PSA, SGC, GAI, BGS: What Do You Like?

joeknowscards · April 26, 2008 4:00AM

I'm personally a PSA guy. I figure if high-end vintage collectors send their cards out to PSA mostly, then that must mean that they have the most confidence in PSA's reputation. I actually E-Mailed Mr. Mint about the subject a while back when I got back into collecting and he told me that you should stick with PSA or SGC exclusively. He was referring to vintage cards though. I don't see a problem with BGS for more modern cards, but I try to stay consistent for set reasons so I use PSA. In addition, they have so much more experience and I feel they are the most respected.

What do you guys think?

Joe

Mr. Mint

storm888 · April 26, 2008 4:01AM

PSA = Money

nightcrawler · April 26, 2008 4:03AM

GAI = Heartache and steroid abuse.

yankeeno7 · April 26, 2008 4:06AM

I trust PSA for vintage and modern. SGC for vintage(especially pre war) and issues that PSA does not grade ie 1984 Nestle and 1977 Topps Star Wars C3PO error.

I buy NOTHING BVG and would only lightly consider BGS for modern unless I had a real high end that I thought crazy modern collectors would bid big for. Too many sheet cuts with BGS. If they will grade sheet cuts then how many trimmed cards make it into their holders? Theoretically the same thing.

GAI I would only buy if I got VERY cheap and took a chance. I have had more failures than successes with GAI whether a card comes back trimmed, altered, or just a lower grade.

Anyone else, I wont even consider.

MeteoriteGuy · April 26, 2008 4:08AM

PSA equals more money as Stown noted, even in vintage. However, it does seem a lot of vintage collectors prefer SGC. Personally I am cool with PSA, BGS or SGC, but would prefer PSA because of the registry.

It is not hard to find those that get off in bashing PSA, but if you want to see where the trust and the money is, open ANY auction catalog.

stevek · April 26, 2008 4:22AM

In my opinion you'd have to be a gluten for punishment to purchase a GAI high grade expensive card from a dealer, when that dealer "knows" he can get more money, MUCH more money, for the card in a PSA holder. In my view the odds are almost 100% certain something would be wrong with that card.

Pete14Rose · April 26, 2008 4:22AM

PSA.

I collect only what I like and I don't "invest" anymore, so the $$ aspect doesn't mean much to me. I like PSA because they look nicer. Pretty simple for me.

SoonerCowboy · April 26, 2008 4:41AM

I like:
PSA = Best Holder. Wished you didn't have to join a club to use.
BGS = Detailed Grading(non vintage of course). Don't really like the bullet proof holder.
SGC - Best Holder for white bordered cards but wished the holder was smaller. Detailed grading would be nice.
MINT = PSA style holder. Would only use for very inexpensive cards not caring about resale value ONLY. Use ONLY to protect and preserve. I haven't used them but I'm considering it.
GAI = Not in a million years

WinPitcher · April 26, 2008 4:53AM

Welcome to the boards Joe.

I like the following:

PSA

SGC

Old flip SCD

BVG I don't know enough about them to rate them.

Steve

storm888 · April 26, 2008 4:56AM

"PSA = Best Holder. Wished you didn't have to join a club to use."

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

The club is "FREE," if you factor in the stuff they give you when you join.

fkw · April 26, 2008 5:25AM

PSA = Way too many ID errors and just plain dump mistakes. Their holder sometimes let the card float around (not good when a multithousand dollar card can spin around in the holder). PSA Set Registy keeps them afloat in PreWar. Fee to join will keep many entering the hobby away in the future.

SGC = Strictest grading and best holder. Taking a big chunk of PreWar now a days. Best customer service.

GAI, BGS, PRO, SCD, all second tier, and why would you ever use them when SGC is around.

Stone193 · April 26, 2008 5:39AM

<< I'm personally a PSA guy. I figure if high-end vintage collectors send their cards out to PSA mostly, then that must mean that they have the most confidence in PSA's reputation. I actually E-Mailed Mr. Mint about the subject a while back when I got back into collecting and he told me that you should stick with PSA or SGC exclusively. He was referring to vintage cards though. I don't see a problem with BGS for more modern cards, but I try to stay consistent for set reasons so I use PSA. In addition, they have so much more experience and I feel they are the most respected.

What do you guys think?

Joe

Mr. Mint >>

Joe

Hi.

