Hi All - Newbie - Got Some questions

[Archive]

Posted By: Bob Marquette

a) In light of this grading debacle, which has in my opinion done nothing but add more confusion to the quality issue, do you guys feel that getting these cards graded really adds to the "value" of them?

Yes, definitely. Reassures buyers that the cards are not altered (even though they may be). Buyer reassurance means more bucks.

b) Is the value that it does add substantial and inline with the pricing guide found on t206 museum?

Don't know, don't hang out in that museum.

c) As a buyer, how should the price i am willing to pay be affected by the fact that a card is ungraded.

It depends on the card. I know that is a general answer but certain cards are going to bring major interest and major bidding regardless of the fact that they are raw. Caramel (E92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105, 106, 107 all come to mind)cards definitely.

d) And who do you think does the best job with VINTAGE cards? ... not the topps from the 50-60's but the old ones!

SGC holders are the best. They are also probably the toughest graders. GAI may be a little more consistent though.

e) Are condition standards consistent throughout some of the different issues? For example, my pride and joy is my e90-1 joe jackson card. If i had to grade it relative to other t206 cards, i'd say it would probably come in somewhere around a 2 or 3, but maybe even a 1. However, of the other examples i've seen of the card, i consider it to be in relatively good shape. Also, one of my graded w514 cards is considerably nicer than my PSA5 Orth, but it recieved the same grade, granted it is from another company.

Well, yes standards are the same, but some sets have really condition sensitive cards like E98s and you find the highest graded of some of the players in the set are only SGC 50s and 60s.

f) My biggest concern when buying these cards is the trimming issue, i have purchased a magnifying glass to bring with us to help, but at the end of the day, short of bringing them to these experts at the grading companies, or a few of our friends at the National that we attend, how do you really tell if it has been trimmed?

I don't think anyone can be 100% sure, not even the Big 3 grading companies. They only give their gut feelings based on their inspection. I have seen trimmed cards holdered in all 3 company's slabs and what I considered to be unaltered cards rejected by them. I think most collectors of vintage cards who have been at it a while and have seen and handled a lot of cards can make judgments as good (or better) than some of the grading services.