HOW TO GRADE LETTERS 2021

WHAT IS GRADING LETTERS?

I explain it very easily. It is the professional evaluation that a private company will carry out to determine the authenticity and, above all, the general condition of a letter. Based on several aspects that they analyze (you will find them below) they give it a score between 1 and 10.

Of course, as in an exam, what is not important is to get a number as close to 10 as possible, which would mean that the card is perfect.

Regardless of the outcome It will be returned to you sealed in a rigid plastic case and with a certificate of authenticity. (As long as it is original).

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WHAT DO I GAIN BY GRADING MY CARDS?

This is something very subjective, it varies according to each person's interests, but Broadly speaking, what you achieve is to prevent the card from deteriorating over time and also increase its value compared to a raw card (without grade).

If we grade a letter for its sentimental value, simply by having it sealed and certified, we don't have much to think about, we'll just send it and that's it. Now, Very important, if we want to grade a high value card, it is only advisable to do so if we are convinced that it will get a good grade , since if it gets, for example, a 5, it will greatly limit its price. In that case, we would obtain more profit from our card by selling it raw than graded.

If you want to know what you have to take into account to be able to grade your cards and get a good grade, you just have to keep reading.

WHICH CARDS CAN BE GRADED?

As a general rule, the cards that can be graded are those considered standard size, that is, those that are not larger than 63 mm x 88 mm.

To simplify the task for you, All of the following collections are gradeable:

Additionally, They also usually grade old or vintage sports cards and some with other themes. In these cases, it is best to check the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) of the company we have selected. Below we will indicate the most important and recognized ones.

WHAT DO THEY CHECK WHEN GRADING?

Before sending a letter for grading, we advise that we ourselves be critical at first and thoroughly review its condition. Remember that a low score can mean that we get less money for it than if we sold it ungraded, since once they have a score their price is defined by the market. There is no doubt about that.

This is what they look for when they rate our letter:

Authenticity: First and foremost, if it is false, it will not go beyond this point. It will not be graded and will be rejected, which means you will have wasted time and money in exchange for sad news.

Centered: They check and measure that the frames of the card are balanced and that if there is a difference between them, it is minimal. This affects both the front and the back, with the latter allowing for greater variation.

Edges: They check that they maintain the original shape of the cutting mold, as well as its condition.

Surface: They check the general condition of the card in terms of paint, condition of the holographic part (foil), the presence of scratches, folds, creases, bumps or any kind of damage that the card may have suffered, or attempts to improve its appearance with tinting or pressing.

They are very conscientious, hence the fame and value of graded letters , so it is worth evaluating our contributions before sending them.

SCORING SCALES

All the renowned companies that are dedicated to this profession apply the same criteria to a large extent, which simplified would be the following.

Punctuation	Category	Meaning
1-2	Poor	The worst condition a card can be in. It will have massive damage across the board.
2.5-5	Good	Card with various defects but of lesser importance than the previous category. Paint faults, corners, wrinkles, pitting, etc.
5-6.5	Excellent	Minor paint and corner defects. Better centering than lower grades. Corners with minor damage. Possible small crease.
7-9	Near Mint	Minor surface damage. Acceptable centering. No deep scratches, some superficial.
9.5	Mint	Hardly any damage, some minor imperfections in the paint allowed. Almost perfect centering.
10	Perfect	As the name suggests, perfect. Without any defects. Some companies unify this category with the previous one or use a different name.

I don't represent it in the table but these companies They also tend to value cards that have been artistically altered (although they do not give them a score). If this is your case, I advise you to go to the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) of the company of your choice. to ensure that they perform this service.

WHERE TO GRADE THE CHARTS

In the market we can find many card grading services, but The most renowned ones are those we indicate in this section. In addition, we indicate the country in which each of these companies is located, since this is something to take into account for issues of shipping costs, time frames and customs issues.

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE LETTERS FOR SHIPPING?

This is a very important section. The recommendations I give here are the same ones that these companies give to their clients. when preparing letters for shipment, in such a way as to simplify their reception and avoid damage that may occur due to the use of incorrect covers or materials.

We will always use loose covers (the standard Ultra Pro ones are great for this) since solutions such as Perfect Fit make it difficult to remove the cards and there have been cases of minor damage that they have suffered in the process.

The letters must be placed inside a Top Loader , which being rigid helps to keep them safe during the trip. Otherwise, They must be placed inside a cardboard box (never an envelope) and, if possible, using bubble wrap. to help keep them secure and prevent them from moving during the trip.

SHIPPING AND INSURANCE

It is important to know the estimated value of the cards that we are going to send to grade, since It is always advisable to insure the shipment. As a general rule, these companies usually request this information, but it is worth bearing this in mind. It is rare, but it could happen that our shipment gets lost and it is always better to be safe than sorry.

PRICES HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GRADE LETTERS?

The price that these companies charge for their services usually varies over time , in some cases it increases due to excessive demand and in other cases it becomes cheaper.

Therefore, thinking that you always have the most accurate information possible, We provide links directly to the websites of these companies where they detail the current cost.

Our recommendation, in order to reduce costs, deadlines and customs procedures, is that you use European Grading.

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