SGC versus PSA slabs

[NiceDocter]

Im sure this has been covered before so please excuse me in advance. For vintage cards (1950 and before) is it better to use SGC or PSA as far as values and marketablity in the future for my collection ( in case I ever want to sell or trade any in the future). I would appreciate any input from experiences you have had and links to any old threads if this has already been addressed. And thanks to the many great collectors and dealers out there in Net54 land that have made this great hobby even greater for an old guy like me! I do have a lot of stuff all ungraded probably in the range of authentic to maybe PSA 6 nothing like 9s and 10s.....including HOFers and strip cards.

[glynparson]

I prefer PSA because they tend to consistently sell for more money, there are of course examples to the contrary. I also prefer the sleekness of their holders and really prefer the newer holder with the extra barcode and newer holograms. I think they are much easier to store and i have found them to be more liquid (at retail pricing) when selling. I understand some prefer the look of the SGC holder I for one do not and I detest the gasket for several reasons. Either company will in my opinion do a pretty good job of grading but in the end I am a psa guy. I figure on this board you will however, get more people telling you SGC, because they cultivated a good relationship with this board unlike PSA.

[swarmee]

Well, for many of those cards, they're not worth grading by either company.

PSA has a new tool called "Auction Prices Realized" for free on their website that lets you see how sales of PSA cards on eBay and auctionhouses have been. Generally better conditioned cards are worth more in PSA slabs than SGC, unless you're talking about Pre-WWI, and then they're closer.

My general recommendation is to grade cards that will be worth $20 more after grading. Since it's a $7/card fee to grade with PSA now (under their bulk $99 and under specials), you're wasting money on grading if your ROI doesn't approach that number. Most commons in EX-MT or worse or even stars in VG-EX or worse aren't worth grading, and are better to sell raw or in sets.

SGC cards are a little cheaper to bulk grade, but without a useful set registry, they'll continue to lack value on the resale market. Now if PSA ever runs a $5.50 a card special again, it would be better to take advantage of that.

[Marchillo]

I am SGC's biggest fan. I go to shows and don't have to wait in lines, I think their cases are sharper, customer service is top notch. I always talk to the same two people when I call, they've never failed me on estimated delivery times.

But I am a collector and not a seller. And I do notice that PSA seem to get a premium price especially on higher end. I think the cards you are referring to shouldn't make too much of a difference but for resale it's PSA. Who knows what will happen in 20 years. Things can shift. Subway over took McDonalds in total US stores and now they are closing down stores and getting themselves in trouble because their product has become stale.

Steve

[bnorth]

If you are worried about prices in the future you need to wait till then to find out whos magic plastic holders work the best. Nobody knows what holder will be worth the most long term. I know PSA seems to be bullet proof with all the scandals they have gone through with no problems but maybe the next one will cause the sheeple to wake up.

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Marchillo

But I am a collector and not a seller. And I do notice that PSA seem to get a premium price especially on higher end. I think the cards you are referring to shouldn't make too much of a difference but for resale it's PSA. Who knows what will happen in 20 years. Things can shift. Subway over took McDonalds in total US stores and now they are closing down stores and getting themselves in trouble because their product has become stale.

Steve

The “deep fried” look of McDonalds grading is a red flag for me. I also worry about the long term effect of the salt on the cards.

The Subway slab however, if not microwaved, is well suited for entombing the “tall boy” cards. Just don’t order the meat balls and ask for any sauce you choose on the side.

[marvymelvin]

Resale value: PSA
Look and eye appeal: SGC

The jury is not even close on both accounts.

I think it's interesting that every time a thread like this is posted, everyone mentions the resale value when it comes to selling PSA graded cards and hardly ever brings up the relative value of buying SGC graded cards. You likely will get more money reselling PSA graded cards, but if you're interested in collecting quality cards you can get more bang for your buck buying SGC graded cards with eye appeal.

[frankbmd]

Looking only at resale value only without looking at the cost of acquisition confounds me, if you are considering cards that are already graded.

Your margin, which should be considered on a percentage basis, requires both numbers.

If you do not overpay for SGC or even BVG, your ultimate margin should be equivalent.

I have tracked margins in my collection for over 10 years, and when it comes to ROI (return on investment percentage),

PSA=SGC=BVG

I realize that I am considered a heretic here for making this argument, but I have the data to prove it.

My mantra is

Buy the card, but consider the holder to determine the purchase price. I am not a PSA guy, an SGC guy or a BVG guy.

If, on the other hand, you are considering grading previously ungraded cards, PSA is probably the best choice due to the Registry effect, for higher end Registry worthy cards.

If you are buying SGC cards or BVG cards with the intent to crossover to PSA for profit, good luck. That’s not my game.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by marvymelvin

Resale value: PSA
Look and eye appeal: SGC

The jury is not even close on both accounts.

Bingo! Case in point, two nice 1914 Ty Cobb Cracker Jacks, say exmt, one in a PSA holder the other SGC's. Which one beautifies the card and which one is sort of blah? And while it may only be a temporary situation, any cards today sent to PSA might be returned graded about the time of the first Mars landing.

[mantlefan]

Originally Posted by Marchillo

I am SGC's biggest fan. I go to shows and don't have to wait in lines, I think their cases are sharper, customer service is top notch. I always talk to the same two people when I call, they've never failed me on estimated delivery times.

