Does PSA fee influence the grade?

[nolemmings]

I've had a Michael Jordan rookie for 30+ years. I would love to think it would grade PSA 9, but with my luck it will not. If I pay $75 to have it graded by PSA because I list the value at under $2000, do you believe that could influence the grade--since a PSA 9 would seemingly cost a $200 or $500 grading fee?

I have never submitted a card to PSA and have grown skeptical if not jaded in my old age.

BTW, maybe the question is moot because if I submit the card I will do so in person at the National. Can someone provide the onsite grading fee schedule and procedure if I go that route? Thanks.

EDITED TO ADD: I realize my precise situation is more properly one post-1980 and basketball, but I thought the question would get more eyes here--plus it would seem to apply regardless of the the card subject. Thanks for your consideration.

[pawpawdiv9]

i often pondered this on other ways:
When, what part of the year do you submit? Would if be better near Xmas when people are in the giving spirit.
How many cards do you submit, influence as well.
Or how many high-end cards.....or just piggyback someone.
and to note: Someone always mentions 'darth grader'.....why?
and play the re-submit games

[rsdill2]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

I've had a Michael Jordan rookie for 30+ years. I would love to think it would grade PSA 9, but with my luck it will not. If I pay $75 to have it graded by PSA because I list the value at under $2000, do you believe that could influence the grade--since a PSA 9 would seemingly cost a $200 or $500 grading fee?

I have never submitted a card to PSA and have grown skeptical if not jaded in my old age.

BTW, maybe the question is moot because if I submit the card I will do so in person at the National. Can someone provide the onsite grading fee schedule and procedure if I go that route? Thanks.

EDITED TO ADD: I realize my precise situation is more properly one post-1980 and basketball, but I thought the question would get more eyes here--plus it would seem to apply regardless of the the card subject. Thanks for your consideration.

I'll try to answer your questions.

First, a Jordan RC should be graded. For better or worse, that's possibly THE most forged card in our hobby, or at least one of them top 5. If you're looking to sell it anytime, you'll do better if it's slabbed.

It's my understanding that paying the higher fee will not influence their grading. From my experience, I would never "expect" a 9 on any submission. Pay the $75 fee for <$2k card. If it comes back a 9, they will contact you and require you pay the fee for the next higher service level - at which time you'll be happy to pay it because you're now the owner of a PSA 9 Jordan RC. One thing I can promise you is if you pay the next higher service level fee and it comes back a 6, they will not refund you any money.

The biggest advantage to submitting in person is avoiding the shipping fees. Last year's national, they allowed cards <$2k to be graded for $50 (source: https://www.psacard.com/national). This year, who knows. As they do most every year, they've increased their submission fees. You might save a few bucks by doing that. Up to you.

Good luck with your submission.

[swarmee]

Value it like a PSA 8 for submission level. If it gets a higher grade, they will contact you to up charge the order to a higher service level, if it's now worth drastically more. I think cards were about $35-40 each to grade during the National last year, up to a declared value of like $2500.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

I've had a Michael Jordan rookie for 30+ years. I would love to think it would grade PSA 9, but with my luck it will not. If I pay $75 to have it graded by PSA because I list the value at under $2000, do you believe that could influence the grade--since a PSA 9 would seemingly cost a $200 or $500 grading fee?

I have never submitted a card to PSA and have grown skeptical if not jaded in my old age.

BTW, maybe the question is moot because if I submit the card I will do so in person at the National. Can someone provide the onsite grading fee schedule and procedure if I go that route? Thanks.

EDITED TO ADD: I realize my precise situation is more properly one post-1980 and basketball, but I thought the question would get more eyes here--plus it would seem to apply regardless of the the card subject. Thanks for your consideration.

My advice to you is to befriend 4SC and let them submit it.
But seriously, I very much doubt the fee has anything to do with it. I recently got a 10 on a Brady rookie I had valued at about an 8 level.

Scan?

[glynparson]

No.

[nolemmings]

Thanks all. I have not seen the card in awhile and have no scan, but recall it was not centered 52-48 or better, and so an 8 is likely the best I could get.

[swarmee]

Ummm, you must be thinking of BGS's centering rules for a 10. PSA is more lenient on centering than Beckett.

[nolemmings]

Well, I doubt my card looks any better than this one, although i guess I'll check next week.

[swarmee]

I'd say that one's an outlier. Top bottom centering on front is maybe 60/40 at the absolute most. Maybe the back is way off center or they had different rules 20 years ago when that one was graded.

[glynparson]

Top to bottom is more off than 60-40. That said still better centers than most with oc qualifier.

[swarmee]

480-436 = 44 pixels at top.
1452-1425 = 27 pixels at bottom. 44/(44+27) = 62/38 centering.

Mint 9 definition includes front centering from 60/40 to 65/35 so unless the card back is way off, it should have not gotten the OC qualifier. Seems like an easy upgrade if you sent that card in for review to raise it to a straight 9.

Everyone freaked out last year when the Vintage Breaks 1955 Bowman Mantle straight from a pack got a 9 last year and it had about 60/40 centering, saying it was too off-centered. Just on a card with borders as narrow as 1955 Bowman, it was very noticeable.

[glynparson]

the picture on the card isn't completely square (looks very very mnor tilt) are you measuring at absolute worst point and 60-40 is the real standard the extra 5 is added for mistakes. I have spoken with the graders about these things at an industry meeting but please believe what you want. Also I am willing to bet they get a worse measure with a peak loupe than your pixel count I see that as worse that the 62-38 you are claiming. id be shocked if they felt that could hit a straight 8 (15-20% chance at best) it has less than a 1% chance at a 9 in 2019. When you read off the standards remember some of those extra little details are for mistakes and to justify the grades on older cards when they were more lenient ( not debating wether that is right or not but it is what it is)

[swarmee]

This card got a PSA 9 this month. I'd say it has equal or worse centering to the Jordan shown.

[irv]

And this, among other posts with related stories, is why I will never send cards into PSA to get graded.

Their inconsistency never ceases to amaze me.