Grading Upper Deck Exquisite patch auto (thick cards)

kiddfei · 09-02-2023, 08:10 AM

Hi all I have a few exquisite patch auto hoping to grade. All are 130pts.
New into grading and did some research and saw a few early posts debating using BGS or PSA for thick cards. Understanding early UD exquisite cards are mostly in BGS since at the time it was ‘superior’.
though all the cards are for PC I still want to ‘maximise’ the value, since not living in US, it is expensive to grade from here using a dealer.
So want to bring this to discussion. Thank you In advance.
IF going with PSA, I also want to check whether the following making sense?

For the cards I definitely want to slab, if auto looks a 10 then will do auto dual grade.
If auto does not look perfect then do card grade only.

Thanks all.

The_Reverend · 09-02-2023, 08:20 AM

Go with BGS for thick cards. PSA are notoriously harsh on thick cards. Even getting 9’s with PSA can be a challenge.

JaxSportsHub · 09-03-2023, 05:26 AM

In one of my recent orders, I grabbed multiple 10s from SGC on thicker cards including a Waddle 3 color jersey rookie that looks fantastic.

The_Reverend · 09-03-2023, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaxSportsHub

In one of my recent orders, I grabbed multiple 10s from SGC on thicker cards including a Waddle 3 color jersey rookie that looks fantastic.

SGC for thicker cards is definitely an option. I might actually do that with some thick cards I want graded.

49erRCCollector · 09-04-2023, 01:53 AM

I just got PSA 10s on 2 NTs from 2014 and 2015.

Mister2Bits · 09-04-2023, 06:49 AM

I have plenty of thicker cards in a gem mint PSA 10 slab. It's possible but definitely more difficult. Thicker cards, especially those from Upper Deck when they had the licenses are really tough to gem.

Here's a recent example of one. I went with PSA for a few reasons, but the main reason to avoid BGS is the white flip. It makes the whole presentation look terrible especially if it's a card you love.

I knew this card wasn't going to gem. Yet I wanted it in my graded Gator PC. I thought it would get a 7, but it got a 6. I personally think the card looks better in the PSA slab and the only difference in presentation from a 10 is the grade. The flip is still the same. It's also now PSA/DNA authenticated and protected should I decide to ever sell it. However, it would have cheapened the card and presented poorly in a BGS 6 white label slab and also potentially decreased the value more than the grade would have.

The same thing applies to SGC vs BGS too.This Nolan Ryan would have looked terrible in a BGS white label 8. The actual sticker that has the auto is scratched and was worried that PSA would be too harsh so I went with SGC. The card presents excellent on my shelf. Again no white label BGS nonsense.

gameissued · 09-04-2023, 07:34 AM

Ummm.. BGS dropped the white and blue labels.. like way back in Feb this year!

kiddfei · 09-04-2023, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister2Bits

I have plenty of thicker cards in a gem mint PSA 10 slab. It's possible but definitely more difficult. Thicker cards, especially those from Upper Deck when they had the licenses are really tough to gem.

Here's a recent example of one. I went with PSA for a few reasons, but the main reason to avoid BGS is the white flip. It makes the whole presentation look terrible especially if it's a card you love.

I knew this card wasn't going to gem. Yet I wanted it in my graded Gator PC. I thought it would get a 7, but it got a 6. I personally think the card looks better in the PSA slab and the only difference in presentation from a 10 is the grade. The flip is still the same. It's also now PSA/DNA authenticated and protected should I decide to ever sell it. However, it would have cheapened the card and presented poorly in a BGS 6 white label slab and also potentially decreased the value more than the grade would have.

The same thing applies to SGC vs BGS too.This Nolan Ryan would have looked terrible in a BGS white label 8. The actual sticker that has the auto is scratched and was worried that PSA would be too harsh so I went with SGC. The card presents excellent on my shelf. Again no white label BGS nonsense.

Thank you for your insights! What’s ur take on grading the auto or not with PSA? If the auto does not look a 10, will you just grade the card only?

Mister2Bits · 09-04-2023, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gameissued

Ummm.. BGS dropped the white and blue labels.. like way back in Feb this year!

Really? Didn't know, thanks. Doesn't change my opinion. I haven't paid much attention to any thing they have done after they ruined the brand with the Eagle Eye Joe nonsense.

The_Reverend · 09-04-2023, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mister2Bits

Really? Didn't know, thanks. Doesn't change my opinion. I haven't paid much attention to any thing they have done after they ruined the brand with the Eagle Eye Joe nonsense.

