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COST TO HAVE BASEBALL CARDS GRADED

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Getting baseball cards professionally graded is a popular service among collectors to authenticate, encapsulate, and assign quality grades to their vintage and modern cardboard. The costs associated with third-party grading can vary quite a bit depending on the specific company used and the tier of service selected. In this in-depth article, we will explore the pricing structures of the three largest card grading services – PSA, BGS, and SGC – to help collectors understand what to budget for when considering getting their prized possessions authenticated.

Let’s start with PSA, which is generally considered the gold standard in the hobby for grading quality and name recognition. PSA offers several service levels to fit different collector needs and budgets. Their most basic option is called “Regular,” which has an upfront submission fee of $10 per card with a turnaround time of approximately 6-8 weeks once cards are received. In addition to the submission fee, each card is also assessed an individual grading charge that ranges from $12 for standard-sized modern issues up to $30-50 for larger vintage cards or autographs. Shipping costs to send cards to PSA and return them once graded are not included in these rates.

A step up from Regular service is PSA’s “Express” tier, which offers a faster estimated turnaround of 3-4 weeks. The submission fee jumps to $20 per card, but individual grading charges remain the same. For collectors who need cards back even quicker, PSA’s top-of-the-line “Ultra Modern” and “Ultra Vintage” services guarantee a reported 1-2 week turnaround. Submission fees are significantly higher at $50 per card and grading costs are doubled compared to the Regular option. Shipping is also not included with Express or Ultra services.

BGS (Beckett Grading Services), another major third-party authenticator, tends to be a bit more budget-friendly than PSA across the board. BGS’ basic “Standard” service has a flat submission fee of just $15 regardless of how many cards are included. Individual grading charges per card are also lower at $10 each for modern issues and $15-25 typically for older vintage pieces. Turnaround is estimated at 6-8 weeks with Standard. For a quicker 2-4 week return time, BGS offers “Express” service which increases the submission cost to $25 per card but maintains the same individual grading prices. Like PSA, shipping is extra with all BGS options.

The newest player in the card authentication space is SGC (Sports Grading Company), which has rapidly grown in popularity over the past few years by offering very competitive pricing compared to PSA and BGS. SGC’s entry-level “Value” service has an unbeatable flat $5 submission fee per order regardless of the number of cards included. Individual grading charges are only $7.50 per modern card and $10-15 typically for vintage issues. Turnaround with Value is estimated at 6-8 weeks. For those needing cards back sooner, SGC Express bumps the submission cost up to $10 per card but keeps individual grading prices the same and promises a 3-4 week timeline. Shipping to and from SGC is also additional.

Here are some key takeaways on grading costs from the major third-party authenticators:

PSA generally has the highest individual prices but is considered the top authority by many collectors. Basic Regular service starts around $22-32 per card graded.

BGS offers more reasonable pricing than PSA with Standard service starting around $15-25 per card. Express bumps submission fees but keeps individual costs unchanged.

SGC has become very popular for its extremely low submission fees of just $5 per order for Value grading. Individual costs are also the most budget-friendly overall.

Faster turnaround services from all three companies significantly increase submission costs per card but maintain individual grading pricing.

Shipping to send cards for grading and return them is extra charges with any service level from PSA, BGS, or SGC.

For most collectors, SGC Value service is likely the most cost-effective authenticating option available today. But PSA still holds cachet as the top authority recognized by the highest prices in the hobby. Factors like turnaround needs, individual card values, and desired label all play a role in choosing the right grading service. With a bit of research, collectors can budget accordingly based on their specific needs and collection.

While third-party grading does involve real monetary costs, it provides authentication, preservation, and quality assurance that can significantly boost long-term card values – especially for key vintage pieces. With a bit of planning, collectors of all budget levels can participate in the grading process to professionally showcase their prized baseball cards. Just be sure to check pricing structures and consider shipping to and from the grader when budgeting for authentication through one of the major third-party companies.

