Contest/Giveaway: Top 3 strengths/weaknesses of PSA

thunderdan

We all have our positive and negatives opinions of PSA. Overall, all my collection is in PSA holders because--despite a few misgivings--I believe PSA still is the most credible TPG. That said, I'm curious as to what others consider to be their three biggest strengths and conversely the three biggest weaknesses (or if you prefer, 3 biggest opportunities). I have my own long list, but I'm curious as to what others think.

As an added bonus for participating, I will pick a number between 1 and 100. Anybody contributing 3 strengths and 3 weaknesses (smart a$$ comments don't count--but I'm sure I'll get some anyway, and some of them will undoubtedly be funny)--pick a number (the same number can't be picked twice). The person who contributes and picks closest to the number I have in mind will win a Factory wrapped 85 Donruss Baseball set shipped to you for free. I'll keep the contest open through Thursday night.

Let 'er rip...

Elemenopeo

Strengths:

Registry
Credibility
Cosetta


Weaknesses:

Slab
Credibility
Cost of Submissions

Lucky number: 50

mrmint23

Strengths
Added Value
Message Board
Credibility

Weaknesses
Slab
Cost
Turn around time

23

Sean1125

Strengths: One of the most credible and best in the industry for authentication and CONSISTENT grading, due to 'monthly' specials there are some very good prices on grading tons of singles at once, the PSA "Guarantee", cash back if they made a mistake... Essential to this business

"Smart a$$ strength"- Forum piranha base, sorry I mean users.

Weaknesses: Counterfeiters (and lack of enforcement), shipping back being so ridiculous on low dollar subs, POP REPORT BEING PRIVATE (OH MY GOSH.......)


Lucky number: 13

chadridge

Strengths:

Crediblity
Customer service (for me at least)
registry

Weaknesses:

easily faked/tampered-with slab
failure to actively pursue PSA slab forgers / tamperers
inconsistent grading

Chad
Number: 39

hhmag70

Pro;

Registry (can turn a common into a goldmine)
Credibility (prices realized/ease of sales)
Customer Service (few issues I've had, dealt with perfectly)



Con;

Pop Report (impossible to be accurate due to cracking cards out)
SMR (nice to read, useless as pricing tool)
Slabs (need improvements - security)

markj111

Weakness-lack of consideration to eye appeal. I have seen 6s that look way better than 8s. Too much attention is paid to micro creases only slightly diminish the appeal.

ThoseBackPages

Pros:

Registry - This cannot be topped by any other TPG
Continuity - PSA Slabs of all grades look great when laid out next to each other. The same cannot be said of BGS
Message Board - Lots of Information here.


Cons:

Slabs - need seal improvement to deter counterfeiting.
Shipping & Handling - fees could be improved (read: lowered
SMR - Great to read, would like to see more articles and less "pricing"

Lets go with #71

mlbfan2

Strengths:
-registry
-credibility
-customer service

Weaknesses:
-slabs
-grading consistency
-slabs
-turn-around time
-did I mention slabs?

number: 11

jimrad

Strengths:
Name brand recognition=added card value
Registry
Customer service


Weaknesses:
inconsistent grading
Slabs are easily faked
SMR is outdated in it's information



69

bking

Strengths:

Added Value
Credibility (Less grading controversy than dealer opinions)
Market stats (Registry & Pop reports)

Weaknesses:

Turnaround times (for some, I've always been lucky)
Crack & Resub game
Inconsistent Penalties for miniscule issues (why does a virtually invisible surface dent or micro-wrinkle cost you 2+ grades, while a fisheye or PD can be ignored if it "Doesn't detract")

Lucky number: 70

LodiBrewFan

The good

1 Higher resale
2 More passionate registery user
3 Market leader


The bad

1 No sub-grade (should be on the back of the flip)
2 Weak cases
3 Questionable pricing practices for submission


Answer 64

MBMiller25

Interesting topic Dan,

Strengths:
Brand (credibility)
Registry
Approachable President that doesn't sit in an ivory tower, like most President's of major companies do.

