Evidence of Trimming

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by BobC

Why not try it at CSG or BVG and see what they say? PSA would take too long, and cost a lot more than CSG.

This idea that PSA is still taking forever isn't accurate. What's taking forever is the ancient bulk orders. Everything being submitted today is coming back in a timely fashion.

[Clutch-Hitter]

Nice card. It’ll look great in an SGC A holder. Potential buyers will judge for themselves knowing SGC has various reasons for reaching that conclusion, such as minimum size, etc.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

This idea that PSA is still taking forever isn't accurate. What's taking forever is the ancient bulk orders. Everything being submitted today is coming back in a timely fashion.

Yes, but isn't it at a much greater cost than the other TPGs to get a graded card back fairly quickly from PSA? That is what I meant by the comment. I'm assuming it will likely take a lot longer for PSA to look at and return the card, compared to how long the turnaround would be from CSG or BVG, at a somewhat comparable price. Assuming you can even get PSA to look at it for a price similar to what CSG or BVG would charge.

I don't send cards in to get graded by TPGs myself. I'm just going off what I've heard and seen on this forum from others. If it has recently changed and PSA is now getting cards back comparable to other TPG's turnaround times, at a comparable cost, that is great news for those looking to use PSA services.

[Harliduck]

I've had the exact same thing happen to me this past month. I bought a lot of 55 Bowman off the guy who opened them in packs back in 55. I posted here on net54 this purchase a year ago as it was a fun buy...the original owner wrote the numbers in ink on the front of most of the cards. I submitted the Mantle and the Mays just to get them slabbed (love the SGC look for 50s cards) and honestly, just like you, really didn't care about the grade. Plus the cards aren't going anywhere.

Both came back "Evidence of Trimming" and received an A. Whats funny, anyone who has ever seen a stack of 55 Bowmans know they were cut horribly...no two cards are the same size anyways! I had no idea how they would grade with ink, didn't care and an A would have been fine...but trimming? No way...

[npa589]

Addressing Aquarius and BobC --- this is an internal discussion I have been having ad nauseum. To me - this is what the decision has boiled down to, and honestly - after much deliberation - I still don't know the best answer. Classic Pros/Cons list:

PSA Pros: 1. Irrefutably sell for more in nearly every category of sports or collector cards. At times SGC can match them in vintage, but overall - its irrefutable.
2. I believe currently they are more accurately grading cards from every era.

PSA Cons: 1. Their fees are exorbitant, and price out a lot of cards with regard to ROI in the slabbing. Their fees start at $50/card and it will be 3 months or so before you get those back. The next tier is $100/card for 1 month, and $150/card for 2 weeks.

SGC Pros: 1. Fees are more reasonable and they have been great about turnaround time. 2. Seems that if you have a card valued less than $1000, their $30/card version is probably the way to go, unless waiting for 3 months is okay.

SGC Cons: 1. I feel that their grading is been pretty horrible recently. This isn't just about sour grapes over undergraded cards, as I have tried to be unbiased when making observations. They have become unbelievably tough on vintage cards and seem to be grading them on the same curve as a 2020 Bowman Chrome Auto. Perhaps that's a different conversion - but vintage cards should not be graded on the same curve. I am not talking drastic differences here, but it's more than likely that vintage cards never had corners as sharp as a 2020 Bowman Chrome example.

What I think happened is this (no proof, this is just a hypothesis): to grow, SGC began hiring and training graders - most probably pretty young. I think they have a checklist for each era, and they follow it by the book.

I say all that to say that I've been hesitant on sending to SGC, because of how tough they've become - which does not immediately mean they're better. It's a clear deviation from their historical grading standards. Just do a search of "SGC t206 (60, 5)" on eBay. The goal, however, is to maximize value of your cards. If they already sell for less, and the assigned grades are consistently lower than PSA - well, that's not going to work.

Originally Posted by BobC

Yes, but isn't it at a much greater cost than the other TPGs to get a graded card back fairly quickly from PSA? That is what I meant by the comment. I'm assuming it will likely take a lot longer for PSA to look at and return the card, compared to how long the turnaround would be from CSG or BVG, at a somewhat comparable price. Assuming you can even get PSA to look at it for a price similar to what CSG or BVG would charge.

I don't send cards in to get graded by TPGs myself. I'm just going off what I've heard and seen on this forum from others. If it has recently changed and PSA is now getting cards back comparable to other TPG's turnaround times, at a comparable cost, that is great news for those looking to use PSA services.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by BobC

Yes, but isn't it at a much greater cost than the other TPGs to get a graded card back fairly quickly from PSA? That is what I meant by the comment. I'm assuming it will likely take a lot longer for PSA to look at and return the card, compared to how long the turnaround would be from CSG or BVG, at a somewhat comparable price. Assuming you can even get PSA to look at it for a price similar to what CSG or BVG would charge.

I don't send cards in to get graded by TPGs myself. I'm just going off what I've heard and seen on this forum from others. If it has recently changed and PSA is now getting cards back comparable to other TPG's turnaround times, at a comparable cost, that is great news for those looking to use PSA services.

Wasn't trying to come at you specifically, I've just been seeing statements like that a lot. Right now for $50 (as opposed to $30) PSA will have your cards back in about 5 weeks in my experience. Note, I use both companies so this isn't about a preference.

[jingram058]

Reading through this thread is downright painful. I can't keep my big trap shut. Here is why I keep my valuable cards in a safe deposit box, raw, ungraded. I do not need or want someone's subjective and/or speculative opinion on the condition of my cards. That's not what these cards are about for me. It is not about the money. But to each his own. Beautiful 41 DiMaggio, by the way...

[Johnny T]

I love the idea of paying a little more to get a note with the thoughts of the grader as they review the cards. There is nothing worse than saying there is something wrong, but no thoughts are given as to what the issue is. It would be worth getting insight into what graders parameters and thoughts are so we don't make the same mistakes again. But what do we know....

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Wasn't trying to come at you specifically, I've just been seeing statements like that a lot. Right now for $50 (as opposed to $30) PSA will have your cards back in about 5 weeks in my experience. Note, I use both companies so this isn't about a preference.

Scott,

Didn't think you were, no problem. I just listen to what everyone else is saying about TPGs. Figured the OP could get another opinion faster AND cheaper by going to someone other than PSA. What some others are saying seems to follow that thinking. I'm just happy to learn. Thanks.

[Vintagedeputy]

I was sad when this came back with an A and evidence of trimming. It is off center and the right side looks odd, but since no one has any idea how these were issued, I'm not sure its exactly fair to say it was trimmed.

What's the difference between trimmed and hand cut?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Vintagedeputy

I was sad when this came back with an A and evidence of trimming. It is off center and the right side looks odd, but since no one has any idea how these were issued, I'm not sure its exactly fair to say it was trimmed.

What's the difference between trimmed and hand cut?

On this one, the right side top and bottom corners are more worn than the left. Maybe they thought it was freshened up a little? Very cool card regardless...
.

[Tabe]

On the DiMaggio, the bottom of the card looks narrower to me than the top half. Is that just a illusion?