[mintacular]

1. PSA, SGC, and BGS (beckett but NOT Bccg) are all considered reputable, do not buy from other co.'s...Many prefer Beckett for modern, PSA or SGC for vintage.

2. I don't know. Make sure you like the "holder" (plastic case) that your cards will live in--many like SGCs black border as it presents well. I would say if you sell eventually it might be better to have from the same co. For pure resale purposes I think most agree that PSA still brings in more with the others close but still a bit lower.

3. Terms, there are lots of them...make sure that with psa there are qualifiers (ex: o/c) and this generally knocks value down 2 grades...So a PSA 8 oc = PSA 6.

4. Hang out on PSAs website for a while before you start sending cards in to get graded.

5. My own 2 cents = It is VERY VERY IMPORTANT as a newbie to not get carried away with the numbers on the flip, etc. Evaluate each card in the holder before you buy. There are very weak 6s and very strong 6s, etc. so "buy the card not the holder" as the expression goes. Good luck.