Are you looking to have your card graded?  Make the mistake of using ANYONE other than PSA, Beckett, SGC, or GAI?  Well, you may have just reduced the value of your 1981 Joe Montana that is in gem mint (for real) condition from $2,000 if it had been graded by PSA to $200 if you used someone not in the official club. 

Why is your card that is truly the mint condition it is worth 90% less? Well, because once people began using PSA or Beckett, then they are invested in those services being the only trusted graders.  Is MINT or GEM or PRO or some other johnny-come-lately grader automatically considered a suspicious grader or your card worth just book value when graded?  You bet.  Not by many of us collectors and sellers but by the established dealers in those "official" graders.  Want to pay $100 to join someones service and then pay more per card?!  I guess because the only difference between the top graders and the much less expensive graders is the system.

Want to maximize your investment long term?  Hope you pick the right grader that will be trusted this week, next year, and 10 years from now.  If you pick wrong, then the card you may have trusted to be worth a multiple value of unslabbed book price may be LESS value.

Is any of this fair? No. Is this going to change in the future?  Hopefully but I would think 90% chance of NOT. Good luck.  Join those of us who buy from the non top four graders, break the slabs and then send to those top four and get the 10 the original grader gave.  That's what I do.  I am seven for seven on this method.  Can help you make MUCHO money!