Crossover grading

Crossover grading is when a card that has already been graded by one company is sent to another for a fresh assessment. The aim may be to switch companies, for instance to one the market values more highly for that particular card, or to obtain a different grade.

How it works

In a crossover, the card is usually submitted in its old slab, often with a minimum grade. If the new grade meets the minimum, the company opens the holder and moves the card over; otherwise the card is returned in its original slab. You can also open the slab yourself and submit the card as an ordinary raw card. Some companies have dedicated services for such submissions, and the terms are on the company's website. The new company assesses the card from scratch, without being bound by the old grade.

Uncertainties

• No reliable conversion: the scales are not identical; see the grading scale. A high grade at one company is no guarantee of the same at another.
• Risk of a lower grade: the new company may judge the card more strictly, and if the slab is opened, taking the card out can itself cause small marks.
• Subgrades: companies such as Beckett and CGC assess centering, corners, edges and surface separately, and the result can differ from the overall judgement at PSA.
• Cost and time: a new submission costs money and takes time, and the card is off the market in the meantime.

Why some people do it

The market values the companies differently, and the difference can vary from card to card. Some owners therefore consider crossover grading to obtain a slab from the company with the best acceptance for the card. Others try for a higher grade from a company with a different assessment style. There is no fixed rule for when it pays off; see SGC and other graders for more options.

Crossover grading is not the same as resubmitting a card to the same company, although both give a fresh assessment. Some companies have dedicated services for re-reviewing cards, with terms that differ from an ordinary submission. If the result is not what was hoped for, the card can in some cases be submitted yet again, but every round carries a new risk of wear and new costs.

Is it worth it?

The assessment resembles the one for ordinary grading: costs, probabilities and possible price differences have to be weighed against each other; see is grading worth it?. Compare recent sales of similar cards at both companies rather than assuming anything in advance. See also card grading for an introduction.