New to graded cards... any advice?

[VizquelCollector.com]

Looking for a little advice on buying high-graded cards. I only have a few Vizquel rookies and decided I'd finally start to add a few more here and there. As a player collector, I really enjoy chasing variations (think Pacific) but don't want to buy junk. I should stick with PSA and BGS, right? Are BCCG or SGC worth considering as well? Aside from eBay, where to look? I don't think I want to get into the game of submitting my own cards for grading. (Spending $$$ and getting back a bunch of 8's and 9's)

Other helpful advice would be much appreciated!

 

[ThoseBackPages]

Yes, stick to BGS and PSA

But if you're starting from scratch, I'd pick one or the other, and stick with it.

eBay is your best bet. Some of those eBay sellers have their own website.

If you go with PSA, theres a message board pretty much dedicated to PSA.

 

[VizquelCollector.com]

Good to know, thanks!

What do I need to know about bags and boxes for these?

 

[ASTROBURN]

I recently started goin for Graded rookies of Bagwell, and after consulting the fcb masses i decided to stick with PSA. I'm 3 cards in, and i'm happy with the PSA slabs.

 

[olerud363]

Just to add to the PSA and eBay thought, try seller "4 sharp corners". They sell high grade PSA.

For storage you can buy graded card sleeves that are just a bigger version of team set bags. Definitely use these to keep the slabs from getting scuffed.

Sent using the Freedom Card Board mobile app.

 

[bobthewondercat77]

IMO:

PSA -- more consistent grading, better community
BGS -- nicer slabs.

 

[Nate Colbert 17]

SGC is a good bet for vintage, but I'd stick to PSA and BGS (not BCCG) for modern cards.

Avoid lower end companies such as PRO, ISA, etc.

Good luck.


Sent from my SGH-T759 using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[VizquelCollector.com]

It seems like prices for PSA 10's are all over the place, even for pretty common cards. You might be able to get one as low as $6 or $7, but others are 2x or 3x that. What would you guess is a fair price for a PSA 10 of an average common Vizquel card?

 

[byronscott4ever]

A lot of graded stuff depends on how many high grades there are and how many set collectors are chasing the set

 

[RStadlerASU22]

A lot of graded stuff depends on how many high grades there are and how many set collectors are chasing the set

This is accurate... I had thought about doing Clark graded, but now only want his 86-87 stuff. But I do look at the listings and what sells. If I were you I'd go to psacard.com , the pop report, and do the run down of Vizquel. You can gauge the ones that should sell for less based on higher pop etc and on the low pops maybe wait it out more. Overall I would pay more than $10 on the base cards. It's an expensive project

Ryan

 

[smapdi]

SGC is fine, along with PSA and BGS/BVG. You will hear horror stories about all 3 companies with the quality of their services, but by and large they are all OK. SGC has some devotees who swear by them, but they seem to the Nintendo of that segment of the hobby compared to PSA's Xbox and BGS's Playstation. SGC's odd grading scheme seems to throw people off as well. *** is another player, but their reputation seems sketchier. Or at least they're just the smallest fish in the pond (like a smartphone app).

BCCG is the ghetto version of Beckett grading, and they are very suspect. I've heard several stories of dealers being offered grades for prices. And while their labels look similar to BGS, the grades aren't. A BCCG 10 is "Mint or Better," while a Mint card from BGS is a 9. And they do not stand by their grading; a BCCG 10 is not guaranteed to cross over to a BGS 9. I have purchased 1 or 2 BCCG cards in person because I could see that they were legitimately nice cards, but I just cracked them out.

PRO and any other brand isn't really worth it. Too many stories of dealers buying grades, grading trimmed/touched up cards, or just unreliable grading. CSA used to be good a long time ago before slabbing really took off, but it's been so long it's hard to tell a legit CSA grade anymore.

Where to look depends on what you're looking for. Ebay is probably the best place in general for everything as far as variety and the chance to pick up good deals. But if you're looking for some older stuff, like up through the 80s, especially if you're into set building, check out the PSA boards, especially the Set Registry forum. Some tremendously experienced and knowledgeable people there, as well as people who grade a ton of cards and can give you good deals. You can request a Vizquel set be added to the Set Registry, which will highlight your collection, and might draw attention to your goals (though it hasn't helped my Bake McBride collection).

As far as pricing, like anything else, it depends on what the seller wants to get and who is willing to pay that much. I've bought many graded cards for less than the grading fees+price of card, but I've also paid the premium for a good card that doesn't have very many graded so high. By and large, they follow normal pricing trends, maybe with a little more for BGS 9.5/PSA 10, and a little less for 8/8.5. So it's whatever you're comfortable with. 1/1s are still going to be tough to find. A 1/1 graded a 7 might deter you a little more than if it was raw, but it might not.

All that said, you want to buy the card, not the grade. You won't be in the market too long before you see a significant variation in quality within the same grade, so just pick the right card for you. I built a PSA-graded 1975 Topps set that's 97% 8s with a few 9s, and you'd be amazed at the variety of condition within those 660 cards.

 

[BenG76]

I really prefer PSA myself. I have a few SGC and BGS graded cards and I don't really care for the holders. I would recommend picking one and sticking with it. It also seems to me PSA commands a higher price over the others. There are exceptions to this but it seems to hold true from what I have noticed.