Found a forgotten '96 Finest Refractor Kobe #74 in my basement

[mellofello]

I can’t believe I forgot that I owned some decent basketball cards. I bought them about 20 years ago and stored them away. I have moved several times, so I am lucky that it was not lost or thrown away. Recently I was cleaning my basement and found a BGS box labeled "baseball cards keep, worth $$$." Some notable cards inside are 2 ungraded '86 fleer Jordan stickers, 1 ungraded '86 fleer Karl Malone rookie, and 1 BGS 9 '96 finest refractor Kobe #74. The best part is the Kobe is .5 away from a 9.5.

I have been absent from this hobby for nearly two decades and man have things changed. Grading prices and turn-around times are ridiculous. The point of this post is to ask for advice on how to mail in these cards for grading and regrading? What has been your recent experiences between the difference in turn-around time for Premium versus Express services? What are the actual turn-around for the Standard service? How much shipping insurance should I purchase? Do I ship USPS priority or express? I saw recent eBay sales of the Kobe for $37K and $50K, so do I purchase shipping insurance for those recent sale prices? And then there is the shipping and insurance to mail it back. My goal is not to overpay for unnecessary shipping, insurance, and grading fees.

What are your experiences with BGS 9 and PSA 9 resale prices? Are they still comparable? 20 years ago, I remember BGS 9s produced slightly higher resale values than PSA 9s.

And lastly, the market is so hot right now, would you keep these cards or would you sell them? How much more can these prices go up? Do you sense a market correction in the next 1-2 years?

[shu4040]

1. awesome, congrats. post some pictures!



2. to get that much insurance you have to ship registered usps i believe



3. try and cross to a PSA 9. do minimum grade of 9 for sure, don't risk them cracking it and coming back an 8. The BGS 9 is better than a PSA 8, but much worse these days (even with the good subs), than a PSA 9



Don't do standard service. it hurts but i'd say submit with the $500 service level up to $10K, they'll likely upcharge you regardless and times are pretty quick (maybe 10 days or 2 weeks)



my 2 cents

[sethc1020]

For shipping use registered mail through usps, its the safest way to ship, not the fastest but worth the extra time.

[Bob824]

I just want to say, congratulations. Excellent foresight to label the box "$$$" because that is certainly what you have now. Welcome to the forum.

Oh, and if the cards were mine, I would grade the Jordans and sell ONE.

[mellofello]

Originally Posted by shu4040

1. awesome, congrats. post some pictures!



2. to get that much insurance you have to ship registered usps i believe



3. try and cross to a PSA 9. do minimum grade of 9 for sure, don't risk them cracking it and coming back an 8. The BGS 9 is better than a PSA 8, but much worse these days (even with the good subs), than a PSA 9



Don't do standard service. it hurts but i'd say submit with the $500 service level up to $10K, they'll likely upcharge you regardless and times are pretty quick (maybe 10 days or 2 weeks)



my 2 cents

Thanks for the useful advice @shu4040. What happened to BGS in the last 20 years that a PSA 9 resells for more now than a high graded BGS 9? I read about a huge scandal involving PSA and PWCC and I would assume that would have hurt PSA's rep.

I would like to post pics, but I am new to this forum and I do know know how to add pics. I do not see the typical option to click a "browse" or "upload" button, then find the pics on my pc and upload.

[kobebeast2020]

use imgbb.com to upload and post the link (bb code full linked) real easy

[sonic311]

Congrats on the found/forgotten treasures and welcome to the boards.
You have a lot of catching up to do in regards to the state of the hobby and grading my friend. There are a lot of good reads on this board that will bring you up to speed.
If you decide to move the Kobe Refractor I'd be interested. My main PC is Kobe and the Finest RC refractor is one of the cards I always regret not getting.

[Totalpackage]

Nice found! You can cash them for a new car if you like.

[mc1]

For the Kobe youll have to spend $500-1000 to get it slabbed by PSA.

You can upload to imgur and link photos here.

