Questions about cards grading service

[MarioLeMagnifique]

Hi,

2 Questions to people who know about cards grading services.

1. Please help me choose between BGS or PSA for grading a 1985-86 OPC Mario Lemieux RC that I purchased a couple of weeks ago, which I suspected it was a reprint. I was asked to have this card graded so the seller would full refund me if it is a reprint.

2. Also, I'd like to know if either of them will identify the card as "reprint" on the card holder if it is a reprint card.

Thanks.
Regards.

[centrehice]

Beckett grades the toughest. Don't send to them unless your card is perfect. PSA grades much easier.

PSA 9's are often Beckett 7's.

[MarioLeMagnifique]

Thanks for the response. I'll think carefully before choosing the right service depending on the card, which I believe is in a NM condition. But what about the fact that these services can tell me if the card is legit or if it's a reprint and identify it on the card holder? Can they do that as well?

[centrehice]

If you have a card that you are fearful might be a fake. Post a clear scan on here. Most of us know how to spot a Gretzky or Lemieux RC fake.

Grading places will tell you if you've sent in a fake, they will tell you if the card has been cut, OC, etc.

Most of the cards that have been reproduced fraudulently are:

1. Gretzky OPC RC
2. Lemieux OPC RC
3. Roy OPC RC
4. Orr Topps RC (though not to the extent of the other 3)

The Gretzky, Lemieux and Orr are the easiest to spot. The Roy a little harder.

[roy.the.greatest]

PSA 9's are often Beckett 7's.

That's exagerated... I regularly see BGS 9.5 cards without perfect corners, which is an aberration to a gem mint grade definition. The market is loaded of BGS 9.5 cards, it isn't difficult at all to get a card back from Beckett as a BGS 9.5.

[Fred Bear]

Beckett grades the toughest. Don't send to them unless your card is perfect. PSA grades much easier.

PSA 9's are often Beckett 7's.

To show why this is not quite true, and it doesn't show in values on the Lemieux or any other card that I've really seen. Here are some numbers... PSA 8s and BGS 8s sell in the same range ($75-$200) as do PSA 9s and BGS 9s ($175-$300). [The ranges on 'rare' graded cards are always wide. It's a matter of how many sales you can track.] I don't track the Gem Mint sales, so it's hard to find recent sales numbers. In terms of populations, there are 43 BGS 9.5s (plus 8 BGS 10s) out of 1092 total graded (~4%, ~4.5% >= BGS 9.5) while there are only 18 PSA 10s out of 1919 total graded (~1%). If you drop to 9s, ~11% of the Beckett population is BGS 9 or better and ~15% of the PSA population is PSA 9 or better. Both populations include well over 50% of the graded populations in NM 8 condition.

Realistically, unless you are sure that your copy will grade an 8 or better, you are better off buying the card in the condition you want (and the holder you want) and selling/trading your card raw (which will typically yield 'NM' value unless there is obvious damage/flaws).

The difference between the two companies boils down to personal preferences and which stories ('internet' truths as they are) you want to believe. In terms of sales data and population reports, the two companies are doing just what they should - protecting the integrity of the collectible.

[qwas]

If you have a card that you are fearful might be a fake. Post a clear scan on here. Most of us know how to spot a Gretzky or Lemieux RC fake.

Grading places will tell you if you've sent in a fake, they will tell you if the card has been cut, OC, etc.

Most of the cards that have been reproduced fraudulently are:

1. Gretzky OPC RC
2. Lemieux OPC RC
3. Roy OPC RC
4. Orr Topps RC (though not to the extent of the other 3)

The Gretzky, Lemieux and Orr are the easiest to spot. The Roy a little harder.

Patrick Roy is quite easy to tell a fake from the real thing as well. To start opeechee rookies have the dirt spot in the middle of the white border at the top of the card. The color of the frame is also usually quite off when compared to the real thing.

[MarioLeMagnifique]

Thanks for the replies.

Your comments answered my questions, but I guess that if you guys want to add more comments, you can go ahead.

The reason why I want to have it graded is because the person who sold me the card wants me to grade it as a proof that I suspect it's a reprint, so he will full refund me i it's the case.

Thanks.