Buying Graded Cards. My Question is...

[Basketball B]

If you're buying a vintage card, if it's PSA graded 6, I'm assuming that holds more weight than a 6 grade from one of the other grading services. Am I right about that? (I'm still new to all this grading stuff).

Follow up question. Can someone use an example of how much say...a 1969 Topps Elgin Baylor tallboy card...would sell for if it were PSA 6 vs SGC 6.

Thanks.

[mjohnatgt]

It's a good thing PSA lists sale price information of their cards on their website, it's easy for you to look up. Other services make you use eBay sold listings, or PWCC's marketplace archive, or pay for VCP information.

Yes, PSA will normally sell for more than other companies, but it's completely based on their advertising power compared to their actual competence as the market leader.

[hauntedcomputer]

Originally Posted by Basketball B

If you're buying a vintage card, if it's PSA graded 6, I'm assuming that holds more weight than a 6 grade from one of the other grading services. .

"holds more weight," no.

"Brings more money most of the time," yes.

In my experience, in vintage cards I have owned in the same grade from different companies, SGC is almost always significantly better than the PSA equivalent and BVG tends to be noticeably lesser in condition.

Buy the card, not the grade. Buying nice SGCs at a perceived discount can be a great way to build a collection on a budget (as long as you are not a flipper or reseller and just want to mainly PC).

I secretly have a hunch SGC's better grading will result in a premium in the far future, but the sheer tsunami of PSA may prevent that, and also people are irrational and markets are always right. Still, all in all, I'd rather have nicer condition cards than simply "the better grades."

[Randallk34]

Tree Fitty

[Randallk34]

That's the example you use LOLOLOL

Why not just ask how much you should sell your card for or how much you should pay for this card

[Basketball B]

I have those cards, yes...but not graded. I could have used ANY vintage card as an example, as I have every one. I don't have a single card graded.
I was just curious, and people gave me some good answers.

[GeechQuest]

Originally Posted by hauntedcomputer

"holds more weight," no.

"Brings more money most of the time," yes.

In my experience, in vintage cards I have owned in the same grade from different companies, SGC is almost always significantly better than the PSA equivalent and BVG tends to be noticeably lesser in condition.

Buy the card, not the grade. Buying nice SGCs at a perceived discount can be a great way to build a collection on a budget (as long as you are not a flipper or reseller and just want to mainly PC). I secretly have a hunch SGC's better grading will result in a premium in the far future, but the sheer tsunami of PSA may prevent that, and also people are ittational and markets are always right. Still, all in all, I'd rather have nicer condition cards than simply "the better grades."

I believe this too. But there is a caveat.

SGC green label slabs. My memory isn't what it was, but I do seem to remember PSA hiring away the seasoned SGC graders at one point back in the day.

[Deadshot]

I'm going to use the 1969 Kareem rookie and Card Ladder data as an example. They don't have as many samples of the Baylor in their system. That doesn't mean every card will follow that same trend, but it might be a starting point for you.

Current values via CL
PSA 7: $8,283.77 (41 sales in 2021)
SGC 7: $8,143.29 (11 sales in 2021)
BVG 7: $3,158.93 (only 4 sales in 2021)

If I had a raw Kareem around that grade right now...for the price and time differential, I would be sending it to SGC. I also like how the holders look with vintage. Here's a Kareem I sent to them in June of 2020. Not quite the same condition lol...but I'm proud of it nonetheless.

[Nomad]

The above is a phenomenon that really mystifies me. Any super low grade card looks better to me raw than slabbed in plastic. And it would hardly be faked in that condition, which is (I guess?) the purpose of submitting.

[Deadshot]

There are plenty of low-grade fakes out there of desirable cards. But as I mentioned in the post, I like the look of the SGC holders with vintage cards. It doesn't have to be mystifying...it's simply a preference you don't share.

[nbahobbyaddict]

Originally Posted by hauntedcomputer

"holds more weight," no.

"Brings more money most of the time," yes.

this ^^^^^^

[Basketball B]

Deadshot...thanks for that perfect example.

Great point about how it looks once it's graded, too.

[grade]

I thought all your cards are PSA 10 gem mints?
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1483870

Anyway, happy new years everyone. May 2022 heal the earth .

[rifleman69]

Originally Posted by Basketball B

Deadshot...thanks for that perfect example.

Great point about how it looks once it's graded, too.

Back for more pain!

[ReggieBush22]

Anything pre-1980, I trust SGC most. As a matter of fact, I trust SGC's consistency across the board but they do sell for less than PSA for modern stuff. But vintage, I think you get much better bang for your buck with SGC over PSA. BGS isn't even in the discussion for me.

[Stackfan]

Buy the card… not the grade.

At this point, I typically stay away from PSA mainly due to the paying more for the same card. Vintage I’ll be more flexible with PSA. I’ve got several BVG cards in lower grades that are in better condition than higher PSA grades for the same card. SGC seems like the best value now.

[sportzking]

I would say buy what you like and what you can afford to add to a collection.

But I try to go with PSA for vintage. Maybe I'm overthinking it but I'm not that young and will eventually have to let my collection go. Even though it may cost more now, having a possible higher return when selling it later on gives a better peace of mind.

[Yankees2020]

PSA is king!

[hauntedcomputer]

Originally Posted by Deadshot

I'm going to use the 1969 Kareem rookie and Card Ladder data as an example. They don't have as many samples of the Baylor in their system. That doesn't mean every card will follow that same trend, but it might be a starting point for you.

Current values via CL
PSA 7: $8,283.77 (41 sales in 2021)
SGC 7: $8,143.29 (11 sales in 2021)
BVG 7: $3,158.93 (only 4 sales in 2021)

yikes. I sold a BVG 7 Lew for around 7000 last year if I remember the price correctly. Whew...

In truth it was PSA 6 level worthy.

There's also something to the new PSA premium--it is costing more to grade them so sellers will want to pass those costs on, which you're not getting with SGC. But also PSA seems to be grading tougher in my experience, so older slabs should be looked at with a discerning eye.

In short, reinforces Buy The Card Not The Grade. That's one reason there are big price differences in cards even with the same grade from the same company, as well as timing, individual preferences over centering vs. color vs. corners, etc..