Weaknesses:
Slab (easily tampered with/faked)
Inconsistency
Turn-Around Times

Number: 25

itzagoner

Strengths:
Reliability - absolutely the #1 most important factor in choosing a TPG, every time i submit i know there will be the same course of action
Consistency - i can depend on a very high percentage of items within any submission meeting or exceeding my expectations
Market Power - breeds faith and a belief in both the sale and purchase of a PSA product

Weaknesses:
THE Slab - too easily faked, tampered with, or just simply damaged
Processing Goof-Ups/Poor Quality Control - and THIS is my pet peeve....too often i've received slabbed cards in holders containing hairs, shards of plastic, scuff marks on the surface, muddled and opaque areas of impact on the slab from being improperly handled by the friggin USPS.
Oddly Planned CC Specials - why is the dividing line at 1971 and 1972 this month? i don't get it.

77. thanks Dan.

Dpeck100

Strengths

1) Final selling prices (Clearly high grade cards from PSA command a premium to a raw issue or in most cases all third party grading companies)
2) Registry and the competition and value it brings (Low pop cards can go for sky high prices; it is nice to see major competition in the registry and when sets are sold that rank high they bring a premium)
3) Company credibility (Clearly the dominant force in authentication services with over 80% market share of new submissions and tons of collectibles traded with their name on them daily)

Weakness's

1) Crack and Resub game (It bothers me to see cards get sent in five times and constantly get different grades)
2) Perceived favoritism to large submitters (I am not sold on this but it is clearly a concern and opinion that exists when you see what many post on here)
3) Return shipping on very small subs (I have never been affected but realize the issue)

I will take number 79.

Thanks for the contest and that sounds like a great prize to whomever wins.

cpamike

Great topic Dan. Everyone took all the good answers but I'll give my opinion.

Biggest Stengths:
1. Brand Recogition/Credibility/Resale Value
2. The Registry/Pop Report
3. CU Message Board along with the under utilized chat room.

Biggest Opportunities:
1. Slab Diversity/Tamper Resistant
2. Checklist to determine grade assigned which may lead to more consistency (i.e., centering, corners, wrinkle, registration, etc.)
3. More Consistent Turnaround Times - FIFO Method.

I'm going with my hockey number 88.

thunderdan

Thanks for all the responses so far. Interesting perspectives. Definitely some common themes.

Hopefully we can get a few more participants so we can push the Great Lakes thread down, down, down.

BTW...nobody has guessed the number yet, though a couple of you are close.

hhmag70

Forgot to add my number - 73.

OAKESY25

STRENGTHS

added value
registry
customer service including Joe Orlando has always been extremely helpful and accomodating

Weakness

random turn times
slab is less attractive then sgc (opinion.. I like the black )
inability to combine different size cards on 1 order..

I will say 76

Robby

Strengths:
Resell Value
Registry and Having your Sets Recognized
Message Boards and the Valuable Info you Learn

Weakness:
Turnaround times
SMR card values
Cost of Some Submission and S+H


My Pick .....# 19

Toro

Strengths-Registry, Forums(Wealth of Knowledge), SMR
Weaknesses- Holder, Membership fee, SMR

75

Stooge

Thanks for the contest.

3 strengths are:

PSA slabs
Cosetta
resale value

3 weaknesses are:

turnaround times
not enough room on the slab labels for some cards
return shipping on mechanical errors

Magic #3

Paul.

thenavarro

Strengths-

1) The magical flip can change a .01 common into a four figure card
2) Credible industry acceptance
3) Willingness to cut deals on fees

Weaknesses-

1) Slab and flip too easy to tamper with, counterfeit
2) Excessive delay in "logging in" orders
3) Excessive turnaround time on lower tier levels


NUMBER 84 (might already have been picked, I didn't check)

stangrider

Strengths

1.Registry
2.Turnaround times
3.Monthly Specials

Weaknesses

1.Slab not the best for multiple reasons
2.Subjective grading for bulk orders
3.Shipping Costs

vladguerrero

Pro's
-Resale
-Registry
-Message Board

Con's
-Quality of Grading on Modern Issues
-No Guaranteed Turn Around Times
-Slab

...I find the SMR and the need to send three separate submissions for my order annoying but can live with it. 'Short' cards from high volume submitters is a really scary issue but since I can recognize it most of the time for my PSA sets I just steer clear and buy the card not the flip.

Magic Number 27!

MULLINS5

For my very small collection/collecting focus:


Strengths:
Authenticity - Imagine if you had your dates pre-screened for std's and faithfulness potential-nality
Size of slab - Bigger is not always better.
Joe's availability - It's all about sex appeal. Beautiful smile (and tan).


Weaknesses:
Registry - As a buyer too expensive. Sometimes I just want to take a common home for the price of a drink rather than the cost of a coach purse.
Crack and resub - crack is always a no bueno.
SMR outdated - like 70's porn.



