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Splendid Genesis: BGS 8.5. Should I Crack It or Keep It?

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2015 9:47 pm
by The_Antiquarian
It has been only recent that I have moved from just collecting rare cards to collecting rare cards that are graded (for added assurance in authenticity).
I have acquired Splendid Genesis several years ago and have been keeping it in a normal plastic sleeves ever since then, but with my Beta cards and other rare cards graded with BGS 9.5 and kept in secure BGS issued plastic "containers," I wanted to get my Splendid Genesis graded and kept in a similar plastic shell as well.

To my dismay, Splendid Genesis received a grading of BGS 8.5 and as a collector of only BGS 9.5 (Gem Mint), this has been the thorn of my collection.

Most likely, I will not depart with my Splendid Genesis, but if I were to sell it, wouldn't it be better to sell Splendid Genesis, "ungraded," instead of selling it as BGS 8.5?

I would like the opinions of professional collectors here. Thank you!

Re: Splendid Genesis: BGS 8.5. Should I Crack It or Keep It?

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2015 10:37 pm
by matts46570
To be honest, I don't think it would change anything to crack it or not. First, BGS 8.5 doesn't command any premium on a card, so you wouldn't make more or less profit out of it. Indeed, it guarantees the authenticity of the card so it's a good thing. Now if you ever get a buyer that absolutely wants it ungraded but that gives you your price, I would just crack it for him and sell him. So basically, I don't think it's a bad thing that it's graded. The market for this card is very small, so I'm sure you'll be able to work something out with a future buyer regardless of it being graded or not, and if he wants it ungraded, you'll know what to do :wink:

Re: Splendid Genesis: BGS 8.5. Should I Crack It or Keep It?

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 2:45 am
by The_Antiquarian
matts46570 wrote:To be honest, I don't think it would change anything to crack it or not. First, BGS 8.5 doesn't command any premium on a card, so you wouldn't make more or less profit out of it. Indeed, it guarantees the authenticity of the card so it's a good thing. Now if you ever get a buyer that absolutely wants it ungraded but that gives you your price, I would just crack it for him and sell him. So basically, I don't think it's a bad thing that it's graded. The market for this card is very small, so I'm sure you'll be able to work something out with a future buyer regardless of it being graded or not, and if he wants it ungraded, you'll know what to do :wink:
Hello, thank you very much for the input. Originally when I submitted the card to BCG, my original intent was 1) to have the card on a hard shall case similar to all my other collection and 2) to get an assurance that the card is indeed "real"

Now that I received the card back from BCG and fulfilled two of my main objectives, I have to admit that the selfish side of me got a better of me.

As you stated, I agree that since the market for Splendid Genesis is quite small, the importance of assessing the authenticity of this card precedes the grading objective (assuming that the card appears to be in NM condition). You have also stated that there is no premium attached with 8.5 graded card. Wouldn't there still be some kind of premium of Splendid Genesis having graded as the authenticity of the card has been assessed? I see oftentimes on Ebay, with the listing of Exalted Fraternity or Splendid Genesis "misprints" of mysterious provenance that the whole prospect of making any purchase becomes suspect.

How about you guys? Am I sacrificing the integrity as a collector by having BGS 8.5 in my collection with all others (not much, but still) rated at 9.5? Or is it "OK" because the assessment of the card's authenticity trumps grading objective?

Re: Splendid Genesis: BGS 8.5. Should I Crack It or Keep It?

Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 1:13 pm
by stefano
Hi there.

I would just leave it as it is. I think the Splendid is one of those cards that it won't fluctuate much in price regardless of the grade. As Matt said, the BGS label guarantees authenticity and if you were to sell it at some point, it would definitely help.

Re: Splendid Genesis: BGS 8.5. Should I Crack It or Keep It?

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 5:05 pm
by Hayden
stefano wrote:Hi there.

I would just leave it as it is. I think the Splendid is one of those cards that it won't fluctuate much in price regardless of the grade. As Matt said, the BGS label guarantees authenticity and if you were to sell it at some point, it would definitely help.
I agree as well. Leave it graded as collectors are not buying that card for it's grade primarily. They are so scare that finding one is the first step. Determining it is real is the next. Then you can look at grade to adjust relative fair value up or down. But the first 2 steps are really what determine this card's worth... and if you have a Birth Announcement to go with it :-O

Re: Splendid Genesis: BGS 8.5. Should I Crack It or Keep It?