Steve

I was at the big Hofstra show today on Long Island. You're right....there was no waiting at the SGC booth.....there were no customers! Beckett on the other hand had a line of at least 15 people. Draw your own conclusions.

[boneheadandrube]

Originally Posted by mantlefan

I was at the big Hofstra show today on Long Island. You're right....there was no waiting at the SGC booth.....there were no customers! Beckett on the other hand had a line of at least 15 people. Draw your own conclusions.

Follow the crowd! Follow the crowd! The conclusion I draw from that is marketing supersedes all else for some. How many of those people were getting pre war cards graded or were there to validate the authenticity of an autograph that a player just handed to them? To each their own, but I feel less stupid when I use my own common sense instead of a large company's turnstile judgement in a subjective matter.

[CMIZ5290]

Wow! I was wondering when someone was going to post a thread about this subject

[mantlefan]

Originally Posted by boneheadandrube

Follow the crowd! Follow the crowd! The conclusion I draw from that is marketing supersedes all else for some. How many of those people were getting pre war cards graded or were there to validate the authenticity of an autograph that a player just handed to them? To each their own, but I feel less stupid when I use my own common sense instead of a large company's turnstile judgement in a subjective matter.

Fewer customers = less income = cutting back on staff = less bells and whistles (check out the SGC Registry if you can find it) = eventual disappearance from the business world.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by mantlefan

I was at the big Hofstra show today on Long Island. You're right....there was no waiting at the SGC booth.....there were no customers! Beckett on the other hand had a line of at least 15 people. Draw your own conclusions.

A perception is reality issue here. Beckett is well known for grading modern (shiny) cards and since there are tons more modern (shiny) cards than extant pre-war cards; where is the line going to be longer.

Also, and this depends on the show, Beckett offers what is called RCR (Raw Card Review) and your card can get an grade during the show. Did SGC offer such a service at that show? If Beckett did and SGC didn't -- then there is another way for the Beckett line to be longer/

Those two things, among others. can factor into lines and customers at shows for the TPG's

Rich

[the 'stache]

Exactly what I was going to say.

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

A perception is reality issue here. Beckett is well known for grading modern (shiny) cards and since there are tons more modern (shiny) cards than extant pre-war cards; where is the line going to be longer.

Also, and this depends on the show, Beckett offers what is called RCR (Raw Card Review) and your card can get an grade during the show. Did SGC offer such a service at that show? If Beckett did and SGC didn't -- then there is another way for the Beckett line to be longer/

Those two things, among others. can factor into lines and customers at shows for the TPG's

Rich

[Snapolit1]

Beckett could be beyond reproach ethically, and I have no reason to believe they are anything but, but I simply don't like the way their holders look. Is that because I've gotten use to other holders? Probably. I just see their holders and am unenthused. Every time. Too much information, bland presentation.

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

A perception is reality issue here. Beckett is well known for grading modern (shiny) cards and since there are tons more modern (shiny) cards than extant pre-war cards; where is the line going to be longer.

Also, and this depends on the show, Beckett offers what is called RCR (Raw Card Review) and your card can get an grade during the show. Did SGC offer such a service at that show? If Beckett did and SGC didn't -- then there is another way for the Beckett line to be longer/

Those two things, among others. can factor into lines and customers at shows for the TPG's

Rich

[Snapolit1]

My experience at shows over the last 2 years has been PSA has long lines that I won't waste my time on, because I have limited time in my life and didn't drive to a show to stand on a line for an hour and a half, and SGC has far fewer people and is typically disorganized and also frustrating.

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

A perception is reality issue here. Beckett is well known for grading modern (shiny) cards and since there are tons more modern (shiny) cards than extant pre-war cards; where is the line going to be longer.

Also, and this depends on the show, Beckett offers what is called RCR (Raw Card Review) and your card can get an grade during the show. Did SGC offer such a service at that show? If Beckett did and SGC didn't -- then there is another way for the Beckett line to be longer/

Those two things, among others. can factor into lines and customers at shows for the TPG's

Rich

[Hxcmilkshake]

30 yrs ago most were fearful of grading companies ruining the hobby, now most everybody loves them. In 30 more yrs when youre ready to sell who knows?

If resell down the line is what youre after, get an iconic card like a 52 Mantle. Highest grade you can afford, then treat it like a stock. I wouldn't even mess with anything else since theres too many variables. Just a thought.

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[pcoz]

Both SGC & PSA are great, PSA because of their Registry gets more for post-war, but I see little difference in pre-war prices. Holders are both solid, although I hate the PSA floating card one. I lean a bit towards SGC from a lot of what’s been said in the thread of their accuracy and communications, but can’t go wrong with either.


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[Shankweather]

In my experience, 19th century SGC sells for as much as or more than PSA. By the time you get to Goudey, PSA is more. So somewhere in between the line is crossed where PSA is more. Don't know if it's T206 or not because I've seen it go both ways with T206.

[aljurgela]

PSA for value
SGC for looks

Nearly my entire collection is SGC. I am a collector and have pretty rare items where the PSA pops are low or non-existent. I also like the people at SGC, though the turn around times the last few years have been quite terrible on my submissions.