Where to get baseball cards rated

Rookie cards of a star player are generally worth more than other base […]. This website provides general information which is offered for educational purposes only, and does not constitute professional, medical, legal, or advice of any kind.

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As I am part of the eBay Partner Network and other affiliate programs, if you follow these links and make a purchase, I will receive a commission. Likewise, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. February 13, Ballcard Genius Grading. August 12, Ballcard Genius Definitions. Card Collecting Resources. Beckett reserves the right to find ineligible any Participant in the Program at its sole discretion. Reward Conditions. Rewards may be taxable, depending on the value of the item and the federal, state, and local tax laws applicable to the Participant.

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The benefits of card grading include indisputable provenance of authenticity, no subjective condition assignments and an accountability system through an online database.

All of these factors combine to, more often than not, increase the value of the card when compared to an ungraded card in equal or similar condition. Before submitting anything to a card grading company, there are a few things to be aware of to get the most out of your grading submission: knowing what cards to grade, what service to use, and the logistics involved in shipping and insurance.

Choosing what cards to grade is a personal and subjective decision. But there are some guidelines to follow that will not only save you money, but also increase the value of your collection. For example, grading any one-of-one card makes little sense from a financial standpoint, although people continue to do so.

The cost of having the card shipped, graded, insured and returned is unlikely to increase the worth of an already highly valued card enough to offset those costs. However, some collectors may like the added protection of a graded slab. Submitting vintage cards for grading, in particular, makes for a solid investment. Player collectors, team collectors and set builders often target cards in a specific grade. Removing the subjectivity of self-assessment provides a foolproof way of making sure a card is actually in the condition the owner claims.

Even vintage commons can bring a strong return if submitted to a reputable card grading company. A mistake many collectors make with older cards is overlooking these commons. Many high-end set builders will often pay top-dollar for that graded NM or Mint backup utility infielder's card simply to complete their collection of graded cards.

Modern prospect and rookie autographs are also highly desirable in high-grade condition. The obvious reason is that, if that player attains star status, their most popular rookie cards will always be those that are signed and in Mint condition.

When it comes to choosing what service to use, it is best to do your research. Ask fellow collectors, dealers and your local hobby shop owner who they use and why. Each card grading company grades a variety of cards. Fees between the companies vary so collectors are encouraged to see the pricing policies listed on their respective websites.

Collectors can also pay for different levels of service. In addition to the companies mentioned above, the marketplace has seen several other grading companies come and go over the years. Plenty of their cards still exist on the secondary market. When grading became popular in the early- to mid-'90s, new grading companies sprouted up in unprecedented quantities. Some earned very poor reputations. Those are the companies with the best reputation in the hobby.

As mentioned earlier, exact fees differ among card grading companies, however they all charge based on the following criteria:. Also, keep in mind that you are required to pay two-way shipping.

When sending to the company, pay for the appropriate amount of insurance, delivery and signature confirmation. For return shipping, each company will have their own established fee structure. While some cards are worth more after they have been professionally graded, I have found that most cards gain very little value when professionally graded and rarely gain enough value to cover the additional incurred fees.

It all depends on the card. Usually, it does not make sense to get a card graded unless it is very old or in near perfect condition. Getting cards professionally graded is expensive and may even reduce the value of the card. If you are selling a collection, you are usually better off saving yourself the expense and just selling the cards ungraded.

The reason that some graded cards sell for more is that the professional graders grade harder than we collectors did 20 years ago. They tend to be very critical of flaws. Most people that send a group of cards off to be graded the first time are shocked at the low grades that they receive.

For that one card that graded a "10" and sold for thousands of dollars, there are tons of cards grading lower and selling for a fraction of the price. Stories like this are rare. It would be like seeing that a rare diamond sold for millions of dollars and expecting to get the same amount for your wife's engagement ring.

After all, they are both diamonds, right?