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BGS vs PSA which to use?

ORANGEORANGE Posts: 136
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
Can any of you regular card graders let me in on your reasons for using one grading service over another?
ORANGE

Comments

  • storm888storm888 Posts: 11,701 ✭✭✭
    The market has near-absolute confidence is PSA slabs.

    Until/unless that changes, there is no reason to consider
    any other TPG.
    Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.
  • Brian48Brian48 Posts: 2,624 ✭✭✭
    I can't believe you're asking this question at a PSA forum image
  • nightcrawlernightcrawler Posts: 5,110 ✭✭
    I like PSA over BGS because it's better.

    Why do you have a picture of Gary for an avatar? image



  • jmbkb4jmbkb4 Posts: 2,963


    << <i>I like PSA over BGS because it's better.

    Why do you have a picture of Gary for an avatar? image >>



    image
  • SKINSFANSKINSFAN Posts: 1,032
    Even though 99.9% here will tell you psa, For resale reasons psa hands down on anything vintage to semi vintage but bgs does better on new stuff in my opinion
  • SoutherncardsSoutherncards Posts: 1,384 ✭✭
    SGC beats everything else
  • jmbkb4jmbkb4 Posts: 2,963


    << <i>SGC beats everything else >>



    the case -- yes -- but I think it is very dishonest to this newbie to imply that SGC sells for the same (or more!) than PSA. Of course there are exceptions [rare], but we both know the truth regarding this one.
  • PasadenaMudSlidePasadenaMudSlide Posts: 732
    Save your money. Like the carnival, the game's rigged.
  • SoutherncardsSoutherncards Posts: 1,384 ✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>SGC beats everything else >>



    the case -- yes -- but I think it is very dishonest to this newbie to imply that SGC sells for the same (or more!) than PSA. Of course there are exceptions [rare], but we both know the truth regarding this one. >>




    Nowhere did he ask, nor did I imply, that one service outsells another. Sales never entered my mind as there are those of us that dont slab for profit. He simply asked which one to use and I answered it.
  • jmbkb4jmbkb4 Posts: 2,963
    If the OP was merely asking for a "vibe," there would be no point in asking which to use. Obviously, if you want to throw money to the wind, then get your cards graded by USA grading for all I care.

    If the OP would be more specific, we all might be able to address the vague question more clearly.

    SGC is a company that I greatly respect, in many ways more than PSA. Southerncards, please don't take offense to my post.

    image
  • Brian48Brian48 Posts: 2,624 ✭✭✭
    If presentation matters, you can decide which case looks better. To bad I don't have a GAI graded one to add to the mix.

    image
  • SoutherncardsSoutherncards Posts: 1,384 ✭✭
    jmbkb4 - no offense taken at all

    Brian - awesome pic, that says it all!
  • nightcrawlernightcrawler Posts: 5,110 ✭✭
    The SCG slab looks like crap compared to the other two.

    Sorry Southern, just being honest.
  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭


    << <i>The SCG slab looks like crap compared to the other two.

    Sorry Southern, just being honest. >>



    image

    It looks big, cumbersome, and diminishes the eye appeal in that example.

    image
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • BlackborderBlackborder Posts: 2,797 ✭


    << <i>The SCG slab looks like crap compared to the other two.

    Sorry Southern, just being honest. >>




    I have to agree. The transparent slabs are far better looking.
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,761 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I agree also. The "cutout" corner design is annoying, IMO.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • ORANGEORANGE Posts: 136
    What do you mean? Vague. Someone out there must have some experience with grading cards.
    How does pricing and waiting times compare. What are the criteria any card graders use? What company is more likely to give you a 10 for your 10 card (anyone who has felt the bite of an unfair grade knows this is an important one). The case doesn't matter to me a lot. The Beckett case is nice, but the ones I don't like are the companies that send cards out with bad corners and say they're a 9 or 10. Then there's other times you send in a card with real light corner wear and good centering or vice versa and it comes back a 6. Which company is more descriptive with their score and why?
    Field that if you want. Experiences/ opinions on this stuff are good.
    ORANGE
  • nightcrawlernightcrawler Posts: 5,110 ✭✭