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2015 6:36 pm
by The_Antiquarian
stefano wrote:Hi there.

I would just leave it as it is. I think the Splendid is one of those cards that it won't fluctuate much in price regardless of the grade. As Matt said, the BGS label guarantees authenticity and if you were to sell it at some point, it would definitely help.
Hayden wrote:
stefano wrote:Hi there.

I would just leave it as it is. I think the Splendid is one of those cards that it won't fluctuate much in price regardless of the grade. As Matt said, the BGS label guarantees authenticity and if you were to sell it at some point, it would definitely help.
I agree as well. Leave it graded as collectors are not buying that card for it's grade primarily. They are so scare that finding one is the first step. Determining it is real is the next. Then you can look at grade to adjust relative fair value up or down. But the first 2 steps are really what determine this card's worth... and if you have a Birth Announcement to go with it :-O
Hello friends. Thank you very much for the input. I am relieved to know that there is some value derived in having the card graded by BGS, although it is not the grade that I have anticipated.

I suppose you guys are absolutely right that deciding whether the card is real or not comes first prior to anything else!

Thank you for the input!

And no, I didn't have the birth announcement card along with it :(

Re: Splendid Genesis: BGS 8.5. Should I Crack It or Keep It?

Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2015 5:57 am
by GlobalBoosterHunter
Do you agree that it is an 8.5?

There are authentication companies who don't grade, they just case the item and certify that it is genuine. I know this is true in most hobbies but I am not sure in the card market. The cost of the service is cheaper.

If you sell it as an 8.5 then people will base their purchase price on this grade, you effectively set the upper limit on the card price.

If you sell it as an authentic but ungraded item then people will be able to look at the scans and grade it themselves and make their own decision based on the eye appeal of the card. I do not think that you are obliged to disclose the previous BGS grade, particularly if you think it is wrong.

If they then chose to have it graded they can pay for the service.

You might be able to get a better price on it if it isn't graded as 8.5, or you might lose potential customers who would be suspicious as to why you haven't had it graded.

Re: Splendid Genesis: BGS 8.5. Should I Crack It or Keep It?

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 11:40 am
by The_Antiquarian
GlobalBoosterHunter wrote:Do you agree that it is an 8.5?

There are authentication companies who don't grade, they just case the item and certify that it is genuine. I know this is true in most hobbies but I am not sure in the card market. The cost of the service is cheaper.

If you sell it as an 8.5 then people will base their purchase price on this grade, you effectively set the upper limit on the card price.

If you sell it as an authentic but ungraded item then people will be able to look at the scans and grade it themselves and make their own decision based on the eye appeal of the card. I do not think that you are obliged to disclose the previous BGS grade, particularly if you think it is wrong.

If they then chose to have it graded they can pay for the service.

You might be able to get a better price on it if it isn't graded as 8.5, or you might lose potential customers who would be suspicious as to why you haven't had it graded.
Thank you very much for your input!

But I am inclined to believe with other members' assessment that the BGS graded card in any grading standard (obviously not less than NM) has more market value than the Splendid Genesis that appear "mint-ish," but without it being graded.

With so many counterfeit Splendid Genesis out in the market, I believe proving NM Splendid Genesis' authenticity has substantially more marginal value than determining whether the ungraded card qualifies 9.5 or above. With card so rare in print numbers, I believe the majority of the prospective collectors will place their concern on authenticity first than determining an ungraded card as to whether it qualifies being MM or Mint-ish. Just summing up the members' assessment, I suppose a Splendid Genesis with 8.5 BGS grade has substantially more value than an ungraded mint-ish Splendid Genesis with no provenance! Besides, there are only three graded Splendid Genesis (BGS) with only one being graded as 9.0 while others being graded 8.5, I believe there isn't significant difference in values.

Just a beginner's thought, as an accountant and consultant =P

Re: Splendid Genesis: BGS 8.5. Should I Crack It or Keep It?

Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2015 9:11 pm
by mystical_tutor
I'll quickly admit I am out of my element here as far as the grading is concerned. I don't collect such and only have a few.
I am quite interested in the different areas of grading on the card though. Where did it take it's hit? Those that I have seen, and mine, all look great. I have never seen one that looked played and I would be really upset if they graded mine 8.5 as it went right from the announcement to a special slab and then into the bank safety deposit box.
Like GlobalBoosterHunter asked, do you agree that it is 8.5. I have seen some dumb things done by the "god of grading". It would be interesting to have you crack it, and have another collector send it in.....

Gary