[magmaster21]

You'll now find that PSA 9s are now even preferred to BGS min 9.5s

[Eagle]

Wow congrats on the foresight and ability to not lose this treasure.

[DajuanWagner]

Originally Posted by mellofello

Thanks for the useful advice @shu4040. What happened to BGS in the last 20 years that a PSA 9 resells for more now than a high graded BGS 9? I read about a huge scandal involving PSA and PWCC and I would assume that would have hurt PSA's rep.

I would like to post pics, but I am new to this forum and I do know know how to add pics. I do not see the typical option to click a "browse" or "upload" button, then find the pics on my pc and upload.

It's the New Kids on the Block that has moved the needle from BGS to PSA. Used to be people would say modern go with BGS and vintage go with PSA. Now, it is all PSA and that is why bulk (which they may not even have any more or they may call it something else) takes a year or longer to get back.


So, go with PSA...........

[montej1695]

yeah amazing find... wish i had some forgotten box hanging around with a few of these gems...

congrats to the OP!

[mellofello]

Originally Posted by DajuanWagner

It's the New Kids on the Block that has moved the needle from BGS to PSA. Used to be people would say modern go with BGS and vintage go with PSA. Now, it is all PSA and that is why bulk (which they may not even have any more or they may call it something else) takes a year or longer to get back.


So, go with PSA...........

Ahhh, thanks @DajuanWagner. This explains the abundance of PSA sales history on eBay now. What I remember was that PSA allowed 60/40 centering for their 10s, so the BGS 9.5s were worth more because of the stricter 45/55 centering. It was unheard of to cross over your BGS 9 to a PSA 9, especially if you had high subs. I liked the BGS more because of the subgrades, but I guess it doesn't matter as much now?

[Brent72]

Originally Posted by magmaster21

You'll now find that PSA 9s are now even preferred to BGS min 9.5s

Makes absolutely zero sense to me, but for whatever reason PSA has a major fanboy following.

[Erikthredd]

Great centering on that Kobe! Can you see anything on the surface to warrant an 8.5? I know it would take a lot of balls to crack and try for a PSA 10 but if it was just a matter of wiping away a fingerprint on the surface I would seriously consider it if I were I in your shoes especially with that centering. Either way,congrats on the find!

[shu4040]

Originally Posted by mellofello

Ahhh, thanks @DajuanWagner. This explains the abundance of PSA sales history on eBay now. What I remember was that PSA allowed 60/40 centering for their 10s, so the BGS 9.5s were worth more because of the stricter 45/55 centering. It was unheard of to cross over your BGS 9 to a PSA 9, especially if you had high subs. I liked the BGS more because of the subgrades, but I guess it doesn't matter as much now?

If you really want to play a low risk/ medium pain in the ass/ super high reward game:

1. you can submit to BGS and try and get a bump to a 9.5 (don't crack but graded card review for a min 9.5 grade)

2. then submit to PSA in the 9.5 holder and ask for a min grade 10

3. Most likely won't get it, but you have zero chance with a BGS 9, but atleast a chance with a 9.5. If you do PSA 10, then it'$$ worth the trouble.

4. If you didn't get the 9.5 BGS bump, then just submit the BGS 9 to PSA asking for a min grade 9

THere's a little risk with mailing this card around the country so much, but since it's been in a basement for a while you can take the time i guess!

[mellofello]

Originally Posted by sonic311

Congrats on the found/forgotten treasures and welcome to the boards.
You have a lot of catching up to do in regards to the state of the hobby and grading my friend. There are a lot of good reads on this board that will bring you up to speed.
If you decide to move the Kobe Refractor I'd be interested. My main PC is Kobe and the Finest RC refractor is one of the cards I always regret not getting.

Thanks, do you have any recommended posts that I should focus on first? There are so many topics to explorer. I just learned about the increased prices of hobby causing retail stores to sell out almost immediately after the cards are delivered or restocked. So interesting to see basic concept of supply and demand in action right before my eyes.

