Grading question

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by sbfinley

The "service unavailable" note is most likely due to the fact you didn't check the box on the first page of the submission form granting them the ability to slab the card(s) as authentic only if they don't deserve a numerical grade. Although it might seem leaving a note within the package would be enough, the form presented with the submission is the defacto "contact" of the service they are providing. Notes can be misplaced or lost in the chain of the service so in the eyes of Beckett, if you didn't check the box indicating authentic grades are desired if necessary no service can be provided for particular items.

The silver lining is that one time I received a "service unavailable" return from Beckett (although for another reason) my credit card was not charged for the particular card. Whether or not the will do the same (or provide vouchers) for you I can't say for certain.

Good luck and happy collecting.

If the card was fake, I am sure they will charge you. If not, everyone would send their questionable cards to Beckett.

[sbfinley]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

If the card was fake, I am sure they will charge you. If not, everyone would send their questionable cards to Beckett.

It wouldn't pop as "service unavailable" if they deemed it a fake. The return note sheet has three or four different issues the card could have that prevented it's encapsulation or the reason the for an authentic designation. Off the top of my head I remember it having service unavailable, questionable authenticity, and altered. I think it has one more (might say "other"), but I don't have one near me at the moment.

If it was a fake card it would pop as questionable authenticity and would warrant a charge. From my experience and hearing from others, service unavailable refers to an issue that keeps a likely legitimate card from being slabbed. In my instance the card in question was a Topps released auto card they released in two versions (autographed and regular) without anything else different between the two version. It popped as "system unavailable" and beckett told me because of the way Topps released the cards there was no way to tell if it was packed pulled or IP. I wasn't charged, PSA said the same, and I eventually had the card slabbed PSA/DNA. I have also heard of Beckett using service unavailable when the card is marked with the player's name. This prevents people from confusing the card with an authenticated autographed example, something I wish PSA did because it's a simple scam people have been running for years now.

[xplainer]

I had sub to PSA last year (in fact, the group I did on here). I had a card come back ungraded and it stated "did not reach the required demensions". It was a Griffey SNES card from 1993. I bought the game new and put the card in a top loader.

Well, PSA deducted the grading cost for that card.