Future of Beckett Grading
 

First this:

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/insur...ndering-scheme

Now grading numbers for November 2024

Is Beckett in trouble?

I can say their on-site authentication process is garbage. At a local show, I had two items rejected that were 100% legit and that PSA correctly authenticated; they just kept $60 for doing a bad, rushed job.

There is a thread on this already but my guess is that Lindberg had nothing to do with day to day operations. Beckett has been in trouble for a long time and losing market share.

Does seem like Beckett is sliding towards oblivion/irrelevancy, if they're not there already with this level of market share.

I think J. Beckett is a shyster

They lost their primary sports card niche (Ultra Modern Baseball) during Covid by bungling the boom. While people were complaining about PSA taking 4-6 months BGS had standard subs going 12-14 months. A ton of people missed key selling windows for prospects and rookies because Beckett never adjusted to the influx of submissions. Five years ago a modern player's Bowman Chrome Auto BGS 9.5/10 was the key card to own and easily out sold PSA. Now those collectors have pivoted to PSA. I'd venture to guess the only segment of the hobby they haven't cratered in is TCG cards and I only know that because my 13-year-old collects. One top of the covid mess, they put their name on a garage grading company (BCCG) that duped green collectors with it's terrible and confusing grading scale and unveiled a "Black Pristine" grade that garnered huge premiums until evidence showed the vast majority of cards that received the grade came from industry insiders. All this just built up a ton of bad will with collectors and they turned away.

"Industry insiders" is a rather favorable way to say "one particular former BGS grader".

You mean you don't buy the explanation that his black label rate, which was virtually statistically impossible, was due to his unique "eagle eye"?

That thread, by the way, was one of the best I've ever read.

It’s been a long time since I read that thread. I remembered it being 2-3 submitters getting the treatment. Either way it’s a bit absurd.

If I recall correctly, I believe one eBay seller (who was said to have been a former grader at BGS) had sold ~75% of all black label 10s on ebay over a period of a few years.

Concur.

For those with cards in Beckett slabs, are you thinking about keeping as us or trying to cross? I had a few Beckett slabs, but I sold all over the last few years. Glad I did.

I would crack or sell unless you have an ultra rare desirable GOAT Ruth, Wagner, Cobb, Jackson Ect.

Weird take since he hasn't been involved with the company for years.

Peter, can you post the thread?

I see a lot of Beckett LOAs in major auctions for high dollar autographs. I wonder if that's where their attention is now.

I do have this Cobb that I feel like I got at a discount because of the slab. But if you ask me, I think I could sneak it into a 1.5 holder with another TPG:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6e840f0850.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7216ff3dc9.jpg

That is a nice 1. I would think it would def do a better grade in another company's slab.

Ah, he was alright. Almost won a Cy Young, made 3 All-Star teams, and was a Postseason stud.

So what if he drank and ate fried chicken on his off-days during games.

He also sold Beckett in January of 2005. I don't think you can pin today's problems on him

Tough to tell from those pictures, but certainly appears better than a 1. It is a nice looking card. I have cracked out one BVG card, a T205 Cy Young graded a 3. Submitted to SGC and it came back a 3.5.

I used to have more BVG cards in my collection but have since crossed them over. When I was using Beckett it was because they were one of the rare TPGs who did onsite and same day grading at shows. I dropped off a number of cards at White Plains shows early on when they got started.

I'm not sure if any of the TPGs are still doing same day onsite grading. It was an amazing service while it was around.

Yes that's the one. Blowout at its finest, IMO.

Future of Beckett Grading
 

The only interaction I’ve ever had with BGS (I think last year) was an unsatisfying one:

Cert number on an admittedly old slab wasn’t showing up in the database. I emailed, and was told the cert (which was from the early 2000’s) was “so old” that they wouldn’t stand behind the grade; I would need to resubmit and get in a new holder if I wanted a BVG grade.

I had no problem with any of this except for the last part, where they wanted me to just pay for everything again out of pocket. Huh? SGC and PSA stand behind 20 year-old certs. I politely told them that if I was going to spend money again to get this particular card re-graded, I would not be sending it back to Beckett.


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So interestingly beckett is the preferred grader for Magic the Gathering cards.
I have no idea why but it is still the case. I used to use beckett mostly on modern stuff but i dont anymore and i steer people away from them as well. I still send them Magic because from a business side of things it makes sense. But i only use them for magic cards. I have never really used them for sports cards nor would i. Not saying i wouldnt buy a card in their holder but i would think twice especially if i intend to cross it.

James G