What grading company do you like best?

Knuckles

There's no doubt in my mind who will come up first but it will be interesting to see who comes in 2nd and 3rd and polls are anonymous so the people who like other companies more so than PSA won't have to worry about taking criticism from others.


I like PSA and SGC equally regarding service (they're both consistent with their grading and strict on not grading trimmed/altered/sheet cut etc.. cards.

Breaking the tie comes down to looks.. Being a collector first and foremost I give the edge to SGC because their holders are nicer. If I were mainly a seller I would go with PSA.

Stingray

I have never bought from another grading company, because I would like to complete my 67 from just one grading company (set registary eventually when I get 10% complete), but I would not hesitate to buy from SGC, I think they are currently 2nd best for vintage. I do not know exactly how long they have been around, but it must be pretty close to PSA? Does anyone know exactly who started when. GAI is too new for me at this point and any others to me is a crap shoot.

Stingray

Knuckles

GAI was started by former PSA employees including Stephen Rocchi, the founder and former President of PSA, and Mike Baker, the former Director of Grading of PSA.

SGC has been around for 6 years give or take a few months. They attract vintage and pre-war collectors mostly.

stevek

Almost all of my collection is from the 70s on back so I'll speak from that point of view. I still like PSA the best. Nothing wrong though with SGC and I think that competition is a good thing - keeps prices in line. I have lost confidence in GAI, except if I were to buy an unopened pack. I have seen a number of GAI cards which in my opinion sure looked like they were trimmed. As for the rest - I wouldn't give two cents for them. With Pro Grading being the scourge of the grading industry for slabbing worthless trimmed cards.

Steve

smallstocks

Can't believe you didn't list PRO as a choice. Best way to sell overgraded cards for ridiculous amounts!

Stone193

I take it as a personal insult that Pogo Stick Grading Company - PSG - was not one of the selections!



Stone

Knuckles

Bah, listing KSA and SCD is enough of a joke.. and Mike you know damn well that it's not fair putting PSG against everyone else.. PSG would blow everyone else away! My only question about PSG is do they grade Pogo corn dogs?

Southerncards

Everything I own is graded by SGC. They have my vote hands down.

koby

All three companies are fine, but the problem with SGC and GAI is that it is very diffcult to find any SGC or GAI cards for sale on ebay. This makes it very difficult to complete any SGC or GAI sets. I think people recognize this and that is the reason PSA continues to dominate the sportscard market.

PSA has 14464 sets in its registry. SGC has 881. GAI has 6 or 7.

Knuckles

Keep in mind SGC just started their set registry not too long ago and GAI even later than SGC. They'll both continue to grow, giving PSA good competition which will give everyone a break on grading fee's.

Stone193

<< <i>Keep in mind SGC just started their set registry not too long ago and GAI even later than SGC. They'll both continue to grow, giving PSA good competition which will give everyone a break on grading fee's. >>




PSG #1 Set



PSG #2 Set - All-time retired

Brian48

For laughs, you should add GEM and Pro on there as well and see how many folks pick it

Knuckles

okie dokie.. That's some nice growth Stone.

Knuckles

I can't believe the KSA and SCD got votes

Southerncards

Part of the reason that little SGC stuff makes it to the market place is that the vast majority of SGC collectors keep stuff in their own collections. People who use PSA generally tend to consider resale at some point in time. SGC collectors tend to maintain ownership of their slabs.