Why does Beckett have BCCG?
 

In a landscape that is already confused with lousy authenticators, problems comparing grades between legitimate authenticators (PSA, BVG, SCG), why would Beckett which already has a reasonable grading brand continue to have this bizarre low end grading that is difficult to compare to anything else, that the look up only sort of works for on their site, and that doesn't even track for population reports.

Bought a card (56 Mantle) off someone the other day and selling it on eBay, already BCCG slabbed. It's a nice card, but the only thing the BCCG tells me is that it is authentic, beyond that their '9' isn't meaningful, it's a matter of staring at it to try to figure out what grade it would get through a real grading process.

The seller thought he was fooled into buying "a 9", and was disappointed when I said to him it wasn't like a PSA 9.

Then you post it on EBay as a 9 and describe it as NM. So now you lied to the seller to profit for yourself?

Do a search on this site and you will see in depth discussions about it. Their Director of Grading, and member of our board, has explained it. In short they made that brand quite a while ago for Home Shopping Network and mass retailers. It was never supposed to be for hobbyists as ourselves. At this point I believe it makes them money and in this business, if you are making a profit and doing it legally, it's a good thing. I believe they will not accept many cards (especially old ones) for that service anymore.

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I sort of wonder why they don't discontinue it (along with other things like why PSA/DNA isn't more clear when grading autographs on cards that it is the autograph, and not the card, getting a 9). I get the money aspect of it, as well as perhaps the original reasoning associated with HSN (which is an entire other source of confusion for card collectors).

But have to assume it affects their brand at some point to be both a disrespected and respected grading authority simultaneously.

Thanks for the information, I appreciate it.

Short and simple. The cat is out of the bag and it's profitable. Also, their Director of Grading has some control but I am sure this aspect goes to the top since it does affect their bottom line.

It absolutely does affect their bottom line. It's the sole reason I won't use any of Beckett's services for grading.

In your own words you say it's only authentic and the grade is non meaningful. Yet your listing says otherwise and no where states the difference between Bccg and any others. The slab says Becket right on it and any new collector may be dupped into bidding it up much higher thinking they are going to get a great deal and possibly an easy flip or possible crossover as the more novice collectors back out of bidding knowing what the label means. I think your a liar and cheated someone out of money and will be cheating someone else again. I will add you to my blocked list.

So it was started to help facilitate duping people out of their money on the Home Shopping Network. Great! It is always reassuring when high ethical standards are what guide people with power in this hobby.
JimB

Same plastic, different font. Bccg has a different number scale. They (thankfully). Left out the nonsensical grades like "gem mint" and "pristine", which are the grades the "good" companies use to describe cards better then mint.

It's the hobbies fault they the plastic is worth more then the card. Hopefully a buyer wont think its a 9. Also, Beckett is very consistent in their grading. Bccg 9 is supposed to be the same as a bvg nm 7. They should crossover to BVG that way.

I totally agree. If it really was started for the HSN and aimed at people who are not real collectors (as Leon said), then the origins seem completely fraudulent to me.

+1. Absolutely agree. I do not use grading services much and have stayed away from Beckett since BCCG came out.

I agree with David as well....I do not think their original motives were pure. Not a big surprise in this industry.

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You came here to complain about Beckett and its BCCG grading. Thats one thing. Then you brag about how you got this great deal on a 56 Mantle from a guy who seemingly got duped into buying it and wanted to dump it for what he could. You explained to him the differences in grading companies and how it wasn't worth what it should be due to the holder, then let him make an offer based on your info telling him it wasn't that valuable, but you wouldn't do that in your own auction knowing that there is another "Clown" out there to buy the card thinking it is a high grade Mantle when we know it isn't. So I am missing the point here. You dare to complain about a service yet you turn around and use it in your favor to dupe someone.

If I am wrong in my views I would love for someone to try and help me see what I am missing here and owe the OP an apology. I just keep seeing a contradiction here. Am I the only one?

BTW if you have an issue with my kids touching "112 yr old cards" your the seemingly unstable one. If you want to sue me please PM me or just say so and I will post my address and times I will be home for you to deliver the summons.

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I don't know if I'm allowed to say this, but when I visited Beckett someone showed me around the premises. In a hallway, there had a box of unused holders. I joked that I could sneak those out and holder my own cards. He chuckled and said, "You wouldn't want to steal those. Those are BCCG holders."

They wouldn't necessarily cross over that way. I believe BCCG may not take centering into account. I've always suspected that the rough grades assigned, are based on non-factory conditions. basically, how well the card was taken care of since leaving the pack.