Going with my hockey number: 5

Mickey71

#34

Strengths:
1. Resale value.
2. Ability to buy the cards without having them in hand.
3. Registry has added a whole slew of different type collectors that completely affects 1 & 2.

Weaknesses
1. Too much love for dealers and big submitters( give the big boys a break on price....not leniency on grades).
2. Above $500 cards ....the price is $35 to sub...has made my reviews on certain cards very pricey and down right ridiculous.
3. Inability to mix subs with different cards (tall boys are a rough submission).

nightcrawler

I agree.

67

Lee99

Lee99

Great thread,

For a newbie like me, PSA is great, I feel more confident about my purchases for higher priced cards.

Well, here we go,

Strengths:
Credibility
Resell Value
Registry

Weakness:
Grading should be open to all, without having people become members.
Holders
Turnaround Times.

Good Post.

Number 24

Lee

Bear48

Strengths:

Brand
Registry
Message boards


Weaknesses:

POP Report
Slabs
Monthly Specials

Magic #99

tigerdean

Strengths -
Most Accurate Grading
Customer Service reps are pros
Let you post on their site for free

Weakness
Turnaround times are long and inconsistent
Slabs are not are weak and not that attractive
Big volume dealers get better grades in my opinion

I am going with 85 which is the year of the giveaway set

Reljac

Strengths
1. Industry Leader
2. Registry Following
3. volume of high value cards already in PSA slabs.

Weaknesses
1. Results are too inconsistent
2. Slabs appear to be lower in quality than some other grading companies
3. Grading costs shouldn't vary as much for bulk submitters verse people submitted large quantities not considered bulk


Guessing #81

richtree

Strengths:

Consistency
Reliability
Re-Sale Value

Weaknesses:

Holder
Turn around Time
Cost

Nascar360

Strengths:
1) Credibility - Grades are consistent.
2) Registry - Makes collecting and sharing fun
3) Resale - Industry Leader

Weaknesses:
1) Have to pay for yearly membership
2) Slab - Easily Opened
3) SMR - Prices (I like the articles about different sets)

Lucky number: 86

BPorter26

Strengths:
Customer Service
Registry
CU Boards (You learn a lot from knowledgeable people)


Weaknesses:
Slab (easily tampered with/faked)
SMR (Decent concept, just not enough good articles.
Turn-Around Time is inconsistent

My number: Big Surprise 26

EagleEyeKid

Pros:

Credibility
Added Value
Message boards

Cons:

Slabs (easily tampered)
Membership fees (I think more people would submit if no fees)
Turnaround times (should be first come first served)

Number 27

gemint

Strengths:

Registry
Message Boards
Monthly Specials

Weaknesses:

Grading inconsistancy, especially in what they deem worthy of .5 grades
Turn around time on reviews/crossovers
Shipping costs

My guess is #08

smtjoy

Strengths:

Registry- Best in the business
Breath of what they grade (from cards to autos to bats to balls to coins to photos to oversided etc, just wish they had a hard 8 x 10 slab like Beckett has)
Added Value- leader in 1950's to 1990's cards


Weaknesses:

Slab - worst in the business, SGC looks so much better and BVG is tops in tamperproof
Inconsistency- send same card in 3 times and get 3 different grades, bleh, way to much crack and resub
Submissions- all the rules and only being able to send in same type cards is stupid when your two biggest competitiors can handle it, you would get a lot more submissions if they could be combined, paying postage for 5 seperate subs pisses me off, thank god we no longer need the stickers

Number: 21

70ToppsFanatic

Strengths

1) Defacto "TPG" standard for the industry (dominant percentage of slabbed cards are PSA). All others always seem to
be advertised in terms of their "PSA equivalency".

2) Historical database to keep track of flips and populations (but could be dramatically improved, see below)

3) Forums

Weaknesses

1) Don't provide specific reasons why each card received the grade it did (and inclusion of these reasons in the flip database).
Tell us what the centering you measured on each card was. Tell us the level of corner/edge wear you feel exists. Tell us
where recoloration or trimming is in evidence. Tell us what the print defect or where the stain is on the card. Record all of
these details with the flip number and the date it was graded and make it publicly accessible

2) Third-party ability to create counterfeit flips and holders (#1 above would help prevent that)

3) Inconsistency in application of supposed grading "standards". Either all cards get the same scrutiny (not just stars)
or there are no standards.

