What do you guys think about AGS graded cards? I won a pair recently.

DeutscherGeist

This is a grading company that I have been impressed with. Their grades are like PSA's and their holders are so much more convenient. The holders are simply fantastic. Not only do they have a slip like PSA's you can also tell what card is in the holder by reading the top. This feature makes it easier to search for a card stacked vertically in a box instead.

What are some of your experience with AGS?


Alomar rookie

smallstocks

Never heard of them.

fsjeter

Don't know anything about them. I suggest sticking to the big four (PSA, BGS, SGC, and GAI). GAI has a similiar flip that has the information on the top of the slab as well. If you really want to get an idea, crack one of your cards and crossover to PSA. Or you can send AGS a trimmed card and see what happens.

Scott

ndleo

First nice buy on the Alomar RCs. I think he has an outside shot at the HOF.

I've purchased 3 AGS 10 modern RCs before and crossed them over to PSA. 2 came back as a PSA 9, one came back as a PSA 8. Not bad since the cost was a fraction of the PSA value.

Haven't tried vintage yet.

EagleEyeKid

I have purchased 1 AGS 10 card 4 years ago.
It was a 92 Stadium Club Shaq RC. Basically, I threw
away $20. For that price, I had to see and I don't want
to see anymore. It was holdered a 10, and it was a 6 - 7 at best.
All 4 corners had white chipping, and the back was even worse.
I emailed AGS and told them that they were blind. Never received
a response from them.

DeutscherGeist

I have been going through my entire graded collection recently in order to organize them in one single pelican case instead of several boxes stored in odd places. I even took the time to set up a excel spread sheet to enter in all my graded cards (I included categories like manufacturer, year, card#, player, purchase price, purchase origin, grading company, grade and any special notes. I have slightly over a hundred graded cards and a little less than a dozen of them are from AGS.

The cards in the AGS holders look like what PSA would have graded them as, but at a fraction of the cost. Its a nice way to bargain hunt for your favorite cards. Buy the card, not the holder applies big time here.

bobbyw8469

<< <i>The cards in the AGS holders look like what PSA would have graded them as, but at a fraction of the cost. Its a nice way to bargain hunt for your favorite cards. Buy the card, not the holder applies big time here. >>



..I have seen some mint beauties in PRO holders....would I buy them??? NO! Some graders just have to establish themselves. And while you may get lucky once in a while, smart money says STAY AWAY!

WinPitcher

The only problem I have with this Andre (HI) is that they may let trimmed cards through.

Besides the obvious over grading that companies like this have been known for.


Advanced Grading Specialists is not one of the companies that I would use, but if you feel comfortable

with what you buy, hey I have no problem with it. You are a pretty well advanced collector not some newb.


Steve

1989FleerBillRipkencollector

Wasn't AGS the ones about 10 years ago that you could go to Target and Walmart and buy a graded pack and you'd get a AGS card? I bought many of those, mainly graded 9. None were really close to a PSA 9. Chipping, centering and dings. I'll stick with the big 3. GAI, PRO and GEM.

72skywalker

If the cards are nice I would say good job. After all it is all about the cards not the holder like DeutscherGeist said.

NickM

I wouldn't look at them for anything expensive, but I've seen some decent lower- and mid-grade '50s and '60s stuff in their holders. They were a real attempt at a grading company - they were grading other people's cards, not their own, and some people in the early days of grading submitted unaltered cards to them and had them graded fairly. Treat it like buying a raw card.

Nick

DeutscherGeist

Like NickM said, this was a real attempt at forming another grading company. It was not like Pro or GEM at all.

Look at it this way, is anyone going to make fake AGS flips and holders? No, the counterfeiters would focus their efforts on PSA.
I look for AGS cards on ebay, and if its a card I want, then I look at the condition carefully. Once I receive it, I see that it was a nice card all along.
Winpitcher mentions that maybe some trimmed cards slip past the graders, not in the same manner as Pro or GEM, but just due to not having the best in the hobby because of competition from PSA, BGS, SCG, etc. When AGS started, they recruited from very experienced hobbyists because they wanted to rival PSA. I don't think they are any less competent graders there, but one needs to always be careful of that anyway.

I am always cautious about buying AGS cards, but its a low risk since they do not cost that much nor do I see anything of big value in them like a Rickey Henderson rookie.

