Posted By:
MikeU"resale on post war and sports other than baseball is definitely better with PSA."
This is the biggest myth in the industry. I have been researching this for several months and have posted the links here before. Here they are again. SGC beats PSA more often then the lose. If they ever achieve even close to parity on registry participation, they will aboslutely dominate.
As for PSA positives:
1. They didn't start grading, but they certainly were clever enough to revolutionize it and make it become a main stream item.
2. Dave Hall's registry idea was simple brilliance and brought back set collecting to the masses.
3. Immediately focusing on the Honus card for the first card to be graded was also brilliant (ignoring the sheet cut fact).
4. Adding population reports and charging people for them was brilliant.
5. Giving out awards and making set or collectors "Hall Of Fame" members was brilliant for the hypercompetitive high end guys.
6. They are a great marketing company e.g. links to the Smithsonian baseball book, the coordination with Mastro on the new book etc.
http://boards.collectors-society.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1340142&an=0&page=0#Post1340142>
http://boards.collectors-society.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1258446&an=0&page=0#Post1258446>
http://boards.collectors-society.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=1301611&an=0&page=0#Post1301611>