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

[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.