Emergency gold refractor question

[Turnitin2004]

I sent this card in to grade. They are saying it’s a 7 and want to upcharge me to a $339 tag. Should I pay it or say I’d rather just get it back raw and pay initial fee. I thought it would get an 8’or 9. Any advice would be appreciated.

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[Nomad]

With the centering as it is, the only question is authenticity. Why not simply get it SGC'd.

[MJGOAT23]

If you want it graded for future resale, get it back and send to BGS. I know BGS has lost almost all of its luster but you can probably get an 8-8.5 on it and the difference in market value would be close to the same or even better without the $300 grading fee.

[MJGOAT23]

yes, or SGC, but I still think people like BGS over SGC for a card like this.

[Turnitin2004]

I don’t think I’d ever resell it unless I had to. I think I was more thinking it coulda done a better grade despite the centering so keep it raw for possible future regrading or just to display raw.

[Turnitin2004]

Originally Posted by MJGOAT23

If you want it graded for future resale, get it back and send to BGS. I know BGS has lost almost all of its luster but you can probably get an 8-8.5 on it and the difference in market value would be close to the same or even better without the $300 grading fee.

What makes it so much higher with BGS?

[MJGOAT23]

Originally Posted by Turnitin2004

What makes it so much higher with BGS?

I figure the centering is an 8 and they are "usually" more lenient on corners and edges and maybe surface. Like, if there's a some minuscule ding or whitening on a corner or 2, PSA may consider that a "7" whereas BGS still considers it an 8+ for that sub grade. Without seeing the card in hand this is all speculation, but going by general examples, PSA is tougher on 3 sub categories outside of centering and won't give the card a grade higher than its worst attribute whereas with BGS you can have .5-1 overall grade higher than the worst sub grade depending which it is. The weight of the sub grades and how the final grade is calculates is all broken down in many threads here and on the BGS website.

[Turnitin2004]

Originally Posted by MJGOAT23

I figure the centering is an 8 and they are "usually" more lenient on corners and edges and maybe surface. Like, if there's a some minuscule ding or whitening on a corner or 2, PSA may consider that a "7" whereas BGS still considers it an 8+ for that sub grade. Without seeing the card in hand this is all speculation, but going by general examples, PSA is tougher on 3 sub categories outside of centering and won't give the card a grade higher than its worst attribute whereas with BGS you can have .5-1 overall grade higher than the worst sub grade depending which it is. The weight of the sub grades and how the final grade is calculates is all broken down in many threads here and on the BGS website.

Thanks. I had heard PSA was easiest on centering so I figured that was the best place to send it.

[boxbuster7]

that does not look like a 7 to me

[MJGOAT23]

Originally Posted by Turnitin2004

Thanks. I had heard PSA was easiest on centering so I figured that was the best place to send it.

you just have to read the tolerances they post in their grading scales. Centering SHOULD be the one non-subjective, measurable attribute. You can buy a centering tool and get a better idea for yourself before sending.

[Turnitin2004]

Originally Posted by MJGOAT23

you just have to read the tolerances they post in their grading scales. Centering SHOULD be the one non-subjective, measurable attribute. You can buy a centering tool and get a better idea for yourself before sending.

I had just heard it was the easiest on jt. That has apparently changed also. I might just have them slab it better than risk of it shipping back raw and getting damaged.

[drobfan8]

Originally Posted by Turnitin2004

Thanks. I had heard PSA was easiest on centering so I figured that was the best place to send it.

A great PSA grade is king.

But BGS has been given a lifeline with the way PSA are grading currently.

Originally Posted by MJGOAT23

you just have to read the tolerances they post in their grading scales. Centering SHOULD be the one non-subjective, measurable attribute. You can buy a centering tool and get a better idea for yourself before sending.

That's the thing though. PSA have given out a million 10s with poor centering. Far worse than this Kobe. Now they've realised their mistake and have started grading tougher.

A bit of a joke really.

[Turnitin2004]

Originally Posted by Nomad

With the centering as it is, the only question is authenticity. Why not simply get it SGC'd.

Meaning what? Sorry new to grading.

