Grading thicker patch/jersey cards (or not?)

edogg · 04-14-2022, 08:56 AM

Interested in everyone's thoughts on how, where or whether to grade thicker cards such as patch/jersey/materials cards.

A couple of things I'd like to know:

Is there any variation among PSA, BGS, SGC in grading thick cards? Are any graders particularly good or bad in grading them? Are any of the 3 slabs better or worse for thick cards in any way (aesthetically, protection-wise), or are slabs for thick cards basically the same as regular cards?

On submitting thick cards to a grader, I have my thick cards in penny sleeves and thick top loaders. Is that sufficient? Tape across the top? Should I pick up some thick one-touches and ship in those instead?

Should I even bother? Thick cards can be condition sensitive... it's one of the reasons I really want them slabbed, but at the same time if my really nice RPA gets an 8, I'm not going to be thrilled. What's your take on "to grade or not to grade" rookie patch autos?

Interested in your thoughts on any or all of the questions above!

Thanks all

edogg · 04-15-2022, 03:39 PM

Anyone? Thought this would generate some comments if not a discussion. Really would be interested in any feedback.

oddstuff · 04-15-2022, 03:46 PM

It's rare that thick cards can get a gem mint or even mint grade due to their thickness. Let that be your guide in terms of whether to grade or not and with whom. Unless all the corners are super sharp, should set your expectation at a 8 at best. I've graded with BGS and PSA and have had some success with semi thick cards like with a simple thing jersey piece but if you're talking about a patch which causes a card to be much thicker and thus the anyone of the corners more susceptible to minor wear, then you may not want to grade them at all and just keep them in one touch mag holders instead. You may get lucky with a minimum subgrades gem mint with BGS (three 9.5s and a 9.0 corner)...but a PSA 10 is a challenge.

yoyosh · 04-15-2022, 03:56 PM

I’ve started to submit some PC cards to PSA. I like PSA slabs and if I ever decide to sell it’s always better to have them slabbed.
like oddstuff said above, it’s rare to get Gem Mint grades
Still in shock the MJ jersey came in as a 10

discodanman45 · 04-15-2022, 04:03 PM

I may be in the minority, but I think that grading numbered cards is silly and the premiums paid for numbered cards in better grades is even more insane. I have seen base PSA 10's go for more than numbered parallels in PSA 9. People's priorities are messed up right now!

I think the biggest thing is authentication and not the grade. Grading numbered jersey, patch, etc... cards is more about authenticating and display purposes to me.

edogg · 04-15-2022, 05:13 PM

Some great points all around. I feel like condition is the big question mark. I really don't know if my patch auto cards are good enough... One thing that's for sure is that the pop counts for some of the RPAs I'm looking to submit are super low. So probably people are holding off from getting them graded. I may just have to pick up a handful of thick one-touches.

DetroitTN · 04-19-2022, 11:52 PM

Prices and perceived values are all over the place and out of whack, but I think they're cool looking and definitely preserved in a slab. I wonder if there are any grading companies that grade on a "curve" for thick cards that have known issues.

YeahBuddy · 04-20-2022, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by discodanman45

I may be in the minority, but I think that grading numbered cards is silly and the premiums paid for numbered cards in better grades is even more insane. I have seen base PSA 10's go for more than numbered parallels in PSA 9. People's priorities are messed up right now!

I think the biggest thing is authentication and not the grade. Grading numbered jersey, patch, etc... cards is more about authenticating and display purposes to me.

yeah well the flip side is it can make the numbered card even more rare based on condition. a /149 card that has gem rate of 50% is then really a potential /75 card ... so it does add value.

as for patch cards graded ... real hard to get a 10. Have to go in with mindset of happy with a 9 and stage happiness the lower it goes. ha.

I dont mind SGC at all, and I dont mind the tuxedo, but I do mind that cards can get damaged when hitting edges up against the black insert. HOWEVER on patch cards the mold is thicker and better forms around the card and the black insert is almost just simply a layer on top. So protection wise I think SGC, CSG and BGS are all good. PSA is good too on protection but not a big fan of how their mold is on patch cards. Least the couple i had.

So pick your poison.

grading wise on patch cards I think both CSG and SGC will be very in line with one another.

UsernameHere · 04-24-2022, 09:50 AM

My take is that for sets that come with the cards encased and sealed, like One and One or Flawless - the cards should never leave those sealed holders. I would personally never buy one that's been graded, I only want them in the original holders.

If you're card is in such good condition you legitimately think you can land a PSA 10, then maybe it's worth it. PSA 10s are probably the only time I would consider a card like that, but I couldn't afford a card like that anyway, another reason I just look at the ones in their casings.

tyrith · 04-26-2022, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UsernameHere

My take is that for sets that come with the cards encased and sealed, like One and One or Flawless - the cards should never leave those sealed holders. I would personally never buy one that's been graded, I only want them in the original holders.

