Crossing over/upgrading T206 cards. Input from collectors would be appreciated!

[t206hound]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

but I do know I'll be staying within the 30 to 50 grade range for now. For me, eye appeal is the most important factor in buying a card, and I can get some very attractive examples in that range without paying a premium the higher grades demand.

If you stay within a range, your task will be much easier than mine... especially now that SGC has half grades.

Originally Posted by the 'stache

How do they (SGC) make a card value determination, though?

SGC doesn't make the value determination... the submitter does. Note that they are aware of T206 values, so you can't submit a Broadleaf Cobb for the wild card special I usually say values of $40-50 for my commons (knowing that most of my cards will come back 40-50).

Originally Posted by the 'stache

What if I send in multiple cards for crossover, and they fall within different tiers. Can I ask them to hold on to the more expensive cards, and then ship them all at once? Or, would I be wise to stick within one tier to ship at a time?

With SGC, you can have multiple orders ship together. If you have a submission with a Cobb that's a three day grade and two dozen commons with the wildcard special at ten days, SGC will ship all 25 cards back together at the cost of 25 cards (and the total insured value). They don't make you pay for two separate shipments. If you have questions, call Earl and he will help you out.

Originally Posted by the 'stache

If I send in 10 commons PSA 3s, can I expect to get 8 or 9 of them as SGC 40s?

I think I did one crossover. When looking at PSA cards... ignore the number and judge the card for yourself. If there is paper loss or creasing (which isn't uncommon with PSA 3s), it probably won't cross. Also note that in many cases a PSA 3 will sell for more than an SGC 40. So, it's probably working against you to try to cross over unless you get a bargain.

Originally Posted by the 'stache

Lastly, for higher value cards, how easy is it to upgrade? I just bought my first Hall of Famer, a SGC 30 Walter Johnson portrait (thanks again, Rob!). If I decided to do a SGC 40 set for the registry, and needed to upgrade the Johnson to a SGC 40, is it going to be easier for me to sell the card outright and buy a 40, or are other collectors readily willing to exchange a 30 for a 40 (with cash making up the difference)? Again, please answer based on your experiences.

It's probably going to be tough to find someone who wants to downgrade. If you had an SGC 50, you could certainly find someone who wants to upgrade and you could downgrade. I did this many times in my pursuit of forties. My experience is that you are better off selling the lower grade card.

Hope this helps.

[t206blogcom]

Originally Posted by t206hound

SGC doesn't make the value determination... the submitter does.

Actually, SGC will do the value determination if what the submitter puts down is incorrect. I've had SGC call me to tell me that, "recent sales on eBay are higher than what you've indicated, so we have to charge you more to grade these cards."

[the 'stache]

Thanks Bruce and Erick. Very helpful.

I don't have a lot invested in the ones that aren't SGC 40, so I might just keep those, or sell them down the road. I still like them as I only buy cards with eye appeal I like. Who knows, I might just crack the non 40s, and keep them au natural, and work on a second set the way they were meant to be. Maybe build up a nice stack of commons.

[drmondobueno]

Actually, Bill, I have both. I began collecting graded cards, primarily because I could not trust my lack of experience to judge card quality, so my HOF collection is primarily graded. The vast majority are SGC. More recently I have amassed the majority as ungraded raw. I find to me there is a certain charm to cards in various condition. Cards with backstamps and names from prior owners have a special appeal, a sense of time and history, a feel and smell that does not disguise the true nature of 100 year old cadboard you lose in plastic.

On the other hand, certain cards look great in the black oversizedSGC holders, such as the lone R312 I have in graded condition

Just my personal opinion, such as it is. And of course tomorrow I may see that last Matty I need in an SGC 40....

Keith