[Nomad]

I mean, if 7 is the highest the card will get under current PSA guidelines, and maybe 8 Beckett, which translates to the same price, what grading really accomplishes is verifying authenticity.

But then any fool could handle the card in person and see what is real. So it's really about online sales.

I like your idea of keeping it raw, as the card really pops more when you have it as a card.

[Torro]

It does not look to me that the centering got you 7, it must have been something else. The centering looks pretty good for this set, definitely have seen worst 9s. Authentic automatically puts it below 8, all together raw could get you the same or better resale value (considering the centering is not the main issue)

[swerve]

Originally Posted by Torro

It does not look to me that the centering got you 7, it must have been something else. The centering looks pretty good for this set, definitely have seen worst 9s. Authentic automatically puts it below 8, all together raw could get you the same or better resale value (considering the centering is not the main issue)

Agree with this, there must be something else.

[Turnitin2004]

Originally Posted by Torro

It does not look to me that the centering got you 7, it must have been something else. The centering looks pretty good for this set, definitely have seen worst 9s. Authentic automatically puts it below 8, all together raw could get you the same or better resale value (considering the centering is not the main issue)

According to the grader notes there is some edge wear on the back bottom of the card that I somehow missed when sending it in. Which retroactively I do slightly see in the pictures I took, but it looks worse in their scans.

I’d almost be scared to get it sent back to me raw and then send it again to BGS or someone else and risk making it worse as opposed to just getting it graded. So I think I’m just gonna take the 7 since I don’t plan to sell it anyway.

[Brazenways]

PSA holding another hostage - many such cases.

[Torro]

Originally Posted by Turnitin2004

According to the grader notes there is some edge wear on the back bottom of the card that I somehow missed when sending it in. Which retroactively I do slightly see in the pictures I took, but it looks worse in their scans.

I’d almost be scared to get it sent back to me raw and then send it again to BGS or someone else and risk making it worse as opposed to just getting it graded. So I think I’m just gonna take the 7 since I don’t plan to sell it anyway.

Pretty hard to see it.. I would probly ask to send it back raw and just submit it again, if there is nothing else just the back bottom edge wear there is a possibility that some other grader does not notice it. If its easy to spot (on the picture you provided its not), I would keep it raw or for resale purposes try BGS. Anyway there are even 10s of this card with same centering, more likely its 9 based on centering (with some minor issues maybe 8).

Its interesting topic for me as Im looking to add PSA 8 (BGS or SGC 8 with good centering) of this card to my Kobe collection (currently have the regular version with perfect centering and coating, been thinking about sending it in as well). Anyway good luck if you plan to submit it again!

[MJ23Collector]

If you're not looking to sell it, keep it raw.

[Turnitin2004]

Originally Posted by MJ23Collector

If you're not looking to sell it, keep it raw.

Thanks for everyone’s opinion. I decided to get it slabbed. If the bottom edge is wearing a bit it’s possible it could get worse. Eeepcially if they are sending it back raw and I’m handling it raw. Or then also sending it somewhere else again. I thought it was an 8 so a 7 isn’t that far off. I think id rather just lock in the 7 and keep it from possibly getting worse.

If I planned on selling it then maybe I’d risk it to try to get the 8.

[ZappBrannigan]

So for $339 you get the really smart / better visioned - went to some kinda school grader instead of the $25 flunky guy that does the same thing with his bifocals??

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by ZappBrannigan

So for $339 you get the really smart / better visioned - went to some kinda school grader instead of the $25 flunky guy that does the same thing with his bifocals??

They both pay minimum wage.

[Nomad]

Welcome to the Internet 5.0 era. He's absolutely right. Same applies to writers. Skillz are a distant third behind greed and exploitation.

[Turnitin2004]

Originally Posted by ZappBrannigan

So for $339 you get the really smart / better visioned - went to some kinda school grader instead of the $25 flunky guy that does the same thing with his bifocals??

I mean we can just say grading is a complete scam, which I wouldn’t totally argue with. But there’s no question PSA resales for better than the other companies. And even though I have no plans on selling it, if one day I have to for whatever reason it should to better in a PSA slab.