Does SGC Registry Work Anymore?

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

Comparing SGC to PSA is like comparing a mom and pop store to a major corporation. You get better service in the mom and pop store but the corporation can offer so much more. SGC has never gotten their registry off the ground because they were late to the game and didn't spend the money that PSA did. As a result, there is no "registry value added" for high grade SGC cards but there is a substantial "registry value added" for high grade PSA cards. You would think that you could arb the difference, but there is a risk to this as I believe that the only way you are assured a fair grade on a crossover is to break the card out and resubmit it raw.

Your statement assumes that registry participants only collect high grade cards. I have 3 pre-war sets on the SGC registry and only 1 card in all three sets is graded higher than a 4. Another statement in this thread (not yours) assumes that registry participants only do it for the competition. I do it for fun, not to compete, and could care less about my position on the registry. In the grades I collect, there is not much difference in price between PSA and SGC. Given all that, I'll go with the company with the better looking holder, quicker turnaround times and the better customer service.

[CardTarget]

Yes, but go look at the "9" grades in early 1960s Topps on CardTarget. Find the ones that look low to you. They are all SGC 96s or 98s. Some are REALLY low.

I think there is definitely an arb opportunity there, and for those prices there really isn't that much downside. If PSA 9s consistantly sell for $150 give or take $10 and the SGC 98 only sells for $35? There's something wrong....

[ScottFandango]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

Your statement assumes that registry participants only collect high grade cards. I have 3 pre-war sets on the SGC registry and only 1 card in all three sets is graded higher than a 4. Another statement in this thread (not yours) assumes that registry participants only do it for the competition. I do it for fun, not to compete, and could care less about my position on the registry. In the grades I collect, there is not much difference in price between PSA and SGC. Given all that, I'll go with the company with the better looking holder, quicker turnaround times and the better customer service.

im not assuming ALL registry participants compete...many use it to keep track of their sets...BUT, the top 5 sets (many times whales) are the ones who jackup the prices when they need a card for their registry that may vault them 1 spot higher....

in fact, PSA has a feature that enables a collector to see "what if" they add a certain card and what it will do to their Registry scores....this is VERY SMART...

PSA knows they have many collectors by the onions, thus they may slack on the customer service...

[smtjoy]

I dont even know where to start on some of the comments but this one is a good place.

Which collector would you rather be?

The one who paid $150 for a 1950's PSA 9 common...

Or the one who paid $35 for the same 1950's common in SGC 96.....

Great stuff )

[Jay Wolt]

Originally Posted by smtjoy

I dont even know where to start on some of the comments but this one is a good place.

Which collector would you rather be?

The one who paid $150 for a 1950's PSA 9 common...

Or the one who paid $35 for the same 1950's common in SGC 96.....

Great stuff )

Where can one get these 1950's SGC-96's for $35?
They are not on eBay nor on dealers tables

[nolemmings]

Comparing SGC to PSA is like comparing a mom and pop store to a major corporation. You get better service in the mom and pop store but the corporation can offer so much more. SGC has never gotten their registry off the ground because they were late to the game and didn't spend the money that PSA did.

Jay, I agree with the first and third sentences, but not the second. PSA does not "offer so much more", particularly as a service company, its supposed raison d'etre. Let's see:

Better pricing for their service? No.
Better competency for their service? No.
Better consistency with their service? No.
Faster service? No.
Better listening to complaints? No.
Better at standing behind product and paying for mistakes? No.
Better variety of service? No or marginally so.
Better at feeding the egos of those who live for showing others that theirs is bigger/better? Absolutely.

Really the only advantage that I see they have, albeit it's huge and determinative, is the registry. They got that advantage years ago and I don't begrudge them, but If SGC were to invest all the money in the world into a registry at this point I doubt it would change things, at least for many years, in terms of pricing on at least the post-war stuff.

[midwaylandscaping]

The PSA Registry has made heroes of guys like Rance Mulliniks, Roy Howell, Larry Hisle, etc, etc.
I get a few laughs out of folks paying $$$ for "PSA Gem 10 Pop 1(2,3,etc)" of players I grew up knowing as fillers or commons.
I'll stick with my gameplan of collecting. Which doesn't included artificially inflating prices of cards to be #1 on a manufactured list...

[deucetwins]

Better at feeding the egos of those who live for showing others that theirs is bigger/better? Absolutely.

That one made me laugh. Thanks. Speaking of registries, I noticed that Beckett is trying to get theirs off the ground. Also PSA does have 1 thing going for them...their stock pays a dividend.

[tribefan]

I collect what I like and don't worry what others are collecting. If you want to buy misprints, wresting cards, or HOF rookies, enjoy! If you want PSA 10 1983 Toronto Blue Jays, have fun. It won't bother me at all.

[oldjudge]

Todd--I was talking about the sophistication of the registry, the prizes and National lunch for registry "winners", and the registry customer service (which with Cossetta Robbins and B J Searles is excellent).
The "registry value added" I was talking about is for high grade cards. This is what makes the 1968 Topps common in PSA9 worth so much more than a comparable SGC96. BTW, I don't collect high grade cards and, for the most part, stay away from the registries (I have one SGC registry set and no PSA ones) and almost all my graded cards are in SGC slabs. However, if I had high grade cards to slab, and they were in active registry areas, I would use PSA.