4) Service pricing based on card values versus doing it based on service levels (i.e. turn-around time). The value of the card should not
matter. It costs no more or less to grade a card IF you are consistently using your "standards". People should be charged based on
how quickly they want the cards back and for add-on services that add cost for PSA.


Lucky Number: 23

Golfcollector

Strengths:

1. PSA is unequivocally the leader in the graded card industry
2. Credibility which leads to confidence and higher realized prices
3. The set registry has fueled interest in vintage cards in particular and made many otherwise worthless commons worth a lot of money to sellers


Weaknesses:

1. The SMR is sold as an added feature of membership, but the pricing is not accurate. A magazine with just articles, history, and stories would be much better
2. Turnaround times are all over the board,
3. The holder is very plain. I love the black insert of the SGC holder (although I only own about 4 SGC cards) would be slick if psa had something similar and maybe a slightly thicker holder.

My number is 62

bking

<< <i>Pros:

Credibility
Added Value
Message boards

Cons:

Slabs (easily tampered)
Membership fees (I think more people would submit if no fees)
Turnaround times (should be first come first served)

Number 27 >>



I'm amazed you didn't list turnaround times for all three Cons.

prthd

Strengths
1. Industry Leader
2. Set Registry
3. Slab --- OK I know most of you are thinking im on crack, but hear me out. The slab is simple and does what it needs to do. It tells you what you need to know -Year / Manufacturer / Name of player / Grade. The label has not changed over the years, yes the print type / font has but nothing more (except on reverse). IT DOES WHAT IT IS DESIGNED TO DO - and that is make you focus on the card not the slab. We all say "buy the card not the label". Well there you go. Beckett has been all over th place with their holder. Sub grades on the back, on the front, bar codes in weird places. Gold flashy labels make you focus on the Slab, not the card. They are easily trasportable and dont take up alot of space unlike Becketts "iceblock"




Weakness
1. The SMR - The best part about the SMR is the articles. I dont think people really look at prices. We have other resources for that. I used the "price guide" section as a refrence for other things. It needs more articles.
2. Turn around times.
3. Cost of reslabbing. I think its a joke they charge 5.00 to put your card in a new holder if yours is scratched or something. It should be like 2.00, think about it we are paying 4.75 a card this month for grading. Your telling me it costs more to open up a case and put the card in a new case than it does to grade a card. COME ON MAN!

number 11

psychump

Pros:
1- I love perusing through all the great sets by everybody(c'mon Spence open up !! I want to see your '63 Topps Baseball)
2- Employees!!! ( Cosetta!!!)
3- PSA is industry standard.

Cons:
1- Pissing match between PSA and GAI ( Almost all of my crossovers sent in have come in lower,some as much as 2 grades!!)
2- SMR is obsolete ( But the covers are great!)
3- Evidence of trimming etc. (really,someone is going to trim a '63 Topps Jim Hannan in 1989 (when I bought the card))


# 63

VitoCo1972

Three Pros:
1 - This community. I've learned so much and made a ton of friends here.
2 - Grading standards. I think PSA in the last 8 years has done a nice job with pretty darn consistent grading. Having a grade be 2-3 numbers off is by far the exception IMHO.
3 - Customer Service. They've been great whenever I've had an issue.

Three Cons:
1 - The slab. Way too easily tampered with and broken. Somewhere in the middle of PSA and BGS's slab is where the best product would be
2 - Non specific turnaround times. Always bugs me.
3 - The "hobby leader" mentality. PSA isn't Coca-Cola. It could be made better through innovation. I feel like they rest on their laurels.

Number 8 (Yaz!)

firedawg45

pro's
1. registry
2. value
3. customer service

cons.
1. mechanical errors
2. weakness of slabs
3. no order of submissions. should be first in first out under that service.

lucky # 14

samspop

Strengths
Added Value
Message Board
Credibility

Weaknesses
Easily Counterfeited Slab
Inaccuracy and Public Unavailability of the Pop Report
Turn around time

Number - 59

thunderdan

Any last minute opinions before we end this thing?

thunderdan

Thank, guys, for all your comments. I appreciate your insights.

#33 is the lucky number, so Mickey71, please PM me and tell me where to ship the Donny set.

Thanks again, everyone!

prthd

Thanks for the contest. It was kinda cool reading everyones pros and cons

Thanks Again
Dave