Why and with conditions would you grade a card

[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

[drc]

I would say where it would markedly increase resale value/sellability, where you want a second opinion about authenticity/alterations, and often where it's a real expensive card.

[steve B]

I've started sending in some of mine. Slowly, but eventually I may do all the old stuff.
When I started I figured I'd just send in the few really nice ones. The value difference between raw and graded is more than the grading when SGC runs a special. I figure I don't really need it for the onew with huge creases or missing bits, I know they're poor and so will just about anyone else.

Once I did a few I kinda liked it. It's sort of like buying the card all over again and fun to see ones I picked as being especially nice do well. I'm now thinking about doing many more than I'd planned. Mostly the few tougher cards that aren't in good condition, maybe even the VG cards. Although I've got a bit of registryitis - My average grade is up there, and part of me enjoys that. I know it's silly, but for now it's cool.

I think the registry as a serial numbered catalog of the collection is useful.
And if my daughters don't like cards eventually there will be some benefit to the grades. Available pricing through something like VCP, and buyers wouldn't have to wonder if the cards are real/real but altered/fake so the selling would be easier.

Oddly I don't think the slabs really protect the card much better than a sleeve and toploader, at least for older thinner stuff. Sure it will protect a bit better against a bit of abuse, but I don't really do much to my cards that a toploader won't protect them from. (The 2 1/2 year old though.....All she gets are graded and stuff like 88 score. There's hope though since she's declared both T205s and T206s to be "very pretty")

Steve B

[Matthew H]

If I were planning to sell a card that was worth more than 1k I might get it slabbed. It depends on the issue.