GZ_WarMonger

AGS grading claim to use AI to grade cards using AI which isn't true it's just a fancy laser than scans & measures the card, not a very accurate system either Apparently. They were actually called out on Insta gram on one their Posts about their AI grading machine by an Australian Company called Card Traders Australia (Cardtraders.com.au) by the owner of this company who apparently came from a background in electronics and communications engineering specialising is Fibre optic laser systems who stated this very information.
It's really hard to say beyond doubt how good AGS and their AI grading system is, however their labels aren't very exciting at all, Labels Wise we found BGS Labels and CTA's Metal Labels look the most Professional, we have bought slabs from a multitude of Companies including CTA and some other Aussie Companies and some PCG & RCG slabs from the UK and have CGC,PSA & Beckets Slabs.

AGS are limited in what TCG/CCG series they accept and what sports cards ect they accept, they are also limited to just English & Japanese cards.

PSA,CGC, Beckets aren't limited on Languages they accept cards in but are somewhat limited on TCG/CCG series (apparently don't accept Myths & Legends TCG and other more obscure series)

UGC (Universal Grading Company) from the UK apparently accept all Legitimate TCG/CCG in all languages but don't case breaks or Encapsulation without grade and Labels aren't that good and have only one level of Grading service.

CTA (Card Traders Australia)- Offer Multiple Services Based Around Speed of the Service starting at $25 AUD for their up to 30 days turnaround service and though expensive still cheaper than BGS,CGC & PSA a 1 Day service, with all services including Sub grades which are print really clearly on the Back of the Label next to the QR code that links to the very detailed with photos public report on the card which shows the centering and any flaws detected including those invisible to the naked eye. They use a combination of Hands on Manual checks and high tech equipment for all their grading.
They Accept any Legit TCG/CCG including Myths and Legends in any language even if they have never heard of it (you just have to fill out the information you know about the card online)
They also slab without grade or Authenticity Guarantee any TCG/CCG they have the slabs for including Fake Cards that you want to preserve because they look cool and Goddess Story a technically legitimate CCG which uses trademark anime characters without license, as there's no grade or Authentication they instead other cool custom labels either their own design at no extra or at extra cost your own custom design( they are also working on adding a Pops Grading Service and an Insert for their Card Slabs to allow them to offer Tazo/similar to tazo collectable disks Grading services and Slab them in their card slabs for an even cooler display and bigger labels than what a coin slab which is only slab used by any proper tazo grading service providers)

CGA(Card Grading Australia) & GMA from the U.S, Grading quality about same as AGS, Prices are heaps cheap(CGA cheaper only coz it's AUD not USD), labels have improved in many aspects, slabs are decent but are very limited on TCG/CCG series accepted

miwlvrn

I was looking at a CGA-slabbed card and it was obviously over-graded by a 3.5 point differential compared with a trustworthy company. If buying CGA, I'd suggest not paying any attention to the slab at all and just get the card if you plan to try a crack-and-sub.

mcadams

@DeutscherGeist said:
This is a grading company that I have been impressed with. Their grades are like PSA's and their holders are so much more convenient. The holders are simply fantastic. Not only do they have a slip like PSA's you can also tell what card is in the holder by reading the top. This feature makes it easier to search for a card stacked vertically in a box instead.

What are some of your experience with AGS?

Alomar rookie

Might be just me, but the link goes to an EBay error page for me.

athleticsfan

@mcadams said:

@DeutscherGeist said:
This is a grading company that I have been impressed with. Their grades are like PSA's and their holders are so much more convenient. The holders are simply fantastic. Not only do they have a slip like PSA's you can also tell what card is in the holder by reading the top. This feature makes it easier to search for a card stacked vertically in a box instead.

What are some of your experience with AGS?

Alomar rookie

Might be just me, but the link goes to an EBay error page for me.

Post is 17 years old

mcadams

@athleticsfan said:

@mcadams said:

@DeutscherGeist said:
This is a grading company that I have been impressed with. Their grades are like PSA's and their holders are so much more convenient. The holders are simply fantastic. Not only do they have a slip like PSA's you can also tell what card is in the holder by reading the top. This feature makes it easier to search for a card stacked vertically in a box instead.

What are some of your experience with AGS?

Alomar rookie

Might be just me, but the link goes to an EBay error page for me.

Post is 17 years old

Well then…..that explains it.

DeutscherGeist

Wow, I did not expect this thread to last this long, but great that it did. The information is still relevant.