New Grading Company - CSG

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by sportscardpete

There is a massive moat built by the current TPG, whether we like to admit that or not. It will take a lot of patience for a new entrant to work. Hopefully they have the pockets to build the business.

I am sure they will be fine. They are a part of the CGC company which is huge in other hobbies. With a built in reputation their growth would be faster than a start-up from scratch.

CGC grades comics,
but has the following:
NGC - Coins
PMG - Paper money
ASG - Stamps

The only issue that I can think of is that they also have CCS which is a comic book restoration company. Some may believe that if they are willing to clean up comics then grade them they could be willing to do the same for sports cards. I would hope they would know the hobby enough to understand that isn't accepted in this hobby, but it could be hard for others to trust a company that does it in another hobby.

[Stampsfan]

Question for Leon. Their promotional video flagged on the other thread says they are only grading Pokémon and Magic cards, yet you’re sending in your vintage.
Are they currently grading vintage and other cards?

[Rich Klein]

I'm going to say based on this comment by Leon they have hired at least one sports person (if not more)

"I don't want to be the one to say who the new hire is but I am supportive. It will be out soon I am sure."

Regards
Rich

[sportscardpete]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

I'm going to say based on this comment by Leon they have hired at least one sports person (if not more)

"I don't want to be the one to say who the new hire is but I am supportive. It will be out soon I am sure."

Regards
Rich

They will need to hire a bunch. It is going to have to be a positive feedback loop - you need capacity to grade, which will put more of their cards out on the market, which is free advertising, which will make them money, for them to hire more folks to grade even more cards.

If you are going to make yourself a player in the market you have to have huge investment into this business. You can’t really start with a few or some marquee graders and expect them to lead the way. That’s why I’m really hesitant about new grading companies, UNLESS they are more technologically advanced (remains to be seen).

Those flips are uglier than sin. Just my opinion -Dan Hicks

[mrvster]

I will own one someday.....

general grading,

specializing in vintage freaks

I already have cherry picked a team

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by mrvster

I will own one someday.....

general grading,

specializing in vintage freaks

I already have cherry picked a team

When you do I would like to get one of your early test slabs to add to my oddball slab collection.

Would also like to get one of the very early slabs from this new company when they start grading baseball cards. One of their test slabs would be amazing.

[Fred]

Originally Posted by Gobucsmagic74

Those flips are uglier than sin. Just my opinion -Dan Hicks

After seeing that sample, I agree.

Apparently they're not into test marketing. If they get off the ground, all you can do is hope they don't quickly realize the packaging (flips) are not what consumers would like and then change them.

Not sure how a company that is into grading is going to crack the code and survive in this PSA dominated market. They could get a foot hold in pre-war but the $$/volume seems to be in newer cards.

I remember when GAI started out, they seemed good, then all the altered cards started getting slabbed.

Best of luck to a new TPG venture because the hobby needs something it can trust.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Fred

After seeing that sample, I agree.

Apparently they're not into test marketing. If they get off the ground, all you can do is hope they don't quickly realize the packaging (flips) are not what consumers would like and then change them.

Not sure how a company that is into grading is going to crack the code and survive in this PSA dominated market. They could get a foot hold in pre-war but the $$/volume seems to be in newer cards.

I remember when GAI started out, they seemed good, then all the altered cards started getting slabbed.

Best of luck to a new TPG venture because the hobby needs something it can trust.

Regarding the part in bold.... It will be difficult, but is much needed for the integrity of the hobby. All three of the current TPGs are corrupt in their own ways.

If the FBI ever decides to come down on PSA for the thousands of "mistakes" they've made, the window of opportunity could open up a bit more for this new venture. Hopefully that will be the case, although they will still need to tone down that garish flip.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

I'm going to say based on this comment by Leon they have hired at least one sports person (if not more)

"I don't want to be the one to say who the new hire is but I am supportive. It will be out soon I am sure."

Regards
Rich

I just heard from the new hire Leon mentioned and I agree, perhaps for the first time (Hi Leon! that's a joke son), about his opinion on the new hire.

Rich

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by Stampsfan

Question for Leon. Their promotional video flagged on the other thread says they are only grading Pokémon and Magic cards, yet you’re sending in your vintage.
Are they currently grading vintage and other cards?

That video is for their CGC grading that was doing comics but will now include TCG.

CSG is going to be their spin off that will grade sports cards:
https://www.cgccomics.com/news/artic...-card-experts/

[bswhiten]

Since I like to have my slabs in binders with 4 pocket pages, the slab size alone kills it for me. Why so tall?
Hopefully the design gets more thought. The PSA and SGC proportions and labels are much better imo.

[whitehse]

And people complained about the new SGC flips.... Not a fan of this one to be sure.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Their gaming card flips turned out OK, and don't seem to be crazily over-sized.

[Tyruscobb]

Although competition generally benefits consumers (e.g. lower prices, better service, etc.), I’m skeptical that any new third-party grader will help solve the hobby’s biggest problem - altered cards receiving numerical grades and over-grading.

The reason is the vintage fee structure. Most TPGs do not have a flat fee. Instead, the fee varies depending on the card’s value. This creates a subconscious financial incentive (and, unfortunately, probably a conscious one for some TPGs) to over-grade. Over-grading increases the card’s price, which, in turn, increases the fee. An increased fee increases the company’s profitability, which, in turn, may increase the grader’s pay. The current vintage fee structure has too many interest conflicts that have created the current problems.

Removing the financial incentive to over-grading is what needs to happen to fix the problem. TPGs should charge a flat fee to grade a 1956 Mantle. The fee should not vary depending on whether the card comes back a Poor 1 or gem 10. So, unless any new grader uses a flat vintage fee, the problem will continue.

A new TPG will make the existing TPGs improve their services and fees, as well as reduce turnaround times. However, any new TPG that uses the same vintage fee is equivalent to putting a bandage on a bullet wound - it will not cure the underlying problem. It may temporarily improve the situation, but eventually even a new TPG’s actual graders will fall victim to the above-referenced dilemma - increasing the company’s bottom line.

I’ll pump the brakes on my excitement until I see the vintage fee schedule for any new TPG. * This post does not mention any specific TPGs, and presents general issues. *