Grading the Grader, BGS Results are in
22fan44
Posts: 20
Well, it was asked for by a couple people in the Who's Who topic (Big thanks to Bob for posting it), so I went ahead and used my previous submission (3 weeks ago) which was done while Who's Who was being written to use as a starting point with BGS. Here is the first little part of what is turning out to be a huge article. BGS' communication stinks, so don't try to contact them if you are looking for help. But big thanks to Joe Orlando here at PSA, because we are setting up a phone call meeting for sometime after next week to discuss some issues. Remember, this has not been edited by TCC (Bob) or anyone else, and was typed up about 30 minutes ago since the cards came. Positive and negative criticism are welcome, especially negative because it will help me improve as a writer. So sit back in that computer chair and read the first draft of Grading the Graders.
Grading the Graders
Many people wonder which company is better to send their cards to for grading, PSA, BGS, SGC, or GAI. Thanks to overwhelming support for a continuation of my Card Grading series, I have set out to determine the answer to that very question, who is better?
The main source for graded information is a Beckett guide, but how can a collector really expect them to be unbiased when they both sell their own graded cards on their website, as well as the fact that people trust there price guide to be accurate. That is something which I believe to be a false belief, becauseBGS would not have the top “book value” over 3 other great companies if they were not a bit biased. Beckett was not responsive to my emails after the first, so I have to give them a low grade for communication. However, I still sent cards in to them for grading. One came back a BGS 9 Mint. This card seemed a bit overgraded, but was semi-close to what I expect. The sub-grades were as follows:
Centering: 9.5
Corners: 9
Edges: 9
Surface: 9.5
Unless the card was damaged after they had placed it into the holder, the Edges grade should have been about an 8. There is noticeable chipping on the back edges and the card has some fraying on the front edges. The card graded was a 1996 Score Board Laser Marshall Faulk, which made the centering grade relatively easy to obtain. The surface grade is an interesting one to me. How does BGS grade the card’s “Surface?” It would be interesting to find out what goes into a surface grade, as some cards are indented or embossed. How would they grade those types of cards? The other card submitted was a 1991 Score Chipper Jones Rookie Card. This one came back a BGS 8 NM-MT. I feel that grade was dead on accurate. The sub-grades for the card were as follows:
Centering: 9.5
Corners: 8.5
Edges: 7.5
Surface: 8.5
I think those grades were very well deserved, especially the edges grade. The problem with this card was the holder arrived scratched up. Not very good for the collector who wants to showcase his or her collection, as a scratched case has little eye appeal. However, this may not have been Beckett’s fault and it will not count too much against them in the service area. One thing that I will count against them has got to be the turn around time. They arrived a week past what they should have, which could really hurt someone trying to sell a hot card, since a card could get hot and then drop off in value in less than a week. Also, the appearance of the BGS cases themselves is lacking and the functionality is as well. Unless you score a BGS 9, 9.5 or 10, all you recieve is a silly little piece of paper with the grade on it with Beckett Grading stamped all over the back in blue in the holder. Most people I know would prefer uniformity in how their cards look, so it looks to the common glance that one card is the same as another. On the functionality side of things, the BGS case allows for way too much movement of the card inside the case. The card has about 5-6 millimeters of movement. This amount of space can still damage the card if it were dropped on edge. This would serve to make the card less valuable to those who buy the card and not the case it is in. From this experience I give BGS the following sub-grades and final grade:
Communication: 4.5
Service: 6
Appearance: 7
Grading Tools: 6.5
Marketability: 9.5
Final grade: 7
This seemingly low grade would be even worse if I went by BGS’ standard of .5 above the lowest sub-grade, which would make this a 5. The marketability is so high because BGS sells for more on the secondary market than any of the others. This is mostly due to the fact that many collectors consider BGS to be a very hard grader. The grading tools sub-grade is a 6.5, because even though their price guide is biased, it still exists as a benchmark for those lacking other sources. However, BGS does not offer any other tools for those who get their cards graded, so it had no chance at an 8 or higher in that category. Perhaps this is why the true collectors, and not just the sellers, go for some of the other grading companies. In a nutshell, BGS is a great service for those who wish to sell their cards, but not so great for those who wish to collect them for personal reasons.
Thanks
Henry
P.S. Bob, if you read this, pm me over at SCS if you would like to edit it before I begin on the next company. Thanks
Edited to remove the comma's. See how you like it now. Thanks
Grading the Graders
Many people wonder which company is better to send their cards to for grading, PSA, BGS, SGC, or GAI. Thanks to overwhelming support for a continuation of my Card Grading series, I have set out to determine the answer to that very question, who is better?
