Why GAI so prominent for graded wax packs

[1952boyntoncollector]

Did PSA refuse to grade packs for a time or something? All the big auction houses rarely have the big cards they sell that are graded by GAI..but wax packs its the norm..why is that

[bnorth]

I don't buy graded but am sure it is because they were such a good and honest company.

[swarmee]

I think the main reasons are:
1) They're much cheaper.
2) Their turnaround time is much faster.

As far as I've come to understand, before PSA will grade/encapsulate a pack, they either mail it from California to BBCE and have Steve the expert look at it, or have to wait until Steve can travel to California to inspect packs for tampering/resealing.

Sure, a PSA authenticated/graded pack will sell for a premium over GAI, but if the pack is under $100 to begin with, it may not be worth the hassle to send it in to PSA.

[glynparson]

was grading packs way before PSA decided to do it.

[Donscards]

Yes GAI was grading packs first PSA came in much later on packs---I will buy a GAI graded pack but not a GAI graded card---

[Griffins]

GAI started grading packs in '03, PSA said (Joe Orlando at the registry luncheon in Cleveland) in '04 that it was too late for them to start, GAI already had the market, and the market was small. As GAI started imploding PSA changed their mind in late '06, only to do so in a holder that potentially damaged the pack inside, and to many pack collectors (myself included) was not anywhere near as aesthetically pleasing as GAI's.
GAI made a few mistakes, the most notable of which was authenticating a large run of bogus grocery cellos, but PSA has had their problems with bogus cellos as well. But for the most part they did a pretty good job of getting it right, especially at the beginning.