PSA vs SGC...the definitive Debate!!!

[teetwoohsix]

I found that after awhile, I started giving the card my own grades, probably like many of you do. It may say it's a 4, I may say it's a 3 as example. I guess I'm saying I look at the card first anyways, their grades are only a reference point-you make the final decision. I can see though, how it would matter more to someone from the selling point of view.

SGC
BVG
PSA

Sincerely, Clayton

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by teetwoohsix

I found that after awhile, I started giving the card my own grades, probably like many of you do. It may say it's a 4, I may say it's a 3 as example. I guess I'm saying I look at the card first anyways, their grades are only a reference point-you make the final decision. I can see though, how it would matter more to someone from the selling point of view.

SGC
BVG
PSA

Sincerely, Clayton

I'm 100% with Clayton on this. Learn to grade your own cards. All of us go through a learning process when we get into vintage cards and memorabilia, so why not make grading your own cards as part of the process.

TPG does the hobby a great service by examining cards and weeding out the ones that are trimmed and altered. I'm sure that has saved collectors thousands of dollars. Assigning grades, on the other hand, is really not a useful service. First off, it's too subjective and the grade can be changed on a resubmission. Second, the various companies use different standards so cards will not always receive the same grades when crossed over. Finally, many collectors disagree with the grades anyway. Just too many variables for it to make any sense.

Collectors should grade their own cards, and the TPG's should just stick to authenticating and that's it. That has always been my position and I know you've seen me repeat it more than a few times.

[ullmandds]

Barry... I would venture to guess that grading has made people many many millions of dollars more... then it has saved them?!

[barrysloate]

Peter- I could spend a long time giving you my response to what you said, but I'll leave it for now. Sure, if you resubmit an 8 and it comes back a 9, you will make a lot of money. But......

[GregMitch34]

Well, as Jeff Daniels says in the opening of "Newsroom" when pressed repeatedly about whether he is a Republican or a Democrat: "I am...a New York Jets fan."

[teetwoohsix]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

I'm 100% with Clayton on this. Learn to grade your own cards. All of us go through a learning process when we get into vintage cards and memorabilia, so why not make grading your own cards as part of the process.

TPG does the hobby a great service by examining cards and weeding out the ones that are trimmed and altered. I'm sure that has saved collectors thousands of dollars. Assigning grades, on the other hand, is really not a useful service. First off, it's too subjective and the grade can be changed on a resubmission. Second, the various companies use different standards so cards will not always receive the same grades when crossed over. Finally, many collectors disagree with the grades anyway. Just too many variables for it to make any sense.

Collectors should grade their own cards, and the TPG's should just stick to authenticating and that's it. That has always been my position and I know you've seen me repeat it more than a few times.

Thanks Barry- I was hoping my post made sense

I also agree with everything you said. I think people's priorities will determine who likes what TPG better.....people who mostly only collect want consistency......people who mainly sell want whoever will give the highest grade *in some cases, even if it's not accurate.

My collection is like a big salad....SGC,BVG,PSA,and raw (sorry, no PRO ). I just want the card.

Sincerely, Clayton

[glynparson]

looks like an 84 to me. maybe an 86.

Originally Posted by glynparson

looks like an 84 to me. maybe an 86.

+1 and to add it sounds as though you sent them to SGC because you trusted that they would grade the cards accuratly, which they did using their grading scale, but are pissed they don't grade like PSA where they have a grading scale but is rarely used properly, if at all.

[bobbyw8469]

I sent to SGC because I thought they knew the issue and had a special going on. Apparently they were unfamiliar with the issue, because when you grade cards that look brand new as '4's, then something is wrong with that picture. PSA grading the same card as an '8' affirms that one of the two doesn't really know what they are doing. That is too wide of a swing. Me being a consumer, I tend to side with the company grading the card an '8'. If a vending card comes back a '4', there better be a surface wrinkle, white on all 4 corners, SOMETHING. Not an excuse like microscopic surface cracking that can only be seen under extreme magnificaton.

[tiger8mush]

Originally Posted by teetwoohsix

I just want the card.

+1

[phikappapsi]

I like them both. In the Internet sales age, TPG companies a the best hedge we have in the hobby to guard against forgeries.

They both make mistakes, at a pretty similar rate, but on the whole they both do pretty good jobs. And they both do their best to rectify their problems when they have them.