I am in the process of finishing my Magic collection and since these cards will not be used to play and should be kept in the great condition they're in I want them graded (just until Legends otherwise I'd need to rob every bank in Switzerland).
From what I gathered it is very costly getting a lot of cards graded. Buying the stuff again but this time graded is even more expensive (plus I get killed by the Mrs.). And since I have a lot of unique signed cards that cannot be bought graded I don't really have a choice.
Did any of you grade your parts of your collection? What were the limits you set yourselves?
@Europeans: Is there a place in Europe that grades cards (professionally)? Sending Beta power overseas is not something I'd really enjoy.
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Signed card collector Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Diff. signed cards: 16'451 Artist alters: 828 Beta Project: 2574/2853 Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
You really are left with only 2 alternatives for getting cards graded and that would be either PSA (www.psacard.com) or Beckett "BGS" (www.beckett.com/grading). Amongst collectors, these are the only 2 companies out there that have a good reputation for delivering a quality product. I am unaware of any companies outside the USA that do 3rd party grading of trading cards.
PSA has graded far more MTG cards and they have a fairly thriving community of set builders on their registry that you can contact for possible trades or sales.
BGS cards in high grade (8.0-10) tend to sell for more than the same grade in a PSA holder as they are viewed as a stricter grading company. BGS holders are also much sturdier and look much better than their PSA counterparts.
Unless you can find a person you can trust with your cards, the best alternative might be to just fly over to the US to hand deliver the cards to either company or visit them where they are doing a trade show that they are grading on site. The cost of the flight would likely be less than the shipping/insurance you would want to place on a package plus you have the peace of mind of having the cards in your possession at all times. Both companies have a list of upcoming shows on their websites and I am sure that you could contact them via email.
Personally, I've sent in about 2000 cards to PSA for grading since 2001 so if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a PM and I'll answer as best I can.
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#2 All Time Finest PSA Alpha set, current GPA of 9.60. All cards PSA 9 or better!
You really are left with only 2 alternatives for getting cards graded and that would be either PSA (www.psacard.com) or Beckett "BGS" (www.beckett.com/grading). Amongst collectors, these are the only 2 companies out there that have a good reputation for delivering a quality product. I am unaware of any companies outside the USA that do 3rd party grading of trading cards.
That's what I thought. The old countries don't have this sport card business you guys have.
PSA has graded far more MTG cards and they have a fairly thriving community of set builders on their registry that you can contact for possible trades or sales.
Very interesting, I'll certainly check that out...
BGS cards in high grade (8.0-10) tend to sell for more than the same grade in a PSA holder as they are viewed as a stricter grading company. BGS holders are also much sturdier and look much better than their PSA counterparts.
That's what I heard as well. But as I already have some PSA cards I don't want to mix both I stick to PSA.
Unless you can find a person you can trust with your cards, the best alternative might be to just fly over to the US to hand deliver the cards to either company or visit them where they are doing a trade show that they are grading on site. The cost of the flight would likely be less than the shipping/insurance you would want to place on a package plus you have the peace of mind of having the cards in your possession at all times. Both companies have a list of upcoming shows on their websites and I am sure that you could contact them via email.
Personally, I've sent in about 2000 cards to PSA for grading since 2001 so if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a PM and I'll answer as best I can.
Thanks a lot! Your reply was tremendously helpful.
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Signed card collector Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Diff. signed cards: 16'451 Artist alters: 828 Beta Project: 2574/2853 Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
Why is sending them to the US an issue? Simple insure/certify the mail and if it gets damaged or lost you've got the cash to replace it.
Do you know what that costs? I don't have 10 or 20 cards I'd like graded but 100s...We are talking thousands of dollars just to send the cards (insured letters from Switzerland to the US is around $10 - $20 (normal letter containing 1 or 2 cards).
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Signed card collector Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Diff. signed cards: 16'451 Artist alters: 828 Beta Project: 2574/2853 Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
I came into possession of a high quality beta set and some unlimited power, and finally decided to grade 12 cards through PSA (but am going to grade some more soon). I went through PSA and found the process to be very professional and enjoyable, so I would recommend PSA. Like you, I prefer the PSA encasement and dont want to switch to BGS.
If you are grading 100's of cards, PSA has a phone # on their website that they say you can call and they will work with you on a special deal for large orders.
I would reiterate what tap4black said almost entirely. The problem is that the grading process has a turnaround time of about 10 days. I dont know if you want to sit around in California that long. Same day grading is a much higher price. I dont know anything about the grading shows but the website does say that they try to do one day grading at some shows, so that may be the way to go. If you actually do ship the cards, be aware that PSA does charge you for registering/insuring/shipping your cards back. (My shipping/insuring costs for 12 cards in the US roundtrip was 250 USD. Admittedly the cards were high dollar.) By bringing the cards yourself, you will basically save more money than the trip will cost, no matter how long you stay.
When I got stuff graded out of beta, I limited myself to power, blue duals, time vault. Unlimited: just the power.If you are bringing cards over yourself, it will probably be worth doing smaller rares and even cards like dark ritual/counterspell/llanowar elves, as prices on high grade lower rares/uncommons seem to be pretty high.
