking my autographed postcards over to a friends house and I had them in a box. When I got out of my car, for some reason the box slipped and I dropped them on his driveway. I was pissed to say the least, but the only damage was to about ten slabs and it was minor chipping along the edges of the slabs. Sucked that the slabs had damage, but the cards were unscathed.

Although I prefer graded, I respect everyone's preference for whatever reason.

[kmac32]

Looks and protecting the card period