Beckett is the most strict and reputable!

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Posted By: (www.bestbaseballcards.com)

First of all, I would not just take a "cheap shot" at a grading company. I have absolutely "NO REASON" to do so. I am a "small time collector", that has "NO BIAS" whatsoever. I am sure that you could not state the same. My main interest is in the interest of the collector/investor. Like I said, I will send GAI graded cards to Beckett and publish my results, and let the public make their own mind up.

You are right in some respects....I don't understand what is going on in the card grading industry, which is why my post. But this is what I do understand.....

1. Beckett doesn't have many graded "VINTAGE" because, for the most part, most vintage that are "gradable" have already been graded. Most of the premium cards have already been graded by psa or sgc.

2. As far as Beckett not knowing what they are doing, I believe that is how they became so popular...and I was actually going to pursue a story on that. When beckett first started grading vintage, using the "BGS" mark, they grossly undergraded....I actually bought as many bgs vintage cards as I could find on ebay, and resold them later at good profits. The fact that they didn't know what they were doing, gave them the "reputation" of being the most strict, so the collectors that wanted the "best" went with beckett. Today, since they realized their "error" in grading vintage, they changed their mark to "BVG". Regardless, of their initial mistakes, their reputation for being the strictest grading company lives on, and I believe "RIGHTFULLY" so.

3. I personally do not know why PSA's president spun off of PSA to start his own grading company...perhaps you can shed some light here. MY BELIEF is that it has to do with the casing of PSA graded cards does not lend itself to being tamerproof with modern technology, as the FBI has recently convicted a "MAJOR DEALER" for substituting lower grade cards in PSA casings. This being the case, I am a little leary of buying PSA graded cards anymore....and that being said, leaves us to only a couple reputable grading companies, and I see much more strictness and quality in Beckett than I witness in GAI.

4. Ok, vintage aside, I see Beckett BGS 9.5 consistently sell for MUCH more than PSA 10's, and are MUCH More popular for modern era cards. I definetely have seen a trend away from PSA and towards Beckett. I guess I kind of understand why many reputable dealers are standing behind GAI, as their collections would be worth much less if their cards were graded by Beckett instead of GAI. But as an investor, I know what I am getting with Beckett, and believe we are seeing a change in generations.

I believe GAI definetely will gain market share, and gain momentum. I also believe that more PSA cards may be resubmitted to the less costly and more lenient GAI over Beckett, but that "MOST" gai cards, if submitted to Beckett will recieve a "LOWER GRADE".

GAI does have a "nicer" casing and look than PSA, but it still does not compare to Beckett's "lustrous" casing. I also like the black background GAI provides. If they were to provide a little nicer casing, and if they could grade as strict as beckett consistently, I would consider them, but right now, they would still be 4th on my list, below BGS, SGC, PSA.

On a final note, I am a laid-off computer engineer, that really enjoys the hobby. I am addicted to collecting even though I cannot afford it. I spend hours of research every day looking at marketing info from previously sold cards on ebay, and searching for stories of interest. If any one out there could offer an "intelligent computer type" with an interest in baseball cards a position in the $60K+ range, I am willing to travel! I can do web page development, card grading, database, desktop support, administration, networking, setting up workgroups, etc....


THE NEW GENERATION,
MIKE MCSWEENEY
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RESPONSE TO

jonathan perry <jperry8@nyc.rr.com> wrote:

Hi
I read your post and am really questioning what knowledge or experience you have with grading cards and or the card graders of the world. Simply put GAI is a first rate company and probably 60% of the PSA cards in existence were graded by mike baker in some capacity or another. He either graded them himself or trained the grader who eventually graded them.
PSA and GAI are the top two grading companies out there with SGC 3rd mostly because they are more lenient on centering.

Grab an SMR
call up some of the top dealers in the country
Andy Madec
Bill Goodwin
Wayne Varner
Dave Forman
Piedmont Cards
Bottom of the Ninth
Mastronet
Mile High
all of these dealers use PSA/SGC/GAI
all have very positive comments regarding GAI.

If you are a bidder in the mastro catalogue... 3 auctions ago there were about 10 global items, the August auction there were probably 50 and in Dec there are probably over 100 GAI items.

I really don't know if your comments were made because you don't understand what is going on with card grading or the card industry or you are just trying to take a cheap shot at a grading company but your statements hold no weight.

I spend at least 10 hours a day dealing with baseball cards and attend almost every major card show and GAI is making an impact. By the way BGS and BVG are not well respected and are a joke...at the last few card shows there are not even any vintage Beckett cards being sold by dealers. When was the last time you saw a Beckett card in a major auction they get no respect and have absolutely no idea what they are doing.

You have a nice website and do a great job of trying to educate collectors about cards I just wish you understand a bit more about card grading before you make such posts in the future

I am not trying to be mean but it is obvious from your post that you really are not that involved in the card industry or up to speed on what is going on with card grading.
If you have any questions I will be more than happy to answer them or explain in more detail.

regards
Jon

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IN RESPONSE TO Mike McSweeney (http://www.bestbaseballcards.com):
This company (GAI) seems to be getting a LOT of business, and I personally don't know why... Their prices can't be that much cheaper than BGS or PSA whom are well known and respected.

I bought my first GAI card the other day, and it obviously isn't as strict as PSA OR BGS, yet their cards seem to bring better prices than the other "non-established" grading companies.

I have had problems with all the "other" grading companies (ie pro, fgs, capitol and the like)...I really don't know why we need yet "ANOTHER" inferior grading company?

I see they have prior PSA employees, and some big names, and they have influence with some of the "big dealers", but I don't understand why the big dealers or collectors are giving them interest???

On a final note, are these forums just for pre war cards, and if so, does anyone know of any good forums for "non-pre-war"....

Thanks
Also...please check out my website (http://www.bestbaseballcards.com) and give comments/recommendations ----