The Black Label Scandal was the primary reason many, myself included, lost confidence in BGS. THE worse part was how they tried to hide it or ignore the obvious inside job for a former employee. They were the big dog in the grading market, but THAT and COVID destroyed them. It was their own fault. What they should have done was deactivated the cert numbers.

MavsRChamps · 09-04-2023, 02:35 PM

Never grading thicker cards with PSA again - Got a lot of 7's and 8's in my last submission on them. Got 2 7's on 2009 Exquisite Autos that looked flawless when I sent them in ... Got one back that had edge wear on the back that was definitely not present when I shipped it. It's like the newer graders don't know how to take thicker cards out of a magnetic or toploader correctly. Anyway, grade at your own risk.

kiddfei · 09-17-2023, 06:45 AM

Thank you all for the above posts. Have decided to go with PSA.

Onepocketj · 09-17-2023, 07:49 PM

Good luck. Let us know how it works out.
I've been hit or miss with thick cards and PSA personally. Some great results and some not so great.

09-02-2023, 08:10 AM	#1
kiddfei Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14	Grading Upper Deck Exquisite patch auto (thick cards) Hi all I have a few exquisite patch auto hoping to grade. All are 130pts. New into grading and did some research and saw a few early posts debating using BGS or PSA for thick cards. Understanding early UD exquisite cards are mostly in BGS since at the time it was ‘superior’. though all the cards are for PC I still want to ‘maximise’ the value, since not living in US, it is expensive to grade from here using a dealer. So want to bring this to discussion. Thank you In advance. IF going with PSA, I also want to check whether the following making sense? For the cards I definitely want to slab, if auto looks a 10 then will do auto dual grade. If auto does not look perfect then do card grade only. Thanks all.

09-04-2023, 01:53 AM	#5
49erRCCollector Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 12,793	I just got PSA 10s on 2 NTs from 2014 and 2015. __________________ Will MASSIVELY overpay for: 2002 Fleer Authentix #180, 181 Derek Smith & Zack Bronson AND 2007 Upper Deck Target Exclusive Rookies Autographs #261 Joe Staley #'d to /5

09-04-2023, 06:49 AM	#6
Mister2Bits Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Florida Man Posts: 5,368 mistertwobits mistertwobits	I have plenty of thicker cards in a gem mint PSA 10 slab. It's possible but definitely more difficult. Thicker cards, especially those from Upper Deck when they had the licenses are really tough to gem. Here's a recent example of one. I went with PSA for a few reasons, but the main reason to avoid BGS is the white flip. It makes the whole presentation look terrible especially if it's a card you love. I knew this card wasn't going to gem. Yet I wanted it in my graded Gator PC. I thought it would get a 7, but it got a 6. I personally think the card looks better in the PSA slab and the only difference in presentation from a 10 is the grade. The flip is still the same. It's also now PSA/DNA authenticated and protected should I decide to ever sell it. However, it would have cheapened the card and presented poorly in a BGS 6 white label slab and also potentially decreased the value more than the grade would have. The same thing applies to SGC vs BGS too.This Nolan Ryan would have looked terrible in a BGS white label 8. The actual sticker that has the auto is scratched and was worried that PSA would be too harsh so I went with SGC. The card presents excellent on my shelf. Again no white label BGS nonsense. __________________ Collecting: Ohtani, Judge \| Skateboarding Cards, Autographs & Decks

09-02-2023, 08:20 AM	#2
The_Reverend Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 15,475 islubi	Go with BGS for thick cards. PSA are notoriously harsh on thick cards. Even getting 9’s with PSA can be a challenge.

09-03-2023, 05:26 AM	#3
JaxSportsHub Member Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 188 JaxSportsHub	In one of my recent orders, I grabbed multiple 10s from SGC on thicker cards including a Waddle 3 color jersey rookie that looks fantastic.

09-04-2023, 07:34 AM	#7
gameissued Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,468 gameissued	Ummm.. BGS dropped the white and blue labels.. like way back in Feb this year!

09-04-2023, 02:35 PM	#11
MavsRChamps Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 3,094 purple3252	Never grading thicker cards with PSA again - Got a lot of 7's and 8's in my last submission on them. Got 2 7's on 2009 Exquisite Autos that looked flawless when I sent them in ... Got one back that had edge wear on the back that was definitely not present when I shipped it. It's like the newer graders don't know how to take thicker cards out of a magnetic or toploader correctly. Anyway, grade at your own risk.

09-17-2023, 06:45 AM	#12
kiddfei Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 14	Thank you all for the above posts. Have decided to go with PSA.

09-17-2023, 07:49 PM	#13
Onepocketj Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 22,872 jeflave-0 onepocketj	Good luck. Let us know how it works out. I've been hit or miss with thick cards and PSA personally. Some great results and some not so great.