Where to send cards for grading
General forum
Posted on July 22, 2023, 6:02 p.m. by Stardragon
I just pulled a serlized Mesmeric Orb and I have no idea where to send for grading
TypicalTimmy says... #3
I agree. PSA is really the standard as they are a lot more strict than Beckett. While it is not a hard science, you can generally say that if Beckett awards say a 7.5, PSA may consider it a 7. This is because PSA is more careful with their selections, which means a PSA of 9 is far superior to a Beckett of 9.
As for the value of the card, unfortunately Orb isn't exactly what you might consider a hard sought after staple. It has its place, sure. But it's a fringe card in that there are only specific decks that wish to utilize it. Because of this, the target audience is thin, meaning there is not a demand for it. This would help to explain why it only sits at $300.
I would absolutely recommend sleeving it and putting it into a hardbacked case (top loaders, I believe they are called)?
But to send it out, and pay, for it to be graded? Financially, it's simply not worth it.
Use it, cherish it, love it or sell it. Honestly your best bet, if you are looking at it financially, is to trade it. Put it toward a dual land or some tools for a deck.
That's what I would do. Bring a stack of cards to your LGS and ask for their trade value, then go shopping.
Caerwyn says... #2
PSA is generally considered the best in the business. That said, there are plenty of other options - you can find a bunch of articles with a quick Google search comparing and reviewing each. That is probably a better way to decide which to use than just asking folks on a forum.
Just doing a quick look, it appears a serialised Mesmeric Orb is only about $300.00. Pricey, yes, but hardly the most expensive card in the world. You’ll want to decide if the price for having it graded is really worth it to you - that could actually reduce your number of potential buyers, since they might not want to pay a premium for a graded card at this price point. If you intend to play the long game and wait a few years before selling, perhaps then having it graded (and put in a protective case) might be worth it to you.
July 22, 2023 6:26 p.m. Edited.