I only did cards that I thought looked flawless or had just a tiny nick. I was happy with the grades I got back. Beware though, that centering and print quality matters a lot to the graders and I had some better condition cards with lesser centering get a lower grade than other cards with great centering that I thought werent as perfect condition.
Good luck, its a lot of fun.
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-Thanks to Sharuumatoid
Thanks for this additional input. I will think about acquiring on of these collector's club-thingys they propose on the PSA-Homepage and get the 6 cards freebies done to see how much the shipping (to the states and back) costs as well as time requirements. I doubt it will be 10 days but one can dream...
The overall goal is to get the majority of the early stuff (till Legends) done. And I think I can't afford to do everything at once But then again. Why do that? We collectors need some long-term goals, don't we?
Do artist autographs affect the grading negatively? As I have a lot those I'd like to have done.
What about special cards? Misprints, artist proofs and so forth? Do they do that as well?
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():
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Signed card collector Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Diff. signed cards: 16'451 Artist alters: 828 Beta Project: 2574/2853 Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
From what I gathered it is very costly getting a lot of cards graded. Buying the stuff again but this time graded is even more expensive (plus I get killed by the Mrs.). And since I have a lot of unique signed cards that cannot be bought graded I don't really have a choice.
Did any of you grade your parts of your collection? What were the limits you set yourselves?
@Europeans: Is there a place in Europe that grades cards (professionally)? Sending Beta power overseas is not something I'd really enjoy.
Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Artist alters: 828
Beta Project: 2574/2853
Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
All my stuff in a FB group
Me@WOTC
PSA has graded far more MTG cards and they have a fairly thriving community of set builders on their registry that you can contact for possible trades or sales.
BGS cards in high grade (8.0-10) tend to sell for more than the same grade in a PSA holder as they are viewed as a stricter grading company. BGS holders are also much sturdier and look much better than their PSA counterparts.
Unless you can find a person you can trust with your cards, the best alternative might be to just fly over to the US to hand deliver the cards to either company or visit them where they are doing a trade show that they are grading on site. The cost of the flight would likely be less than the shipping/insurance you would want to place on a package plus you have the peace of mind of having the cards in your possession at all times. Both companies have a list of upcoming shows on their websites and I am sure that you could contact them via email.
Personally, I've sent in about 2000 cards to PSA for grading since 2001 so if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a PM and I'll answer as best I can.
Current Alpha Rare count 1200+
That's what I thought. The old countries don't have this sport card business you guys have.
Very interesting, I'll certainly check that out...
That's what I heard as well. But as I already have some PSA cards I don't want to mix both I stick to PSA.
Thanks a lot! Your reply was tremendously helpful.
Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Artist alters: 828
Beta Project: 2574/2853
Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
All my stuff in a FB group
Me@WOTC
Do you know what that costs? I don't have 10 or 20 cards I'd like graded but 100s...We are talking thousands of dollars just to send the cards (insured letters from Switzerland to the US is around $10 - $20 (normal letter containing 1 or 2 cards).
Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Artist alters: 828
Beta Project: 2574/2853
Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
All my stuff in a FB group
Me@WOTC
If you are grading 100's of cards, PSA has a phone # on their website that they say you can call and they will work with you on a special deal for large orders.
I would reiterate what tap4black said almost entirely. The problem is that the grading process has a turnaround time of about 10 days. I dont know if you want to sit around in California that long. Same day grading is a much higher price. I dont know anything about the grading shows but the website does say that they try to do one day grading at some shows, so that may be the way to go. If you actually do ship the cards, be aware that PSA does charge you for registering/insuring/shipping your cards back. (My shipping/insuring costs for 12 cards in the US roundtrip was 250 USD. Admittedly the cards were high dollar.) By bringing the cards yourself, you will basically save more money than the trip will cost, no matter how long you stay.
When I got stuff graded out of beta, I limited myself to power, blue duals, time vault. Unlimited: just the power.If you are bringing cards over yourself, it will probably be worth doing smaller rares and even cards like dark ritual/counterspell/llanowar elves, as prices on high grade lower rares/uncommons seem to be pretty high.
I only did cards that I thought looked flawless or had just a tiny nick. I was happy with the grades I got back. Beware though, that centering and print quality matters a lot to the graders and I had some better condition cards with lesser centering get a lower grade than other cards with great centering that I thought werent as perfect condition.
Good luck, its a lot of fun.
-Thanks to Sharuumatoid
The overall goal is to get the majority of the early stuff (till Legends) done. And I think I can't afford to do everything at once But then again. Why do that? We collectors need some long-term goals, don't we?
Do artist autographs affect the grading negatively? As I have a lot those I'd like to have done.
What about special cards? Misprints, artist proofs and so forth? Do they do that as well?
Current signed cards count (31.12.16):
Artist alters: 828
Beta Project: 2574/2853
Grand Total signed cards: 42'091
All my stuff in a FB group
Me@WOTC