SGC versus PSA slabs

[mantlefan]

Originally Posted by Marchillo

I am SGC's biggest fan. I go to shows and don't have to wait in lines, I think their cases are sharper, customer service is top notch. I always talk to the same two people when I call, they've never failed me on estimated delivery times.

Steve

I was at the big Hofstra show today on Long Island. You're right....there was no waiting at the SGC booth.....there were no customers! Beckett on the other hand had a line of at least 15 people. Draw your own conclusions.

[boneheadandrube]

Originally Posted by mantlefan

I was at the big Hofstra show today on Long Island. You're right....there was no waiting at the SGC booth.....there were no customers! Beckett on the other hand had a line of at least 15 people. Draw your own conclusions.

Follow the crowd! Follow the crowd! The conclusion I draw from that is marketing supersedes all else for some. How many of those people were getting pre war cards graded or were there to validate the authenticity of an autograph that a player just handed to them? To each their own, but I feel less stupid when I use my own common sense instead of a large company's turnstile judgement in a subjective matter.

[CMIZ5290]

Wow! I was wondering when someone was going to post a thread about this subject

[mantlefan]

Originally Posted by boneheadandrube

Follow the crowd! Follow the crowd! The conclusion I draw from that is marketing supersedes all else for some. How many of those people were getting pre war cards graded or were there to validate the authenticity of an autograph that a player just handed to them? To each their own, but I feel less stupid when I use my own common sense instead of a large company's turnstile judgement in a subjective matter.

Fewer customers = less income = cutting back on staff = less bells and whistles (check out the SGC Registry if you can find it) = eventual disappearance from the business world.

[NiceDocter]

Thanks to all who have replied and wow lots of food for thought. As I have done for all these years, another option is doing NOTHING and just keeping the cards raw.... I really doubt I am selling any time soon but your never know, you cant take em with you and if down the road someone needed to liquidate your holdings it might be easier on them if the cards were already graded. I probably should have said in my original post that I wasnt even considering grading low value cards, just the HOFers and the like. We do have JSA showing up at our local shows for autograph authentication but I have never seen a card grading company yet. Im not too keen on mailing stuff off but I guess thats the way of the world these days. In any event I very much enjoyed all your replies with some great insights and opinions.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by mantlefan

I was at the big Hofstra show today on Long Island. You're right....there was no waiting at the SGC booth.....there were no customers! Beckett on the other hand had a line of at least 15 people. Draw your own conclusions.

A perception is reality issue here. Beckett is well known for grading modern (shiny) cards and since there are tons more modern (shiny) cards than extant pre-war cards; where is the line going to be longer.

Also, and this depends on the show, Beckett offers what is called RCR (Raw Card Review) and your card can get an grade during the show. Did SGC offer such a service at that show? If Beckett did and SGC didn't -- then there is another way for the Beckett line to be longer/

Those two things, among others. can factor into lines and customers at shows for the TPG's

Rich

[the 'stache]

Exactly what I was going to say.

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

A perception is reality issue here. Beckett is well known for grading modern (shiny) cards and since there are tons more modern (shiny) cards than extant pre-war cards; where is the line going to be longer.

Also, and this depends on the show, Beckett offers what is called RCR (Raw Card Review) and your card can get an grade during the show. Did SGC offer such a service at that show? If Beckett did and SGC didn't -- then there is another way for the Beckett line to be longer/

Those two things, among others. can factor into lines and customers at shows for the TPG's

Rich

[Snapolit1]

Beckett could be beyond reproach ethically, and I have no reason to believe they are anything but, but I simply don't like the way their holders look. Is that because I've gotten use to other holders? Probably. I just see their holders and am unenthused. Every time. Too much information, bland presentation.

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

A perception is reality issue here. Beckett is well known for grading modern (shiny) cards and since there are tons more modern (shiny) cards than extant pre-war cards; where is the line going to be longer.

Also, and this depends on the show, Beckett offers what is called RCR (Raw Card Review) and your card can get an grade during the show. Did SGC offer such a service at that show? If Beckett did and SGC didn't -- then there is another way for the Beckett line to be longer/

Those two things, among others. can factor into lines and customers at shows for the TPG's

Rich

[Snapolit1]

My experience at shows over the last 2 years has been PSA has long lines that I won't waste my time on, because I have limited time in my life and didn't drive to a show to stand on a line for an hour and a half, and SGC has far fewer people and is typically disorganized and also frustrating.

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

A perception is reality issue here. Beckett is well known for grading modern (shiny) cards and since there are tons more modern (shiny) cards than extant pre-war cards; where is the line going to be longer.

Also, and this depends on the show, Beckett offers what is called RCR (Raw Card Review) and your card can get an grade during the show. Did SGC offer such a service at that show? If Beckett did and SGC didn't -- then there is another way for the Beckett line to be longer/

Those two things, among others. can factor into lines and customers at shows for the TPG's

Rich