grade or not ?

[larietrope]

SCG wants an estimate of value from the owner before they grade. A way of making more money.
Would you give an opinion of what the grade might be so I can determine whether I want to send it in ?

Thanks.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by larietrope

SCG wants an estimate of value from the owner before they grade. A way of making more money.

Not really. SGC wants to know your estimate of value for purposes of insuring your card(s) while in their possession. All graders have been known to drop, damage, and yes just outright lose cards from submissions. It can be confusing, as yes, PSA does regularly use your "estimated value" to upcharge you on the grading free if you send in (for example) a card thinking it's probably a 5 and you somehow get a 7. But at least to my knowledge, SGC doesn't do a lot of this type of upcharging after the fact. It may have something to do with paying upfront for your grading at SGC, and only when the cards have actually been processed at PSA.

[jchcollins]

Yes, if you know you are going to sell - unfortunately the advice is probably to grade. I'm very down on all TPG's at the moment, so no plans to do that myself. But at the end of the day it's true both that it is 1) Easier to sell graded vintage, and 2) Easier to sell graded vintage for more $. No denying that.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Yes, if you know you are going to sell - unfortunately the advice is probably to grade. I'm very down on all TPG's at the moment, so no plans to do that myself. But at the end of the day it's true both that it is 1) Easier to sell graded vintage, and 2) Easier to sell graded vintage for more $. No denying that.

You are correct, no doubt about it. But I'm not getting any of my cards graded. I do not want them like that, and the few that I acquired that were graded I cracked. My wife and daughter know this and are in total agreement with how I feel about it. I am a hobby collector. I like being able to actually hold them in my hands. I very much like the cards I have, with no desire at all to sell ANY of them. Occasional trades, here and there, yes.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by jingram058

You are correct, no doubt about it. But I'm not getting any of my cards graded. I do not want them like that, and the few that I acquired that were graded I cracked. My wife and daughter know this and are in total agreement with how I feel about it. I am a hobby collector. I like being able to actually hold them in my hands. I very much like the cards I have, with no desire at all to sell ANY of them. Occasional trades, here and there, yes.

I was replying for the benefit of the OP. I agree with you totally though. It's insane how many inaccurately graded cards I've seen just in the last few weeks online. Cards with the wear attributes of 4's getting 6's with CSG, and cards that look like 4's all day long getting 2's with PSA. Most of us here learned how to grade ourselves a long time ago. Like you, I'm in no rush to sell the large majority of my collection. I enjoy the cards for what they are and for the players pictured - not some number on a flip.