PSA parent company Collectors acquires Beckett

[prestigecollectibles]

https://www.cllct.com/sports-collect...quires-beckett

[4815162342]

Holy smokes!

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

So there's no viable option that isn't owned by some giant private equity group. Yay.

[Tyruscobb]

CGC is the only non-PSA affiliated grader standing.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Tyruscobb

CGC is the only non-PSA affiliated grader standing.

and they're owned by private equity giant Blackstone

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

and they're owned by private equity giant Blackstone

Personally, I always like it when my competitors take private equity money. Usually means a lot of their clients are going to be coming my way soon, since they usually let a lot of people go and their service and quality drops dramatically. But I'm guessing we've already seen that dynamic play out with TPGs.

[premiercardcollectors]

Originally Posted by Tyruscobb

CGC is the only non-PSA affiliated grader standing.

There is TAG also. AI grader. They are right behind SGC in volume.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by premiercardcollectors

There is TAG also. AI grader. They are right behind SGC in volume.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

not in sports they're not, and certainly not in pre war.

[tycobb]

Originally Posted by premiercardcollectors

There is TAG also. AI grader. They are right behind SGC in volume.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I checked out Tag few weeks back and it’s a shame they don’t grade vintage and charge 30.00 per card !

From their website :

“cards must be standard sized, 2.5" x 3.5". The cards must be from the year 1989 - Present and can be no thicker than 50pt Stock. TAG is currently focusing on modern era but will be moving back in time as capacity allows.”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[parkplace33]

Orders at PSA and Beckett are expected to be processed normally and there are expected to be no changes in pricing as part of the acquisition.

Sources told cllct PSA and Beckett will not share staff for grading operations.

Grading at the two companies will remain separate processes, and crossover grading will not be impacted.

This part is interesting, as SGC and PSA do share staff.

[Brent G.]

Natural Sequence of Events:

1. "Nothing will change."
2. "OK, things will change a little."
3. "Beckett will become a boutique brand."
4. R.I.P.

#LetsGoCGC

[MantleMarisFordBerra]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

So there's no viable option that isn't owned by some giant private equity group. Yay.

Exactly. Not good news at all. Here’s hoping CGC can hold out and grow.

[bk400]

Originally Posted by MantleMarisFordBerra

Exactly. Not good news at all. Here’s hoping CGC can hold out and grow.

CGC is owned by Blackstone, the largest private equity firm in the world. So if you're anti-private equity ownership, CGC isn't going to make you feel better.

But if you like the idea of a well funded alternative to PSA, then CGC certainly fits the bill.

[FromVAtoLA]

Collectivus, Beckett's parent company, was bought a year ago by a private equity shop that focuses on distressed assets. So flipping it relatively quickly shouldn't come as much of a surprise.

One of Blackstone's Tactical Opportunities Funds bought CGC. They typically have a 4-5 year investment horizon and purchased CGC in the summer of 2021. So don't be surprised if their sale is announced in 2026.

Collector's Universe card grading market share is now just under 80% across their three brands. Across all grading companies the share of sports cards to TCG/Pokemon cards has dropped to 33%. Nearly 90% of what CGC grades is TCG/Pokemon. So expect CGC to continue to optimize the card grading business around the modern TCG business, unless/until that markets starts to deflate.

[gkrodg00]

Originally Posted by bk400

CGC is owned by Blackstone, the largest private equity firm in the world. So if you're anti-private equity ownership, CGC isn't going to make you feel better.

But if you like the idea of a well funded alternative to PSA, then CGC certainly fits the bill.

I think Blackstone is pretty big but I think Blackrock is who you are thinking even though Blackrock is not really private equity. I believe Apollo Global is the largest private equity firm…regardless, none of this consolidation is good for the hobby or the business.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[refz]

Time to go back to a raw card hobby and make it fun again.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by refz

Time to go back to a raw card hobby and make it fun again.

I sold off 99% of my slabs years ago and it honestly is a LOT more fun now.

[bnorth]

I will go early with every thread needs a card picture. My favorite Beckett graded cards. These are 2 of the 12 cards Beckett graded in testing before they graded a single card for the public. I bought one directly from Mark Anderson and the other from Leon who bought it from Mark.

[Lucas00]

CGC really does look better and better to me every day. That is said as a SGC diehard.

[prestigecollectibles]

I sent SGC a 3 card submission using their "immediate" 1-2 day service. They received it last Monday the 8th by UPS and it's still not shown as received. Good 'ol Tyler says it's in the cue.

