T206 Grading-PSA VS SGC-please educate me

[veleno45]

I am hoping to get an free education in grading companies if you all do not mind. I am about to start sending my T206 cards to PSA for grading but I have seen a lot of PSA vs SGC discussion (beaten to death I am sure). The reason I was going to use PSA is simple. The graded cards I have are already PSA, and they have a nice website. So, not a lot of thought there.

Are there real reasons I should send them to SGC (or elsewhere) instead? It seems that PSA gets premium pricing through eBay and such but I am still concerned over the PSA complaints I read. Am I doing myself and my cards a disservice by using PSA? Any advice or info would be great. Thanks in advance!

[4815162342]

One of the best features of this board is the ability to educate yourself on every prewar baseball card topic imaginable (and some T206 topics you couldn't even begin to imagine) by searching through the archive.

[veleno45]

One of the best features of this board is the ability to educate yourself on every prewar baseball card topic imaginable (and some T206 topics you couldn't even begin to imagine) by searching through the archive.

Thanks daryl, still trying to learn the site. I just saw the archive section after I read your post. Appreciate it.

[ullmandds]

proper grammar and use of the archive thread are essential to integrating successfully here!

[t206hof]

My opinion is that, SGC is waaaaaay better. Cards look more presentable, better customer service, better holders. And last but not least you do not have to buy a stupid membership to have cards graded by SGC. But, even with all those good things, when it comes to buying cards PSA is the one to go with. They just go for more money for some reason. And that is really what its all about. Thanks, hope this helps a little.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

I think SGC has a better looking holder. PSA has a much nicer website and the card's registration numbers are MUCH EASIER to verify.

[Gradedcardman]

Both have their merits. SGC holders look great and make the T206 look great. PSA holders generally command higher pricing. PSA does not like to holder diamond cut cards and SGC is nasty mean on minor paperloss. I crossed a couple of T206's over that went from PSA 4 to SGC 20 due to minor minor paperloss. Also now being 48 and thinking of the future, I am going to cross everything over to PSA. I love collecting but my heirs don't. These will be sold eventually either by me or them and I will want top dollar. I will not be buried with these pieces of cardboard.

[Jay Wolt]

I believe that both PSA & SGC do a good job w/ T206's.
So if you'll go either way, use the company that has the best pricing.
Currently SGC is offering a T & E special for March at $7 per

[bnorth]

I personally crack everything out of both holders and keep them in their natural state. It really depends on what you want to do with the cards. If for your PC I think they look better in the SGC holder. For short term sales I would go with PSA as they command a premium in the same grade. For resale many years from now I would go with SGC, PSA is just such a scummy/shady company the bubble has to burst sometime and when it does I would hate to own a ton of there slabs. Just my opinion.

[steve B]

Either company is fine, I use SGC, but own a few PSA cards.

I think many Prewar cards look nicer in the SGC holder with the black insert. But it's less of a plus for more modern cards.

Any set with an active registry crowd will probably sell for more with PSA.

And as others have said the two companies treat some defects differently.

One thing that made me go with SGC initially was that I could simply send the cards in, no club, no fake price guide, just a service.

I also only send in cards in better condition or more recently some expensive ones I had done at a show. I might be odd that way, but most of the cards I have that are Good or worse are really obvious. No need for grading. Maybe the tougher backs and HOF players since the assurance they're merely creased to heck instead of creased and trimmed might be of value later on.
Also at the show I had questions about a couple cards I'd had graded before. They guy I spoke to was very nice, and spotted the tiny flaws I'd missed very quickly. Slightly embarrassing to me having missed them, but good to know what made an otherwise very nice looking card only vg-ex.

I don't have any experience with PSA aside from what I hear and the cards I have bought or looked at closely.

But if you're comfortable with PSA and prefer them or just prefer having all the same holders- Or I guess very similar holders now they've come out with the new ones- Go with them.

Steve B

[sebie43]

I prefer SGC, better looking holders,better prices. I initially decided against PSA because of the membership thing.
They do currently command a higher price but I imagine that will change if more people continue to boost SGC buisness, I for one will only use them. I don't like Joe Orlando I guess.

[smtjoy]

I use and sub to both but prefer SGC for all vintage 1950 and older. On newer stuff I use more PSA but still use SGC for cards I plan to keep. You cant really go wrong with either.

[pbspelly]

What about Beckett?

[bnorth]

What about Beckett?

Beckett is mainly used on new cards. The main problem with them is they grade hand cut cards as real giving them # grades instead of authentic and the patch scammers use them.

They have graded tons of cards cut out of test sheets that have been leaving Topps by the truck load lately. Look on eBay for super refractors with out the serial #'s on them, all hand cut. I do not collect the new patch/insert cards but if you go to the blow out forum were they do. It is discussed on a regular basis how pretty much any one in a Beckett holder is altered by replacing a plain insert with a cooler looking one.