General Forum

Good Morning TCDB,  l’m looking for opinions / experience cracking slabs to resubmit for re-grading. I have a few PSA slabs that I would like to cross over to SGC. Most of them are nines I’m thinking about doing some tens what are your thoughts?  These are for my PC so I don’t intend on selling them.  I’ve recently become enamored with collecting Topps Tiffany.  They look so much better in a SGC tuxedo than the PSA slab.  Have really enjoyed this community over the past year or so I’ve been doing this. Thanks for all you’ve done for me.  It is a joy to help each other out and enjoy the hobby we love.

I have cracked quite a few, but none to get re-slabbed, but that's personal choice.

You will need something that can cut hard plastic (regular scissors will not work), and flat head screwdriver.

I would recommend eye protection as well. Snipping the corner where the flip is can produce quite the flying plastic pieces, some quite sharp. I usually did mine inside of box with the opening facing me but where I couldn't actually see the cut occuring.

There are videos on youtube that show the process.

I would not crack a PSA slab to submit to SGC unless I was positive it would grade higher. 

SGC slabs take up more space so unless it's on display, there is no benefit for a card you don't plan to sell.

The cost of grading doesn't seem beneficial for Topps Tiffany cards unless it's one of about 10 cards.

You may not resell it, but life happens and your collecting goals might change.  So resell does matter, even a little.  The power of the PSA registry inflates the prices of post war cards in their slabs.  Especially for cards that are not in high demand.

Could you possibly trade it for an SGC instead? That’s probably a needle in the haystack but if listed somewhere or at a show? Or Buy an SGC and sell your PSA; unless that specific card has sentimental value. Just spitballing 

I know you can send slabbed cards to PSA for regrading. They'll do the cracking. I would assume the same for SGC. So no need for you to crack them.

Yes, SGC offers this service labeled as "Crossover". According to their pricing, "crossover" appears to be the same price as standard grading.

https://www.gosgc.com/card-grading/services-pricing

Overall, it will come down to trust. Do you trust yourself to crack the slab without issue? Do you trust a third party, SGC in this case, to crack the slab without issue?

Wanted to also mention the following from SGC:

What's the worst that can happen?
Your cards don't meet their minimum grade requirements and are sent back the exact same way in which they were sent in.

What's the best that can happen?
Your cards "cross" to SGC grades as good or even higher than the minimum you set!

Upcharges ONLY apply if the card "crosses" to the designated minimum grade or higher (we will always call for approval for any upcharge necessary).

I am also assuming there would be some sort of insurance (within the grading agreement/terms/conditions) related to any damage of a card due to "cracking the slab", but hopefully they have a better option than cracking the corner with a pair of pliers.

I’ve only purchased one graded card before which I ended up cracking out of the slab.  Made a bit of a mess with all the plastic bits, but luckily I thought to have the process contained inside a plastic bag.   

Older PSA and SGC slabs are extremely easy to crack with no damage.

I even asked PSA if they could slab my cards in this fashion. Their answer was "No". And then asked how I did that. They really thought their old slabs were infallible.

I have this screwdriver that I typically just press down really hard. On some concrete to only chip the edge which makes it easier to open. (Up top by the label) I’ve done it about 4 times and have not had any problems.