As per selling my Kobe, I honestly have no clue what I will do with it yet. I will concentrate on regrading before anything else.

[GatorPie]

10 centering? Absolutely unheard of on those Kobe cards. What a find.

[mellofello]

Originally Posted by shu4040

If you really want to play a low risk/ medium pain in the ass/ super high reward game:

1. you can submit to BGS and try and get a bump to a 9.5 (don't crack but graded card review for a min 9.5 grade)

2. then submit to PSA in the 9.5 holder and ask for a min grade 10

3. Most likely won't get it, but you have zero chance with a BGS 9, but atleast a chance with a 9.5. If you do PSA 10, then it'$$ worth the trouble.

4. If you didn't get the 9.5 BGS bump, then just submit the BGS 9 to PSA asking for a min grade 9

THere's a little risk with mailing this card around the country so much, but since it's been in a basement for a while you can take the time i guess!

This is a sound plan. I like it.

I was also thinking of waiting until after COVID pandemic settles to get it regraded at a show if possible. I am not sure if they even do that anymore before COVID. The problem with this is if the pandemic gets under control, but demand for cards drops, then I would have lost out on the market boom.

[TimBuckTwo]

Sell, hold cash, buy the dip.

[DajuanWagner]

Originally Posted by mellofello

Ahhh, thanks @DajuanWagner. This explains the abundance of PSA sales history on eBay now. What I remember was that PSA allowed 60/40 centering for their 10s, so the BGS 9.5s were worth more because of the stricter 45/55 centering. It was unheard of to cross over your BGS 9 to a PSA 9, especially if you had high subs. I liked the BGS more because of the subgrades, but I guess it doesn't matter as much now?

No worries. Nowadays, finding a raw card on ebay is like finding a unicorn with a rainbow shooting out its arse.....I collect raw cards. Yep, I have some graded, and, yep, grading is still a scam. You really need to see the Sekou card that is floating around. You will get a good laugh. It got a PSA 10 and looks like a PSA 5. Maybe the grader was drunk when he graded, but we have a new sheriff in town at PSA and he is one of our very own.


Times have changed and the world has changed. We just have to change with it.

Stay positive, test negative and enjoy the hobby!!!!!!

[mellofello]

Originally Posted by Erikthredd

Great centering on that Kobe! Can you see anything on the surface to warrant an 8.5? I know it would take a lot of balls to crack and try for a PSA 10 but if it was just a matter of wiping away a fingerprint on the surface I would seriously consider it if I were I in your shoes especially with that centering. Either way,congrats on the find!

@Erikthredd - That's funny you mentioned this. I just saw a Youtube video of a guy that cracked a PSA 8 Topps Chrome Kobe rookie because he somehow was able to identify two finger prints from an eBay listing. It as nerve racking just watching it, so I will definitely not have the balls to crack it myself. That is too big of a risk to take. Also, I carefully check the surface with my phone light and did not find any cleanable finger prints or smudges so no need to take any risks.

I am curious how one would clean a refractor or chrome surface without causing additional scratches or damage.

[Erikthredd]

Originally Posted by mellofello

@Erikthredd - That's funny you mentioned this. I just saw a Youtube video of a guy that cracked a PSA 8 Topps Chrome Kobe rookie because he somehow was able to identify two finger prints from an eBay listing. It as nerve racking just watching it, so I will definitely not have the balls to crack it myself. That is too big of a risk to take. Also, I carefully check the surface with my phone light and did not find any cleanable finger prints or smudges so no need to take any risks.

I am curious how one would clean a refractor or chrome surface without causing additional scratches or damage.

A soft microfiber cloth usually works well. Whatever you decide to do you definitely have a gorgeous Kobe Refractor,good luck and let us know what happens.

[lakesidez]

How do collectors treat these from the peeled vs unpeeled perspective? More demand for unpeeled? Or do grading companies treat the surface different? I’d imagine it’s easier to get a better surface graded when peeled, right?