PSA Vs. SGC

[Buster#1]

If u want service and real grades sgc is better
Psa will give u real grades if they don't damage your card from an 8 to a 6

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[Promethius88]

Originally Posted by Buster#1

If u want service and real grades sgc is better
Psa will give u real grades if they don't damage your card from an 8 to a 6

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

I'm not a pre-war guy but I hear a lot of talk that SGC is better with pre-war. From what I have seen they don't factor centering in as much as PSA.
I guess that isn't why I responded, though. My question is how many cards have you had damaged by PSA? Your comment makes it sound like most are coming back damaged???
I've submitted thousands over the years and I can't say with any certainty that any card I have personally submitted came back damaged. This includes overn 1k this past year while they have been more swamped than ever.
Now, I'm not saying they don't damage cards....I know they do and I'm sure it happens at all TPG's. I would also venture to say that the % with PSA is higher due to the fact that they certify far more cards than any other TPG.
My biggest argument though, is that you can INDEED make just as good a pot of soup for 50 people as you can for 10. Sometimes even better!

[ClementeFanOh]

Buster's point- "If u want service and real grades sgc is better" is spot on. SGC knows how to grade cards more accurately and consistently- period. PSA somehow still manages to get the highest values, which has EVERYTHING to do with why many people favor them- not their quality...and there are a bunch of veteran freelance graders out there who can do better than most at PSA or SGC!

[KendallCat]

Great info and thanks for sharing. This is almost a one man threw so I figured someone else better comment as well 😄

KC

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

Buster's point- "If u want service and real grades sgc is better" is spot on. SGC knows how to grade cards more accurately and consistently- period. PSA somehow still manages to get the highest values, which has EVERYTHING to do with why many people favor them- not their quality...and there are a bunch of veteran freelance graders out there who can do better than most at PSA or SGC!

You have it backwards. PSA gets the highest values BECAUSE, rightly or wrongly, people favor them. The logic of your statement is like people go to that restaurant because it's crowded.

As for James' misfortune, that's the politics of crossover, which can be brutal. There may also be an element of ultra tight standards compared to when PSA originally graded the 8s.

[ClementeFanOh]

I don't think so, Peter- my point was spot on. I wish I had a dollar for every "collector" who remarked they just wanted PSA cards. They don't ask about a specific card's quality, descriptions, etc- they are merely seeking the bottom line. I guess I'll grudgingly say "good for PSA", as it must be nice to be richly rewarded for incredibly spotty work; however, most folks focus on PSA strictly out of bottom line concerns. So, my point remains.

[ruth_rookie]

+1. In addition, newbies into the hobby/business are jumping on the PSA Bandwagon too by exclusively purchasing PSA, which only exacerbates the issue. I personally know of two high-income guys entering our beloved pastime and will only buy PSA. I’ve tried selling them on SGC to no avail.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

I don't think so, Peter- my point was spot on. I wish I had a dollar for every "collector" who remarked they just wanted PSA cards. They don't ask about a specific card's quality, descriptions, etc- they are merely seeking the bottom line. I guess I'll grudgingly say "good for PSA", as it must be nice to be richly rewarded for incredibly spotty work; however, most folks focus on PSA strictly out of bottom line concerns. So, my point remains.

And did PSA magically get to be more expensive in a vacuum, or did it get there because people favored them?

[ClementeFanOh]

Peter- there was no magic involved, which you already knew. PSA was "first", which some people equate with being best. (You may recall a recent time in the American automotive industry when consumers bought cars simply because they were American, despite overwhelming evidence the product had deteriorated. Over time, even lots of those hard liners gave up and bought better made vehicles)…
Back to the original question, which was which grader does the reader "respect", my answer and point remains the same. I "respect" the company which actually gets the grade RIGHT a high percentage of the time and which employs good customer service as well. There will be folks who say they respect PSA more; however, that respect is almost exclusively pecuniary in nature, because the grading consistency and accuracy just ain't there. Again, 3 cheers to PSA for making truckloads of cash despite delivering mediocre product; however, that result does not equate to "respect" or "proficiency".

[Peter_Spaeth]

To me there's still an element of circularity to say people prefer PSA because it sells for more. Sales prices are a function of supply and demand, so there has to be a reason for the demand and I don't believe at this point it's just first-mover advantage, that was used up a long long time ago. I understand your perspective though.