DOLLAR GENERAL HAVE BASEBALL CARDS

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Dollar General Stores: An Untapped Resource for Baseball Card Collectors

Dollar General has become one of the largest retail chains in the United States in recent decades, with over 16,000 stores located across the country. While they are primarily known for offering everyday essentials at affordable prices, many collectors may be unaware that Dollar General also allocates shelf space to trading cards in many of their stores. Upon closer inspection, collectors can frequently find bargain packs of baseball cards and other sport cards amongst the other sundries. With Dollar General’s widespread reach across small towns and rural areas, their stores represent an often overlooked resource for collectors to potentially find treasures.

The History of Cards at Dollar General
Dollar General first began carrying trading cards in the 1990s as the collectibles boom was in full swing. Like many other general retailers of the time, they saw trading cards as a profitable side category that could draw in customers. Their early selections focused mainly on the hottest mainstream brands like Fleer, Topps, and Donruss. Packs were priced affordably, usually between 50 cents to a dollar. This allowed kids and casual collectors the chance to rip packs on a budget. Through the late 90s and 2000s, Dollar General maintained a core selection of the yearly MLB releases.

As interest in cards began to wane industry-wide in the late 2000s, Dollar General’s offerings declined as well. Shelf space that once held a variety of sports was reallocated to more consistently selling products. By the early 2010s, only a smattering of Dollar General stores still carried any cards at all. In recent years the collecting hobby has surged in popularity once again. Seizing the opportunity, Dollar General has slowly but surely expanded their trading card selections at many locations to meet renewed interest.

Current Baseball Card Selections at Dollar General
Today, the trading card aisle at Dollar General tends to be much smaller than a dedicated card shop. Dedicated collectors would be wise to still give their local Dollar General a look. Some stores now devote an entire endcap to cards, while others may have just a few scattered packs and boxes. The selection varies greatly depending on individual store managers, but there are some mainstays.

Topps Series 1 and 2 are reliably stocked each season for around $1 per pack. Other Topps flagship sets like Update, Heritage, and Archives may be found as well. Dollar General also carries various discount brands like Donruss, Leaf, and Panini. These sub-$1 packs provide an inexpensive way to hunt rookie cards or parallels. In the non-sports card aisle, collectors can sometimes discover returned or overstocked hobby boxes of older releases priced well below secondary market rates.

Beyond packs and boxes, Dollar General has also gotten into the baseball card accessory business in recent years. Card savers, toploaders, and magnetic sheets can be found for protecting valuable pulls. Collectors on a budget will appreciate the affordable prices on these essential supplies. Some stores may even stock complete team sets, factory sets, or value packs during the height of the season. And around major card conventions, Dollar General has been known to receive shipments of special convention exclusives or promotional packs.

Benefits of Scouting Dollar General for Cards
For collectors living in more remote areas underserved by card shops, Dollar General can be a literal game-changer. Many small towns may have only a Dollar General as their sole retail outlet. This provides a place to potentially find new releases, trade with other local collectors, or just fuel one’s collecting hobby in general. Even for collectors close to dedicated card stores, Dollar General serves as a lower stakes place to rip packs. Kids can enjoy the thrill of the hunt without breaking the bank.

The convenience factor should not be overlooked either. Dollar General is found on almost every main street and in the busiest strip malls. This means cards are usually just a short drive away versus a special trip into the city. Busy collectors appreciate being able to grab a quick pack during an errand run. And Dollar General’s later store hours are a plus for those who can only hunt at night. While selections may not match a LCS, Dollar General helps keep the collecting spirit alive in many small towns across the country. Savvy collectors would be wise to check their local Dollar General periodically, one may just find a hidden gem.

While not a traditional sports card retailer, Dollar General has quietly become a dependable resource for baseball cards and supplies in recent years. Their widespread store presence, especially in rural areas, provides access for collectors who otherwise may not have a local shop. Even urban collectors can benefit from the low stakes ripping and bargain prices. By expanding their card offerings, Dollar General is helping introduce new generations to the hobby and fueling nostalgia for collectors of all budgets. Their untapped potential makes them a retailer serious collectors cannot overlook.