With respect to your link?

Pay no attention to the guy behind the curtain!

Everyone has their own tastes and POV's. This is a PSA forum - so I would expect the preponderance to be in favor of that product; same would be the case if you were to go over to other boards run by their respective companies - no?

mike

RawPlusSlabbed · April 26, 2008 6:24AM

I lam beginning to like raw cards more and more each day.

elsnorto · April 26, 2008 6:27AM

At least 90% of my graded cards are in PSA slabs, but this has more to do with the things I collect are disproportionately available as PSA graded. I imagine putting together many sets from the 1950's on would be much more difficult if you tried to do it with another grader simply because they have not graded as many examples as PSA.

As I mostly collect sets, I want the slabs to be consistent, so PSA was the obvious choice here. It is more a testament to their position as the market leader than anything else, which also helps with resale value to be certain.

I do like SGC as well and their holders really display much better with certain cards. For higher end vintage cards that are not part of a set I am working on, I am all too happy to pick up SGC cards and will pay the same price as I would for a comparable PSA specimen.

I also have some BGS 9.5 & 10 cards of modern rookies that I buy if they go cheaply enough, but I do so with the sole intention of reselling if they ever hit it big. So they aren't part of my personal collection really, but I do like the heft that the BGS slabs have to them.

Lastly, while I have a number of GAI authenticated autos, there are no GAI graded cards in my collection currently. I rarely see them available, but I would not shy away from them if I could pick them up are bargain basement prices.

Snorto~

Stone193 · April 26, 2008 6:42AM

<< Lastly, while I have a number of GAI authenticated autos, there are no GAI graded cards in my collection currently. I rarely see them available, but I would not shy away from them if I could pick them up are bargain basement prices. >>

I hear ya Snort.

My take?

Most - of what's inside a GAI holders - are just fine.

So, let's apply some common sense to their situation?

The word got out that they were having financial problems - thus right after that the perception was that they could be "bought?" No?

So, cards graded at or after that time will come under suspicion? Can't argue with that reasoning.

For GAI to turn this around? Would take a brigade of spin doctors working around the clock I believe.

mike

TheHun · April 26, 2008 6:54AM

I think PSA is the prefered money grader (for invstment)

However, I collect Kellogg's and PSA holders stink ! As mentioned above, who wants their card floating around like an astronaut in space ?

Now PSA want to charge an extra $5.00 to fix their inept slabs / no thanks.

SCG has the best looking slabs - especially for pre-war and off-size issues.

I might consider GAI to slab for protection or oddball items.

BGS just seems like a retarded. all the numbers and all the publicity - don't add up.

WinPitcher · April 26, 2008 6:59AM

I think it goes back further in time then that. I remember the bruhaha when certain dealers were getting bumps
with cards if they switched to GAI. Then those same dealers were trying to get more for them since they now were
.5's or 1st graded. The bottom line is too many of their cards are rejected when sent to PSA or SGC and they are being rejected
when sent in RAW!

Then it was the ever ending 'Monday' this will be up or that will be up etc.

Then items started to go missing, YES, some items were 'lost'

They may have the 'best grader' in the business, he may be as honest as the Pope, the company he works for (or owns partly) is
basically a non player as far as I am concerned.

Steve

nightcrawler · April 26, 2008 7:01AM

Ya, welcome to boards Joe.

I'm just at a bit of a loss here??? I mean... if someone signed up in a Harley Davidson forum for example, and the very first thing they do is start a thread like this, asking... Harley Davidson, Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda: What do you like...

I'm thinkin they'd probably get hit in the face with an oily rag.

JMO

dizzle · April 26, 2008 7:03AM

Go to a classic camaro forum and ask the board what is a better car a camaro or mustang. That's about the same as asking who is your grader of choice on a PSA board.

They all make mistakes I feel safe with PSA/BGS/SGC I haven't bothered with GAI to give an honest opinion.
Anything else I would not bother with period.

EDIT TO ADD: Looks like nightcrawler had the same idea as me above just beat me to it.

