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Below is some information that should help you answer the question “Should I grade my cards?” Our goal is to explain everything you need to know about grading cards so you can make a sound decision. If you still need help after reviewing this information, feel free to reach out to Just Collect here or email [email protected] for assistance with grading your cards.
Most people choose to grade cards to increase their value. Some people grade cards for their collection and don’t care about the value. The major companies to grade your cards with are PSA, SGC, BGS and CGC. There is, of course, a cost for each card you grade, which will depend on the value of the card and how fast you would like it graded. Sometimes grading will increase the card’s value and it’s worth the cost…other times it will not be worth it. In the next few paragraphs, we’ll help you explore both scenarios.
Grading cards with the above companies is not free. It is free however in many cases to get an appraisal from professional dealers, like Just Collect. Often times you might have some vintage cards or modern era rookies like Ken Griffey Jr. and after seeing some online prices you now think that you should get them graded. The potential problem with that logic is you could end up wasting hundreds or thousands of dollars in unnecessary grading fees. How is that possible? You’re not the only one who’s ever graded cards. The market may already have hundreds or even thousands of Mint and Gem Mint examples. If you end up grading cards that grade too low they will not be worth much but you will still have to pay for the grading of each card. If you are not careful you can pay for a card to get graded and then find out afterward that it’s worth less than the cost of grading itself. if you do so numerous times (based on how many cards you have to grade) you’re going to be losing money very quickly! If you need help trying to figure out what your cards will grade refer to our condition page for cards.
Another common question is, “now that I want to grade my cards, how do I estimate the value of them and pick the right service to get them graded?” You will estimate the value based on the grade you think that card will get. Our advice is to always to be conservative and err on the side of caution when estimating the grade. The grading company will “upcharge” you if the card is worth substantially more than you thought after grading. However, if you overestimate your card and pay too much to get it graded they will not refund you. So, if you grade cards erroneously that are not worth more than the plastic it’s in after grading, you’re going to be losing money. This is what we have found in our experience being a long-time dealer that’s bought, sold, and graded over $50 million of sports cards.
Can I just grade one card? Is there a minimum? No, there is no minimum, but if you want to grade with PSA, the largest firm in grading, you must join their Collector’s Club. With memberships starting at $149 plus the cost of grading the fees will start to add up quickly—this is why we want to give you information so you can determine whether you should grade your cards or not.
After figuring out the condition, collectors often ask, ‘how do I know if I should grade my cards? Where do I research the value to see if it’s actually worth it to get my cards graded?’
There are a few ways:
eBay: When reviewing eBay, completed auctions (those are the ones that have ended and have GREEN numbers – not closed auctions that DIDN’T sell) are usually the best way to determine the potential value of your card(s) or collection. Being able to match the condition or to extrapolate a valuation parameter will also help you reach a more accurate assessment of the value. But be certain that you are comparing apples to apples.
VintageCardPrices.com: This site tracks daily sales of graded cards via auctions (and fixed prices on ebay.com) from major Auction Houses and eBay. They track all major grading companies like PSA, SGC, BGS and CGC. To sign up for their service you can choose from a monthly or yearly subscription.
CardLadder.com: You can also use this site to find sales of trading cards from eBay, auction houses, MySlabs and many other platforms, including private sales.
If you feel overwhelmed by the process or don’t want to pay too much for grading services, we totally get it. We are here to help you decide, “Should I grade my cards?”
Just Collect is the country’s top buyer of ungraded and graded vintage sports cards. With over 60 years of experience in the hobby, we’ve bought and sold over $50 million worth of sports cards and memorabilia. Contact us today for a free appraisal to find out what your collection is worth!