TARGET HAVE BASEBALL CARDS

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Target was once the go-to big box retailer for collectors looking to find baseball cards. For years, the sporting goods section of every local Target store would have a sizable selection of newly released baseball card packages, boxes, and memorabilia for hobbyists of all ages to peruse. In recent times Target made the business decision to scale back and eventually remove baseball cards from their inventory altogether. This change left many loyal customers disappointed and searching for new local sources to fuel their baseball card collecting hobby.

Target’s decision came as the popularity of baseball cards began to decline in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The digital age provided new forms of entertainment that drew kids and collectors away from plastic packaging filled with glimpses of past and present ballplayers. Meanwhile, revenue from baseball card sales reportedly dropped off at Target locations across the country year after year. Store managers were given less and less trading card allowance space to fill as baseball cards transitioned from a guaranteed seller to more of a niche interest item.

The final blow was likely delivered when Panini America acquired the MLB trading card license away from Topps in 2010. This changed the entire baseball card landscape that collectors had known for decades. Suddenly, Target and other mainstream retailers were faced with carrying an unfamiliar and unproven brand if they wanted to offer any baseball cards at all. With revenue and interest waning, it was an easy calculated risk for Target to reallocate the shelf space normally used for cards to potentially higher profiting products.

Officially in 2012, Target customers began to notice baseball cards disappear from their local stores in waves. An internal Target memo from that year stated that due to “financial losses incurred from baseball card sales as well as a decline in customer demand, all trading card inventory would be removed from stores nationwide.” The change was strictly business and Target did not want to carry unpopular inventory that was taking up prime retail space and not turning a profit. Card collectors and hobby shop owners alike lamented this decision as it left a notable gap in accessible and affordable baseball card product distribution in mainstream markets.

With Target gone, former cardboard crazed customers now had to look elsewhere to feed their want for packs in their hands and rookies in their binders. Many flocked to local hobby shops and card show circuits for their fix but regretted losing the convenience that a nearby Target always supplied. Internet retail sites helped fill the supply gap as well but weren’t always as immediate or social of an experience. While big box retailers like Walmart, Meijer, and Fred Meyer trial-carried baseball cards at times in following years, none could match the consistent nationwide supply pipeline that Target provided in its heyday.

Other options emerged as stopgap solutions to Target’s absence for those seeking new baseball cards. Grocery stores and drugstores surprisingly carried limited releases during the initial post-Target era. Dedicated baseball card kiosks began popping up in unexpected venues such as laundromats and mini marts. And general merchandise big box chains like Dick’s Sporting Goods or general stores like Party City would seasonally stock blister packs and boxes near their cash registers hoping to capture impulse buyers. None truly filled the consistent storewide baseball card presence of Target.

It was a blow to the American baseball card collecting community to lose such a major retail partner. Target was akin to the local corner store of yesteryear that reliably stocked cards whenever a kid wanted to blow their allowance. But Target’s interests changed as the collectibles market shifted. They assessed baseball cards were no longer driving enough foot traffic or sales to justify dedicating product space to them. Over a decade since their removal from shelves, Target stands firm in their decision to refrain from stocking cards again despite pining from loyal collectors. The sporting goods giant aimed to make space for more profitable offerings and unfortunately baseball cards weren’t the steady profit earner they once were.

Today, the future remains uncertain for mainstream access to baseball cards outside of special promotions. Major retailers hesitate carrying full inventories, instead intermittently stocking popular licensed brands for seasonal or short shelf life sales. Many former Target patrons migrated their hobby online or back to specialty hobby shops. Renewed collector interest in cards from the influx of nostalgic 1990s kids could potentially reopen the category at general retailers once again. Only time will tell if Target or others change their stance now over a decade since removed baseball cards or if the collectibles market shift is indeed permanent. In the meantime, former patrons of Target’s baseball card counter still reminisce of the glory days stocking up on packs before games under the familiar red ball logo.