Griffins · April 26, 2008 7:09AM

I like cards. I don't collect plastic.
But if the cards are in holders, from a purely visual sense-

1. Gai with the silver flip. Thin, nice matte setting off the card, and the card id on the top thin edge, so it's easy to pick out in a stack.
2. SGC. Black mattes that fit the cards, no mylar condom.
3. PSA

However, there are some exceptions to the rule

PSA's T3 and coin holder are much better than SGC's- who wants to see a bunch of black matte, it's about the card. Duh.
SGC- got something with a weird shape? Like Scrapps, or a disk? SGC will cut a custom matte that fits perfectly.
GAI- if it's not something they have a holder designed for, they put it in the ugliest plastic slab, often with a wad of bubble wrap or a sponge in it. Appalling.

All 3 companies fall far short in the flips- don't any of them know a graphic designer? Bad typography, bad colors, you name it. GAI went from a sort of bad silver flip to a god awful white one.

digicat · April 26, 2008 7:13AM

PSA's the leader, but BGS has all the tools that I wish PSA would use.

Great slabs, internal mylar sleeves, subgrades.

Condition sensative modern sets with high subgrades in BGS holders will outsell PSA graded cards of the same grade easy.

jimq112 · April 26, 2008 7:29AM

I like PSA for the registry sets, and SGC for prewar cards. I've got a few altered cards in SGC holders to keep them as nice as they can be even though they're worthless.

I can't remember buying a BVG card on ebay that I thought was overgraded. Only had a couple submissions to Beckett and probably won't send in any more.

The SGC holder is exponentially nicer than the PSA holder so I really prefer to have cards I want to display in SGC holders.

elsnorto · April 26, 2008 8:39AM

<< PSA's the leader, but BGS has all the tools that I wish PSA would use.

Great slabs, internal mylar sleeves, subgrades. >>

I personally dislike the mylar sleeves. I find they distract from, or considerably dimisish, the cards appearance myself. I have a couple PSA slabs where they used these and was wondering if I can send them in to be reholstered specifically requesting they not use the sleeve?

Snorto~

digicat · April 26, 2008 2:16PM

<< I personally dislike the mylar sleeves. I find they distract from, or considerably dimisish, the cards appearance myself. I have a couple PSA slabs where they used these and was wondering if I can send them in to be reholstered specifically requesting they not use the sleeve? >>

They might. I notice that they will use the mylar sleeve when they're slabbing an ultra-glossy issue. All of the Mothers Cookies cards I've sent in for grading have been slabbed with the sleeve, and I appreciate it.

I like BGS's mylar sleeve because it looks nice. PSA's doesn't always look as good. I just don't like the idea of my cards knocking around inside the graded case. BGS is pretty snug. I remember seeing that experiment where the guy put a 1987 Donruss PSA 10 in a paint shaker to see what would happen. 1987 Donruss cards are pretty durable though. Lets try that again with a condition sensative set, like 1971 Topps or 1993 SP where edge chipping is a major problem.

PSA + chrome or old Sportflics cards is the worse. The Sportflics cards look like they've been smashed by the holder, and Chrome cards will, if they move around, start developing scratches as the surface rubs against the inside of the holder.

metalmike · April 26, 2008 2:53PM

I mostly collect raw but I have found it is sometimes worth it to bust a card out of it's holder to put in my binder, for some reason graded cards in 4 or 5 grade sometimes sell for less than a raw card. I have had luck buying WCG cards cheap but most of them were errors and 1969 decals which were cut from a roll. Beckett grades wrongbacks but most get a 4 for the centering whiich is dumb imo as the nature of these makes the centering off.

PS nice website you have. Mike

joeknowscards · April 26, 2008 5:50PM

Yes nightcrawler and dizzle I'm aware this is a PSA board, but if you read the posts they're not all pro-PSA. People on this thread have positive things to say about SGC and BGS so I don't see your point. People have also said negative things about PSA holders with smaller cards. I just wanted to get some opinions about it because I exclusively collect PSA cards myself and I have no clue basically if the other services are any good.

Joe

fandango · April 26, 2008 9:39PM

dizzle , are these your favorite threads?

you must have used that Camaro analogy 100 times already....

i knew you would have that post in this thread BEFORE i even opened it...SO PREDICTABLE YOU ARE

joeknowscards · April 27, 2008 1:17AM

Amazing Pujols collection man wow!

Joe Knows Cards

dizzle · April 27, 2008 1:34AM

<< dizzle , are these your favorite threads?

you must have used that Camaro analogy 100 times already....

i knew you would have that post in this thread BEFORE i even opened it...SO PREDICTABLE YOU ARE >>

Yes they are my favorite!! as a unbiased CARD collector I find them very amusing.