    << <i>What do you mean? Vague. Someone out there must have some experience with grading cards.
    How does pricing and waiting times compare. What are the criteria any card graders use? What company is more likely to give you a 10 for your 10 card (anyone who has felt the bite of an unfair grade knows this is an important one). The case doesn't matter to me a lot. The Beckett case is nice, but the ones I don't like are the companies that send cards out with bad corners and say they're a 9 or 10. Then there's other times you send in a card with real light corner wear and good centering or vice versa and it comes back a 6. Which company is more descriptive with their score and why?
    Field that if you want. Experiences/ opinions on this stuff are good. >>




    Your first question sounded innocent enough, but now I think your just lookin to stir up trouble.

    image



  • ORANGEORANGE Posts: 136
    Innocent? What the ????
    ORANGE
  • sagardsagard Posts: 1,901 ✭✭✭
    SGC holders are too wide. BGS too thick. PSA just right.
  • storm888storm888 Posts: 11,701 ✭✭✭
    "SGC holders are too wide. BGS too thick. PSA just right. "

    //////////////////////////////////////////

    image
    Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,438 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I had a sausage and pepper sub for dinner.

    I was thinking about getting a haircut tomorrow.

    It may rain tomorrow...

    Then again, it may not.

    image
    Mike
  • SoonerCowboySoonerCowboy Posts: 1,179
    I prefer PSA or BGS cards for the newer stuff and cards with dark or no borders. I like the SGC holders with the older cards with white borders.
    00 Collector's Edge Supreme Master Build Almost
    imageimage
  • basestealerbasestealer Posts: 1,579 ✭
    It really depends on what your purpose is in having the cards graded.

    I don't grade vintage cards for my personal collection (a personal preference--I like all my cards raw).
    I do grade cards for resale (brings more $$$). For modern inserts and 90's and 00's stuff, I prefer BGS. I also like BGS for certain 80's rookies. For 50's-70's cards and anything submitted in a lot that might work with a set registry, I like PSA. For true vintage, I go with SGC. And if I'm buying a card for my personal collection, whether I crack it out later or not, I don't care what slab its in--I buy the card as if it were raw and grade it myself.

    Think of it this way--if you already own the cards, having them graded will do absolutely nothing for your collection. It won't increase in value or change in any way. All it will do is change the manner in which the cards are stored. Grading kicks in when you go to sell them, and then you have to think about prices realized. And if you're in the market to buy graded cards, stick with the big 3, and no matter what the slab says, buy the card, grade the card yourself, and pay a fair price based on the grade you assign it.

    Oh, the other part of your question--BGS is the easiest for the man on the street to submit to. No membership fees and no paperwork. Anyone can submit. That may or may not be a deciding factor for you, but I wouldn't let the PSA hurdles get in your way if you really want to make the most money on a particular card.
  • 1420sports1420sports Posts: 3,473 ✭✭✭
    For that particuliar issue, the SGC holder does not do the card justice. Most modern cards do not look good in anything but a clear holder - just my opinion. But instead of a Clemens, subsitute a number of other vintage card issues and SGC holders really make the card pop.

    If you are slabbing modern cards, I would lean towards BGS. I think the subgrades are important on the shiny cards. If you are collecting a certain player, PSA does have a nice registry.

    I think all three companies have advantages and disadvantages, you just need to determine those for yourself.

    Good luck
    collecting various PSA and SGC cards
  • blades3blades3 Posts: 141
    My two sense: Use PSA for almost everything. The only exceptions are brand new cards, or new filed or cut off a sheet cards for that matter, which BGS might be a better option, or 19th century cards, which SGC seems to have a really strong hold on. If it's from anywhere between 1900 and 2000, it's best to go with PSA. As for the holder discussion, I think SGC's holder is ugly and BGS holders are too tough to crack open, which ruins half the fun. PSA's holders aren't any masterpiece, but they are compact, clear and light so they get the nod.
    Steven Bloedow
    Collect Auctions
  • storm888storm888 Posts: 11,701 ✭✭✭
    "...I wouldn't let the PSA hurdles get in your way if you really want to make the most money on a particular card."

    /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

    With all the added benefits of PSA-membership, it is
    about the only bargain left in the hobby.


    Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.
  • ORANGEORANGE Posts: 136
    What kind of deals does PSA give on grading if you wanted to have a few hundred cards graded at one time? The other companies?
    ORANGE
  • basestealerbasestealer Posts: 1,579 ✭


    << <i>What kind of deals does PSA give on grading if you wanted to have a few hundred cards graded at one time? The other companies? >>


    Just look at their fee schedules.
    PSA
    BGS
    SGC
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