Questions and Answers

Do you recommend grading?

If you have the time, extra money, and it is something of value - then yes.  We would suggest getting graded by a reputable company.  There is a cost to it and the turn around time to get it back could be half a year or more.  But getting a favorable grade will increase the value even more.  Plus any potential buyer or someone who you may pass it down to has confidence in exactly what you have.  Once graded you will have something with a record, detailed label, and encapsulated to protect it.

What grading company should I use?

Do the research on what company is the best for grading your particular collectible.  The most commonly used grading companies are

• Colletictible Grading Authority (CGA)

• Collectible Archive Services (CAS)

• UK Graders (UKG)

• Beckett Grading Services (BGS)

• Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA)

• WATA 

Should I buy raw or already graded?

Well it all depends.  If you want to purchase at a lower cost then you want to get what is called "raw."  This means ungraded.  Getting it graded is an extra cost and the grade you get back may not be what you were wanting.  There is also the chance it could come back with a qualifier that makes it upgradeable such as resealed, reproduction, altered to hide an imperfection.  Atl east you will know you got dupped by a seller and now would not do the same to a potential buyer.  Grading a purchase you have concerns about will help answer the authenticity for you.  You can get a grade back better then expected and see your profits rise.  Purchasing graded takes the guessing out of it.  But, if you feel confident about the raw item you want to purchase it is the better value.  If you buy a raw higher-end collectible you should get it graded to authenticate and preserve it.