If you're card is in such good condition you legitimately think you can land a PSA 10, then maybe it's worth it. PSA 10s are probably the only time I would consider a card like that, but I couldn't afford a card like that anyway, another reason I just look at the ones in their casings.

The issue that I've seen with these cards - in my case, more with Topps Chrome Black autos that come in sealed one touches - is that the one touch cases frequently come out of the boxes super scratched up. The manufacturers aren't babying the one touches to keep them nice and clean and pretty - they slide them around and they pick up a bunch of scuffs. If I have a nice card and it's gonna be behind plastic, I want that plastic to be clear and pretty.

04-14-2022, 08:56 AM	#1
edogg Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 241	Grading thicker patch/jersey cards (or not?) Interested in everyone's thoughts on how, where or whether to grade thicker cards such as patch/jersey/materials cards. A couple of things I'd like to know: Is there any variation among PSA, BGS, SGC in grading thick cards? Are any graders particularly good or bad in grading them? Are any of the 3 slabs better or worse for thick cards in any way (aesthetically, protection-wise), or are slabs for thick cards basically the same as regular cards? On submitting thick cards to a grader, I have my thick cards in penny sleeves and thick top loaders. Is that sufficient? Tape across the top? Should I pick up some thick one-touches and ship in those instead? Should I even bother? Thick cards can be condition sensitive... it's one of the reasons I really want them slabbed, but at the same time if my really nice RPA gets an 8, I'm not going to be thrilled. What's your take on "to grade or not to grade" rookie patch autos? Interested in your thoughts on any or all of the questions above! Thanks all

04-15-2022, 04:03 PM	#5
discodanman45 Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: CA Posts: 9,787 danch27	I may be in the minority, but I think that grading numbered cards is silly and the premiums paid for numbered cards in better grades is even more insane. I have seen base PSA 10's go for more than numbered parallels in PSA 9. People's priorities are messed up right now! I think the biggest thing is authentication and not the grade. Grading numbered jersey, patch, etc... cards is more about authenticating and display purposes to me. __________________ Always looking for rarer Rik Smits cards and cards from the 2014-15 Spectra Global Icons set. Send me a message!

04-15-2022, 03:39 PM	#2
edogg Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 241	Anyone? Thought this would generate some comments if not a discussion. Really would be interested in any feedback.

04-15-2022, 03:46 PM	#3
oddstuff Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: CA Posts: 5,170	It's rare that thick cards can get a gem mint or even mint grade due to their thickness. Let that be your guide in terms of whether to grade or not and with whom. Unless all the corners are super sharp, should set your expectation at a 8 at best. I've graded with BGS and PSA and have had some success with semi thick cards like with a simple thing jersey piece but if you're talking about a patch which causes a card to be much thicker and thus the anyone of the corners more susceptible to minor wear, then you may not want to grade them at all and just keep them in one touch mag holders instead. You may get lucky with a minimum subgrades gem mint with BGS (three 9.5s and a 9.0 corner)...but a PSA 10 is a challenge.

04-15-2022, 03:56 PM	#4
yoyosh Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: USA Posts: 4,398 partyauctions yoyosh	I’ve started to submit some PC cards to PSA. I like PSA slabs and if I ever decide to sell it’s always better to have them slabbed. like oddstuff said above, it’s rare to get Gem Mint grades Still in shock the MJ jersey came in as a 10

04-15-2022, 05:13 PM	#6
edogg Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 241	Some great points all around. I feel like condition is the big question mark. I really don't know if my patch auto cards are good enough... One thing that's for sure is that the pop counts for some of the RPAs I'm looking to submit are super low. So probably people are holding off from getting them graded. I may just have to pick up a handful of thick one-touches.

04-19-2022, 11:52 PM	#7
DetroitTN Member Join Date: Mar 2022 Posts: 556	Prices and perceived values are all over the place and out of whack, but I think they're cool looking and definitely preserved in a slab. I wonder if there are any grading companies that grade on a "curve" for thick cards that have known issues.

04-24-2022, 09:50 AM	#9
UsernameHere Member Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: NC Posts: 159 kr0_0kd	My take is that for sets that come with the cards encased and sealed, like One and One or Flawless - the cards should never leave those sealed holders. I would personally never buy one that's been graded, I only want them in the original holders. If you're card is in such good condition you legitimately think you can land a PSA 10, then maybe it's worth it. PSA 10s are probably the only time I would consider a card like that, but I couldn't afford a card like that anyway, another reason I just look at the ones in their casings.