Future of Grading - CSG and HGA

[parkplace33]

With PSA effectively shutting down earlier this year, I expected an uptick in cards being graded by other companies. Mostly SGC, but also newbies CSG and HGA.

The uptick in SGC cards happened, but I am not seeing an increase in CSG or HGA graded cards. Any ideas why? Still too new? Anyone use either company recently?

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

With PSA effectively shutting down earlier this year, I expected an uptick in cards being graded by other companies. Mostly SGC, but also newbies CSG and HGA.

The uptick in SGC cards happened, but I am not seeing an increase in CSG or HGA graded cards. Any ideas why? Still too new? Anyone use either company recently?

MY thoughts are because they are still to new, not enough exposure to the collectors, and the unknown on how buyers will accept their grading and the related value.

PSA and SGC truly dominate currently and even with PSA having Rep issues those graded cards have and retain their values

[Johnny630]

I think vintage cards in CGS holders look lousy. HGA I've never seen a vintage card graded in a HGA holder.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

I think vintage cards in CGS holders look lousy. HGA I've never seen a vintage card graded in a HGA holder.

CSG hires the top vintage grader then designs a slab exclusively for modern. Never made a lot of sense to me.

[53toppscollector]

CSG's flip is terrible, it distracts from the actual card so much. They are a reputable name in the collecting industry, so there is opportunity there, but they really need to fix their label/slab

HGA has had really poor quality control, numerous amateur errors, and their slabs have pretty poor resale value so far.

I think a lot of people are just waiting to see what happens with PSA and sitting on lots of raw cards for now.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

CGS hires the top vintage grader then designs a slab exclusively for modern. Never made a lot of sense to me.

Nailed it. These graders CAN NOT continue down this path. As far as I am concerned, they have priced themselves out of business. I'm gonna do my part to bring raw back in style.

[sportscardpete]

the CSG slab really hurts the cause. It is also tough for a new entrant to do well when there are not a lot of sales of its card. Many flippers will not use them because there is no "comp" for its grade, unlike PSA and even BGS/SGC.

I am really rooting for SGC because I love the slab, and have slowly gotten over its 2020 issues. I did my most recent submission at SGC, which included some modern cards, and was quite pleased.

[D. Bergin]

CSG has like a 3 to 5 month backlog, so it seems like they are doing just fine. I think a lot of collectors who submitted to them are not immediately flipping them.

I did about a 19 card submission with them, and they seem to be really tough at the top of the grading scale to me. A 10 seems almost unheard of from what I’ve seen and experienced.

I also kind of like the look of the holders in hand. People were acting like they are these big unwieldy tombs, but they’re basically the same size as PSA slabs.

[Jay Wolt]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

With PSA effectively shutting down earlier this year, I expected an uptick in cards being graded by other companies. Mostly SGC, but also newbies CSG and HGA.

The uptick in SGC cards happened, but I am not seeing an increase in CSG or HGA graded cards. Any ideas why? Still too new? Anyone use either company recently?

CSG (like PSA & Beckett) couldn't handle the quantity that was sent their way.
I submitted a few cards w/ another collector, mailed them on March 3rd.
We're told maybe we'll get em back by the new year.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Jay Wolt

CSG (like PSA & Beckett) couldn't handle the quantity that was sent their way.
I submitted a few cards w/ another collector, mailed them on March 3rd.
We're told maybe we'll get em back by the new year.

Wow the timelines are long and seem to be getting longer.

Hopefully they and the others start catching up soon

[CobbSpikedMe]

I really don't like the HGA flips with all the color and the busy label. And I didn't like the CSG flips at first. But the CSG flips have grow on me a little and I may pick up a card graded by them at some point just to see one in hand. I wouldn't pay a lot but would consider an 80's rookie or something like that.

I wish them the best and think it would be great if they caught on and eventually sell for good prices and become a real competitor. That would be awesome for the hobby.

[Exhibitman]

I was thinking simpler and cleaner. The HGA ones are too busy and distracting.

[Snowman]

I can't stand the HGA labels. I have one card graded by them, but only because I treated it as a raw purchase and intend to crack it out. The slab itself is actually nicer than I had anticipated. It does feel robust and has a clean look. But those flips could give someone a seizure! They're absolutely horrible. And they're printed with inkjet printers! lol.

I really like the CSG slabs. I just don't like their grading scale. A 10 is too difficult to obtain, and modern collectors want gem mint cards to say '10' on their slabs. They've made that pretty clear over the past couple years just by watching price movements across TPGs. They're just too strict on the top end of the scale, but they're also too loose on the bottom end. I read earlier that someone got 5s and 6s on their creased vintage cards. That's ridiculous if true.

I think SGC is going to become a major player in the modern grading space over the next couple years. They're closing the gap, and I really like the look of their new flips. I'm reslabbing all of my vintage stuff with the newer flips.