The main source for graded information is a Beckett guide, but how can a collector really expect them to be unbiased when they both sell their own graded cards on their website, as well as the fact that people trust there price guide to be accurate. That is something which I believe to be a false belief, becauseBGS would not have the top “book value” over 3 other great companies if they were not a bit biased. Beckett was not responsive to my emails after the first, so I have to give them a low grade for communication. However, I still sent cards in to them for grading. One came back a BGS 9 Mint. This card seemed a bit overgraded, but was semi-close to what I expect. The sub-grades were as follows:
Centering: 9.5
Corners: 9
Edges: 9
Surface: 9.5
Unless the card was damaged after they had placed it into the holder, the Edges grade should have been about an 8. There is noticeable chipping on the back edges and the card has some fraying on the front edges. The card graded was a 1996 Score Board Laser Marshall Faulk, which made the centering grade relatively easy to obtain. The surface grade is an interesting one to me. How does BGS grade the card’s “Surface?” It would be interesting to find out what goes into a surface grade, as some cards are indented or embossed. How would they grade those types of cards? The other card submitted was a 1991 Score Chipper Jones Rookie Card. This one came back a BGS 8 NM-MT. I feel that grade was dead on accurate. The sub-grades for the card were as follows:
Centering: 9.5
Corners: 8.5
Edges: 7.5
Surface: 8.5
I think those grades were very well deserved, especially the edges grade. The problem with this card was the holder arrived scratched up. Not very good for the collector who wants to showcase his or her collection, as a scratched case has little eye appeal. However, this may not have been Beckett’s fault and it will not count too much against them in the service area. One thing that I will count against them has got to be the turn around time. They arrived a week past what they should have, which could really hurt someone trying to sell a hot card, since a card could get hot and then drop off in value in less than a week. Also, the appearance of the BGS cases themselves is lacking and the functionality is as well. Unless you score a BGS 9, 9.5 or 10, all you recieve is a silly little piece of paper with the grade on it with Beckett Grading stamped all over the back in blue in the holder. Most people I know would prefer uniformity in how their cards look, so it looks to the common glance that one card is the same as another. On the functionality side of things, the BGS case allows for way too much movement of the card inside the case. The card has about 5-6 millimeters of movement. This amount of space can still damage the card if it were dropped on edge. This would serve to make the card less valuable to those who buy the card and not the case it is in. From this experience I give BGS the following sub-grades and final grade:
Communication: 4.5
Service: 6
Appearance: 7
Grading Tools: 6.5
Marketability: 9.5
Final grade: 7
This seemingly low grade would be even worse if I went by BGS’ standard of .5 above the lowest sub-grade, which would make this a 5. The marketability is so high because BGS sells for more on the secondary market than any of the others. This is mostly due to the fact that many collectors consider BGS to be a very hard grader. The grading tools sub-grade is a 6.5, because even though their price guide is biased, it still exists as a benchmark for those lacking other sources. However, BGS does not offer any other tools for those who get their cards graded, so it had no chance at an 8 or higher in that category. Perhaps this is why the true collectors, and not just the sellers, go for some of the other grading companies. In a nutshell, BGS is a great service for those who wish to sell their cards, but not so great for those who wish to collect them for personal reasons.
Thanks
Henry
P.S. Bob, if you read this, pm me over at SCS if you would like to edit it before I begin on the next company. Thanks
Edited to remove the comma's. See how you like it now. Thanks
Looking for:
1957 Topps 271, 343
1934 Goudey
1957 Topps 271, 343
1934 Goudey
0
Comments
Wow, you were generous with the overall grade of them.
I think we already know they suck overall.
I stopped giving them my money over 2 years ago.
I don't send anything in; nor do I buy anything.
I still have some cards graded by them that 's just sitting in my closet.
<< <i>However, this may not have been Beckett’s fault and it will not count too much against them in the service area. >>
Henry
I thought you were going to discuss this issue later. If this isn't Beckett's fault, then who?
<< <i>Unless you score a BGS 9, 9.5 or 10, all you recieve is a silly little piece of paper with the grade on it with Beckett Grading stamped all over the back in blue in the holder. Most people I know would prefer uniformity in how their cards look, so it looks to the common glance that one card is the same as another. >>
I don't understand. They use a different label for 8z? A scan would really help.
<< <i>The grading tools sub-grade is a 6.5, because even though their price guide is biased, it still exists as a benchmark for those lacking other sources. However, BGS does not offer any other tools for those who get their cards graded, so it had no chance at an 8 or higher in that category. >>
What are grading tools? Do you mean their price guide or on-line smr like psa has?
Finally - nice job but I would've considered it important to scan the cards before shipping them out - this way if they are messing cards up on holdering, you have evidence. Also, scans of the cards would help especially with the BGS 8 which, if I have it correct, has a different label? Photos of the packaging, how they came to you - how they were packaged would be nice to justify any grade that you are assigning to their overall service.
I would not have said any of this if you hadn't asked for input - I think it is great that you are taking the time to look at the grading companies. For one thing, this is a very touchy subject with opinions on all sides. Wars have been started on way less.
Thanx
your friend,
Mike
Henry
1957 Topps 271, 343
1934 Goudey