peter spaeth- great question! I agree that psa cards somehow (voodoo/
deals written in blood with underworld creatures??) draw higher sales prices
than their sgc counterparts. Why is that? I will start with why it is not:
1) it is not because of better accuracy or consistency, that's for sure
2) it is not because of sterling customer service
3) it is not because of professionalism or integrity
the best explanation i can come up with, is that psa was "first" in grading. I
am absolutely not saying this makes them best. They just got out ahead of
everyone. I think of a certain lawn mower/farm tractor company that has
been in the american consciousness for decades (their paint is green and
yellow). In my life, the clear worst mower i ever purchased was made by
this company, and it's not close. Yet people keep repeating their tv mantra.
It's familiarity, style over substance. People keep flocking to a restaurant
with a famous arch, despite the meat originating from skunk or opossum
(yes, this is sarcasm). Why do some people keep doing that? It's been
drilled into their skulls forever and they can't shake loose.
I like cards that are graded correctly and consistently. Sgc fits that bill
more than psa ever will. Every single psa i own has been gone over with
a fine tooth comb and, unless there is a seismic change in their character,
always will be. I know my sgc 6 is a 6; however, all i know about a psa 6
that i haven't seen, is that it is likely somewhere between a 1 and a 10.
They sure are rolling in money though
trent king