BEST PLACE TO HAVE BASEBALL CARDS GRADED

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When it comes to having valuable baseball cards professionally graded, there are a few top companies that collectors trust to accurately assess the condition and authenticity of their cards. PSA, BGS, SGC and HGA are generally considered the leading third-party grading services in the hobby, each with their own strengths and specialties. For collectors looking to potentially increase the value and liquidity of their cards, sending them to one of these grading companies can be a worthwhile investment.

Perhaps the most well-known and long-established name in card grading is Professional Sports Authenticator, often shortened to PSA. Founded in 2000, PSA helped pioneer the modern sports card authentication and grading model. They utilize a rigorous multi-point inspection process carried out by experienced graders. Slab protection also helps ensure the condition does not deteriorate further over time. PSA has graded billions of cards to date and remains the most recognized brand in the industry. Their slabs are highly regarded by collectors and carry cachet in the marketplace. Turnaround times and costs can be higher compared to some competitors.

BGS (Beckett Grading Services) was launched in 1992 and is considered the other major player alongside PSA. Their slabbing design is instantly recognizable as well. BGS prides itself on consistent standards and quality control. One advantage they offer is sub-grades within broader condition categories like centering, corners and edges. This extra level of detail can be appealing to knowledgeable collectors. BGS also authenticates and grades other collectibles beyond just cards. Like PSA, turnaround speeds and costs per card tend to be on the higher side.

SGC (Sportscard Guarantee Corporation) was founded in 2000 as a lower-cost alternative to PSA and BGS. They have since grown into a respected third option. SGC offers faster turnaround times and more affordable bulk submission pricing. Their modern slabs provide robust protection too. While SGC grades fewer ultra-high-end vintage cards, they are a solid choice for most modern issues and players. The SGC brand has strengthened over the years and their certifications retain strong resale value. For many collectors, SGC offers the best balance of price and performance.

HGA (Hobby Grading Academy) is one of the newest kids on the block, launching in late 2021. They immediately made waves by offering unprecedentedly fast turnaround times, often returning cards in under a week. HGA also prices individual card submissions very competitively. Their modern slabbing design has a clean, minimalist aesthetic. Still being so new, long-term reputation and market acceptance of HGA grades remains to be seen. But for collectors wanting cards back quickly, they have become a very popular choice. Only time will tell if HGA can sustain their rapid growth and compete directly with the big three long-term.

In terms of which company to use, the answer usually comes down to a collector’s individual priorities and budget. For vintage Hall of Fame cards or other true gems, PSA’s brand power and history still makes it the default choice. But BGS, SGC or even HGA can be excellent more affordable options depending on turnaround needs, card value, and submission size. SGC in particular strikes a great balance for most modern issues. And HGA’s lightning speeds are hard to beat. Having cards professionally authenticated and encapsulated by one of these top four companies is a smart move for serious collectors. It helps preserve condition while boosting a card’s worth.

There are also some factors to consider that are specific to each grading company:

PSA is known for their toughest standards, making their grades among the hardest to achieve. This adds prestige but also means stricter criteria.

BGS’s sub-grades allow for more granular assessment of individual elements like centering. This level of detail appeals to discerning collectors.

SGC has really strengthened their brand in recent years and have earned respect for consistent, fair grading. Their bulk submission discounts also make them affordable for large collections.

Turnaround times are HGA’s biggest selling point right now. Some have questioned if their rapid speeds could compromise quality control long-term, but initial reviews are largely positive.

There is no single “best” choice—it depends entirely on an individual collector’s specific cards, budget and priorities. But by using one of the top four accredited companies, collectors can feel confident their most prized cards will be properly authenticated, protected and have their value maximized long-term. The grading process gives pieces a sense of official verification that seriously enhances their historical authenticity and importance within the collecting community.