Poll: Are you concerned about buying SGC graded vintage cards?

[bandrus1]

Originally Posted by bobbvc

Most of the current SGC graded cards are fine. Worst case, you'd have to cross over to PSA or -insert flavor of month grading company here-. I don't think it's a huge deal either way.

It costs over $2000 to cross my one big investment card and that is not insignificant to me

[jtq81]

I want PSA to offer some sort of crossover special. They brought over graders from SGC so that tells me they think they are more than credible/accurate at what they do. PSA would make a killing at like $15-20/card.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by jtq81

I want PSA to offer some sort of crossover special. They brought over graders from SGC so that tells me they think they are more than credible/accurate at what they do. PSA would make a killing at like $15-20/card.

Would wait times to get cards back go back to what they were during COVID?

[BRoberts]

Originally Posted by jtq81

PSA would make a killing at like $15-20/card.

They make a killing now. They have no incentive to practically give away their product.

[DeanH3]

I voted no. I will still buy an SGC card if I like the card. As Neal said, who knows if PSA, as we know it, is still the grader of flavor in 10 years. Plus, how many "older" graded PSA cards aren't up to snuff due to the change in grading standards? And will those standards change again?

Actually, there might be a buying opportunity if SGC slabs getting the cold shoulder from buyers. It's all about the card inside the holder. I won't buy some PSA/SGC cards because I don't like the card in the holder. And if I can get a discount on a nice SGC card, all the better.

[cmcclelland]

I voted no. My view on this issue is limited to vintage card grading. I am not a modern card collector.

There was a time many years ago when SGC had an issue with vintage grading, almost exclusively in terms of allowing cards with poor centering to receive grades that were too high, particularly in terms of cards graded NM or NM/MT.

However, there was also a time many years ago when PSA was far too lenient with its vintage grading. Many vintage cards in old PSA holders are significantly over-graded based on today's grading standards. PSA's issues extend beyond centering; many cards in old PSA holders are grossly over-graded across nearly all grading components, including centering, corners, edges, and surface.

PSA has more egg on its face in terms of cards in old holders that are over-graded than does SGC.

All of this said, comparing PSA and SGC today as it relates to grading vintage cards, SGC is far superior to PSA in terms of the accuracy and consistency of the grading. In addition, SGC's holder is far superior to PSA's holder aesthetically.

No matter which grading company outlasts the other, if you buy the card and not the holder, your investment should be secure. However, suppose you don't pay attention or don't care about the card vs. the holder. In that case, you're making a safer investment buying SGC vs. PSA for vintage cards, because I believe SGC is now and always has been, far superior to PSA in terms of the accuracy and consistency of their vintage grading.

[bbcard1]

Realistically, there must always be a competitor. They should figure out how to make SGC their competition and keep all the money.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

Realistically, there must always be a competitor. They should figure out how to make SGC their competition and keep all the money.

Todd, hopefully CGC will become the very viable competitor to PSA/SGC, as I believe the company (or its parent company) has the resources to do so.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by cmcclelland

I voted no. My view on this issue is limited to vintage card grading. I am not a modern card collector.

There was a time many years ago when SGC had an issue with vintage grading, almost exclusively in terms of allowing cards with poor centering to receive grades that were too high, particularly in terms of cards graded NM or NM/MT.

However, there was also a time many years ago when PSA was far too lenient with its vintage grading. Many vintage cards in old PSA holders are significantly over-graded based on today's grading standards. PSA's issues extend beyond centering; many cards in old PSA holders are grossly over-graded across nearly all grading components, including centering, corners, edges, and surface.

PSA has more egg on its face in terms of cards in old holders that are over-graded than does SGC.

All of this said, comparing PSA and SGC today as it relates to grading vintage cards, SGC is far superior to PSA in terms of the accuracy and consistency of the grading. In addition, SGC's holder is far superior to PSA's holder aesthetically.

No matter which grading company outlasts the other, if you buy the card and not the holder, your investment should be secure. However, suppose you don't pay attention or don't care about the card vs. the holder. In that case, you're making a safer investment buying SGC vs. PSA for vintage cards, because I believe SGC is now and always has been, far superior to PSA in terms of the accuracy and consistency of their vintage grading.

Well said. I completely agree with you.

[toledo_mudhen]

Originally Posted by jtq81

I want PSA to offer some sort of crossover special. They brought over graders from SGC so that tells me they think they are more than credible/accurate at what they do. PSA would make a killing at like $15-20/card.

I have approximately 1000 SGC Slabs - I won't be crossing over anytime soon....

[LEHR]

I voted NO.

Hopefully Collectors doesn't completely kill off SGC with their asinine changes.

Regardless, If the grade and price fits what I'm looking for I'll still continue to buy SGC cards even if they go belly up tomorrow.

[HOF_Forever]

I voted NO.

I'm big on buy the card, not the grade/slab. If the card is good I'll buy it no matter what slab it's in. If SGC values tank I'll end up buying more. Years down the line, when it's time to sell the collection, they can always be crossed over or cracked and submitted to the current company of choice if the value justifies it.

[pherbener]

Originally Posted by HOF_Forever

I voted NO.

I'm big on buy the card, not the grade/slab. If the card is good I'll buy it no matter what slab it's in. If SGC values tank I'll end up buying more. Years down the line, when it's time to sell the collection, they can always be crossed over or cracked and submitted to the current company of choice if the value justifies it.

Absolutely agree with this Greg! I'll gladly buy nice looking cards at a discount if that happens. When the time comes to sell, if I need to crossover to PSA or whoever is the flavor of the day at that point, that's what'll happen.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by HOF_Forever

I voted NO.

I'm big on buy the card, not the grade/slab. If the card is good I'll buy it no matter what slab it's in. If SGC values tank I'll end up buying more. Years down the line, when it's time to sell the collection, they can always be crossed over or cracked and submitted to the current company of choice if the value justifies it.

Much easier said than done on the crossover.

General comment: I read a lot of people stating they are SGC buyers no matter what. Are you though? Looking forward, let's say the worst happens and the brand goes away. An SGC graded card that sold for 1K in 2025 starts to lose significant value as the years pass. Are you eagerly going to pay $500 for it now? I don't think I would.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Lorewalker

Much easier said than done on the crossover.

General comment: I read a lot of people stating they are SGC buyers no matter what. Are you though? Looking forward, let's say the worst happens and the brand goes away. An SGC graded card that sold for 1K in 2025 starts to lose significant value as the years pass. Are you eagerly going to pay $500 for it now? I don't think I would.

I like a lot of your questions Chase.

I think here you’re asking a question that’s just not going to happen. SGC Cards' value is not gonna be/by 50% 10 years down the road. Especially not the higher-end vintage quality cards that most people here collect or invest in.

[HOF_Forever]

Originally Posted by Lorewalker

Much easier said than done on the crossover.

General comment: I read a lot of people stating they are SGC buyers no matter what. Are you though? Looking forward, let's say the worst happens and the brand goes away. An SGC graded card that sold for 1K in 2025 starts to lose significant value as the years pass. Are you eagerly going to pay $500 for it now? I don't think I would.

I agree with you on the crossover.

In your hypothetical situation above, I would still buy the card if it meets what I look for in a card. If the value drop due solely to the slab is that big when I need to sell I would most likely crack it and submit to the current grading company of choice.

As a side note, I bought two cards at the National and immediately dropped them off at SGC. I was the only person in their whole area at about 3p Friday afternoon. It was eerie. In this case, I just wanted to get them slabbed for protection. I'm far from a grade everything guy but they are non-standard size and I didn't trust myself enough to get them home crease free, haha.