Whats even more PREDICTABLE is knowing you will be here to bash me for giving my opinion. If any of the RESPECTED board members think I'm just some troll feel free to speak up and I'll quit posting here.. untill then quit stalking me it's getting old. Bring something new to the table for once.

And the camaro analogy it has been used twice fyi. Why not say something to nightcrawler for basically saying the same thing as me before my first post?.

nightcrawler · April 27, 2008 2:46AM

<< Why not say something to nightcrawler for basically saying the same thing as me before my first post?. >>

Ya !!!

nightcrawler · April 27, 2008 3:47AM

<< I just wanted to get some opinions about it because I exclusively collect PSA cards myself and I have no clue basically if the other services are any good.

Joe >>

Ahhh, well to throw my 2 cents in... I like the PSA holder because it's light and lean, Maybe BVG and BGS are bullet proof, but I don't shoot my cards. I like the way the light can shine through the entire PSA case, unlike the SCG case with the black matting, not for me. Also the SCG case doesn't seem to fit most cases I use to carry my cards around??? Which brings up another point about the other cases. They are big and heavy, taking up no less than 40% more room than the PSA case. Not very nice if you have them in a handbag walking around the airport. As far as the smaller cards, ya well, I think PSA has dealt with that problem??? Oh well.

I hope you can understand why I made the point I did, and dizzle also. It's a legit question/point and your answer is much appreciated.

Stone193 · April 27, 2008 4:13AM

<< Yes nightcrawler and dizzle I'm aware this is a PSA board, but if you read the posts they're not all pro-PSA. People on this thread have positive things to say about SGC and BGS so I don't see your point. People have also said negative things about PSA holders with smaller cards. I just wanted to get some opinions about it because I exclusively collect PSA cards myself and I have no clue basically if the other services are any good.

Joe >>

Joe

I don't know if this was officially your first post here? If so - welcome!

Now - with all due respect - when a newcomer arrives and the first thing they ask is opinions on other grading companies? Flags may go up in the minds of some.

You've shown you're saavy enough to know how to link - so I'm pretty such you're saavy enough to check the archive for the other 50 threads where people asked the exact same question.

Now, I'm not saying this is not a valid question to be asked again - I'm not the "thread police" - I'm just stating the facts - the discussion of other companies has been discussed much like the proverbial beatin dead horse.

I wouldn't take the remarks seriously - they were not meant to hurt you or flame your thread - but IMO - I can understand any incredulity in the tone.

Just my take - no hard feelings?

mike

yankeeno7 · April 27, 2008 5:18AM

Well then I'll come out and say it

Joe, whose alt are you and why are you here to stir things up?

CDsNuts · April 27, 2008 5:26AM

I like PSA because my cards sell for more in their slabs. In terms of long-term investment, I really don't think it will matter because the market will eventually correct itself and cards will sell based on the merit of the card, not what the flip in the slab says or which company slabbed the card (as far as SGC, PSA or BGS goes). I'd guess this will be the case 20 years from now.

As far as my personal collection goes, I'm a raw guy.

SportsItUpCards · April 27, 2008 6:10AM

PRO grading rules!!!

Giovanni

joeknowscards · April 27, 2008 7:18AM

Of course no hard feelings guys thanks for the opinions...I'm new to forums I didnt know this thread would stir the pot hahaa

perkdog · April 27, 2008 9:23AM

I like PSA the best, I am not opposed to buying a card in a SGC holder though as long as it is centered well enough. As far as Global, I will stay away mainly because I dont have as much faith in them as I do PSA- The only knock on SGC IMO is they are not as strict when it comes to centering, I do like the look of their holders the best though. I dont have a clue about Beckett grading and dont consider them when looking to buy a Vintage card.

ndleo · April 28, 2008 7:53AM

I mainly stick to PSA, BGS, and BVG. I prefer the Beckett holders since it is impossible to crack them open and switch the card. I've come across that too many times on PSA cards. The pic looks OK on the auction and then I get the card with frosty the snowman edges.

I do avoid OPC hockey in Beckett holders because of the sheet cut grading issue.

By the way, it seems that most of the frosty holders I get came from auctions that use a digital pic rather than a scan. I think it is harder to hide the frost on a scan.

PSA, SGC, GAI, BGS: What Do You Like?

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