What changes (if any) would you like SGC to make moving forward?
 

We are about 6 weeks in since the SGC buyout news (https://www.gosgc.com/SGC-Joins-Collectors). What changes (if any) would you like SGC to make moving forward?

I have seen the following ideas pop up here and there:

1. Adding a registry.
2. Enhancements to the SGC slab (redesign, QR code, etc)
3. When reslabbing, keeping the existing cert and not generating a new cert (this is my vote).
4. Enhancements to the SGC website/app.
5. Authenticating autographs/memorabilia.
6. More grading specials.
7. More onsite grading at shows.

And some out of the box thoughts

8. Integration into PSA's pop report and registry.
9. Use to AI to grade cards.
10. Grading changes (individual grading for corners, centering, etc.).

What say you?

What does AI give them that they don’t already have?

I realize it’s a fancy buzzword right now, but it’s not clear to me what they might be able to accomplish if they were somehow magically able to make it work. Would they be better at detecting fakes? Alterations? Grades that might more closely follow their published guidelines, because the math is being calculated by a machine? Maybe it speeds up the process? SGC already seems pretty zippy, but I guess they can always move faster.

Aside from sounding cool and somehow representing the future, I just don’t understand what benefits we might see as submitters.

Great questions, I have the same. My initial thought is using AI to identify what card is being submitted, ie, what type of card. I think a ton of research is being done to identify what type of card it is and it could help with that process.

1. Allow SGC cards to be added to the PSA registry.
2. Allow SGC cards to be reholdered into PSA slabs at the same grade. Before folks scream that SGC cards may not cross over at the same grade as PSA, perhaps mark the new PSA flip in a way that shows that the card was a SGC reholder, e.g., add a leading "S" to the new cert number. Also, don't allow 9.5/10's to be reholdered at the same grade, but they must go through a crossover process.

Funny, I was just talking about that idea to a friend yesterday. I think it would work (if CU wants to do it).

Fixing the databases and including both the old numbers and the new numbers would be a start.
That would be a good lead to fixing the pop reports which were ok but are now a complete mess.

Getting into new areas of business isn't a good idea.
Using AI, even to identify stuff.... to me also a poor idea. If you're an "expert" that crutch isn't needed.

Integration with PSA can't really happen with the database so messed up.


Wishlist stuff that makes no business sense - Use auction sites that have good pictures to add info about backs/factories etc to the database if it's not already there.

I've never sent any of my cards in anywhere to get graded but had hoped to attend this month's Toronto Card Expo to have some cards graded but was disappointed to read SGC is not even going to be there this go around and PSA is drop off only.

The best change was already made; ownership.
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I don't really see a future for Ai in the hobby. Anyone who is working as a grader should be well-versed in cards as a prerequisite, and I have no doubt any member of the forum can easily identify 99 out of 100 cards without thinking about it.

I don't like the idea of relying on Ai for grading either. A machine is a machine. It will never acquire life experience and it'll be much easier to trick a machine than a live human eye of a live human well-versed in the common tactics that will exist to trick a machine.

For me just more grading specials.
Slab us fine for me not sure what good a bar code/QR code is, have never used it with any of my PSA slabs, so not sure all hoopla over that.

Registry would be ok, but again something I dabbled in with PSA and found no real value for me. Now with the App and all my cards accessible there, that's awesome for me

I agree with Leon.

I would like some sort of means of determining the date the card was graded, by whom, and whether it was either crossed-over re-holdered. This might be done through use of a barcode reader or maybe something in the serial numbering--front or back label. No need for a grader's name necessarily--just "grader #12" or similar, but something where there is a way to discern whether a card was graded by someone who is generally tougher--also to know who may have failed to catch a fake or altered card. The date thing should really not be that controversial, IMO. Maybe not so much with the other.;)

The obnoxiously large number grade on the flip that takes away from the card inside.
Less bulky.

SGC, at this point, is a separately run entity and nothing has changed at the top...or has it? Ultimately, yes Collectors owns them and has full control but it has been business as usual at this early stage.

This might be my favorite part about SGC slabs. I can see the grade from bad pics or from far away. Super helpful when browsing cards on my phone. I know if it's a 1 or a 9 that I probably have no interest in it and it saves me time from having to try to zoom in.

I like the Tux look, but the slabs are overdue to be made thinner / lighter, and they could also incorporate a QR code on the back so that you can verify legitimacy quicker.

I’ve never liked the format of the insert system (even if I like the color) as much as I do PSA’s slab rail system - whole thing feels kind of like a picture frame from Walmart when you crack it open - but those inserts have allowed SGC to more accurately slab a wider variety of card sizes than you typically see with PSA and oddball stuff just floating around in huge slab interiors or with ugly baggies somehow incorporated. I wouldn’t want SGC to move away from the insert system if that were going to happen.


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yes...use PSA's slabs please!!!!

I think they should re-grade that Baltimore Ruth.

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I hope SGC goes back to the cert #'s in succession, not the random #'s assigned

Smaller sized slabs

The ownership was fine.
The slabs are fine.
The grade size is fine.
The random cert numbers are fine.

I just want the registry back.

Ya, that one is wild

They have to get new slabs. Honestly, it is baffling to me that they didn't do this in the wake of covid with all the new ultra-modern stuff up for grabs. In vintage land, some of us are OK with the slabs, we're at least used to them and the tux look does have a bit of a pleasing aesthetic, but the slabs are still unnecessarily gigantic and cheap looking. But on the modern side of the hobby, the slabs are an absolute joke. NOBODY wants them for ultra-modern cards. NOBODY. They get laughed at by the modern crowd. They refer to them as "the dollar store slabs". They are effectively only used as a PSA pre-grading service in the modern market. But their grades are respected. If SGC had come out with a nice modern looking slab, similar to CGC's slab, they would have already gained MASSIVE market share.

The optimal solution is probably for them to offer two slabs going forward. One for modern cards that is the same size as PSA & CGC, and the current bulky slabs for anyone who still wants them for their vintage submissions.

A registry would be huge as well. Solve these two problems and SGC goes bananas!

I can’t speak for the modern side of the hobby because I don’t collect anything after 1980 but I feel just the opposite about the slabs. I love the SGC slab and hate the PSA slab with that ugly red label. Looks super cheap to me like low-grade plastic and when you add in the condoms that they use, it looks even worse,

It may seem funny, but the slab size isn't a big deal. And it would allow some slightly larger cards to go in a "normal" sized slab.

I do like the insert for older cards, although it does need some work to make it better, like a different thickness.
I think PSA slabs look cheap, and CGCs look a bit comical, which is no surprise.

But I do like PSAs look for more modern cards, especially ones with colored borders or no borders. Those sort of get visually lost in the black gasket.

What would be interesting would be a PSA sized slab for all the normal stuff, SGC sized for slightly oversize. But both with a gasket that was available in custom colors. For example, an orange gasket if you wanted it for an Orioles team set, Or red for the Reds or Red Sox.
Or even lighter colors to show off cards like 71 Topps and 50 Drakes.

They now own the IP for the slabs, expand both PSAs offerings and SGC by offering options.

When buying, ok, but what about when they are in your collection and displayed? Its a major eyesore.

Neither of these should ever happen.


Registry and fixing pop report should be the main focus.

With SGC not including qualifiers on there slabs when warranted is enough for me. I tend to get frustrated looking for marks and the like. Not to mention paper loss and off centered cards.

Qualifiers are stupid. You can’t say this card would be an eight if it wasn’t off-center. If it’s off-center, then it’s not an eight. That’s like saying my wife would be hot if she wasn’t so ugly.