I mostly use CGC now for my vintage Japanese baseball cards.
I can't imagine SGC being around much longer.

Originally Posted by Lucas00

CGC really does look better and better to me every day. That is said as a SGC diehard.

[CrackaJackKid]

To me, it should no brainer that the hobby moves into a brand like TAG, completely unbiased AI grading to eliminate the subjective human element but I’m afraid there’s way too much money tied up in PSA for people to switch over….

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by prestigecollectibles

I sent SGC a 3 card submission using their "immediate" 1-2 day service. They received it last Monday the 8th by UPS and it's still not shown as received. Good 'ol Tyler says it's in the cue.

I mostly use CGC now for my vintage Japanese baseball cards.
I can't imagine SGC being around much longer.

I was told Tyler isn't there anymore, so that's interesting.

[prestigecollectibles]

I got an email from this guy. I think there was a Tyler Grady before.

Tyler Eve
Collector Support
Tyler.Eve@gosgc.com

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

I was told Tyler isn't there anymore, so that's interesting.

[4815162342]

Unless another TPG can truly compete on the registry front, no one will be able to compete with PSA.

[JamesGallo]

Originally Posted by 4815162342

Unless another TPG can truly compete on the registry front, no one will be able to compete with PSA.

Cgc does have a registry which is growing but granted far smaller. Then again PSA has a pretty long head start.
The CGC slab is solid imo and they certainly wont be going anywhere.

I thought the overall Beckett brand was to strong to be bought out. Guess not.

James G

[premiercardcollectors]

Never used TAG. Just saw the numbers


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Lucas00]

I hate ai grading. Cards shouldn't be graded with insane harshness under a microscope. Vintage ones at least..

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Lucas00

I hate ai grading. Cards shouldn't be graded with insane harshness under a microscope. Vintage ones at least..

Sure beats blatant corruption and incompetence, though.

[theshowandme]

TAG has done one thing intelligently and that’s their onsite grading gimmick at the National of creating customs for your pets…

They know their role in this game

[Exhibitman]

We need a museum of defunct slabs.

[Rich Klein]

IIRC. Rob Veres at Burbank has a collection of slabs from all the grading companies active, kind of active and long gone

[puckpaul]

Maybe PSA can grade larger sized premiums now that Beckett does like M101-1s?

[Mrc32]

I think over time, all non PSA slabs will be worth a tiny fraction of their PSA versions. in 10 years when SGC and beckett are long gone, the prices of those slabs will plummet. Nobody will want to buy them. Sort of like a GAI slab now.

And if you want to get your money out of your cards, you will be forced to submit to to PSA and deal with the outrageous new grading standards.

Sucks for me, as two of my favorite cards are in SGC slabs - my 54 Aaron and 50B Jackie.

[BioCRN]

SGC and Beckett have enough high-end cards slabbed to withstand the wind-down. I imagine Beckett for the basketball/football people and SGC for the vintage people should be fine going forward given the saturation of examples in those slabs known by the collector communities.

[robw1959]

Originally Posted by Mrc32

I think over time, all non PSA slabs will be worth a tiny fraction of their PSA versions. in 10 years when SGC and beckett are long gone, the prices of those slabs will plummet. Nobody will want to buy them. Sort of like a GAI slab now.

And if you want to get your money out of your cards, you will be forced to submit to to PSA and deal with the outrageous new grading standards.

Sucks for me, as two of my favorite cards are in SGC slabs - my 54 Aaron and 50B Jackie.

However, there could be an opposite effect. Since SGC hasn't suffered the same loss of credibility that slayed GAI, supply and demand could cause their slabs to become even more desirable once they aren't being manufactured any more. I think this is a likely outcome, especially due to the tuxedo look many of us prefer over the other brands.

[Leon]

I think the whole grading debacle is just that, a debacle.
What a Sh%$ show....

That said, with the eminent announcement of CGC's larger holders, I am rooting for them. And they are the only grading company that supports the forum. I have a bias, but regardless of that, I think they are the best grading company out today.

Originally Posted by Mrc32

I think over time, all non PSA slabs will be worth a tiny fraction of their PSA versions. in 10 years when SGC and beckett are long gone, the prices of those slabs will plummet. Nobody will want to buy them. Sort of like a GAI slab now.

And if you want to get your money out of your cards, you will be forced to submit to to PSA and deal with the outrageous new grading standards.

Sucks for me, as two of my favorite cards are in SGC slabs - my 54 Aaron and 50B Jackie.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Mrc32

I think over time, all non PSA slabs will be worth a tiny fraction of their PSA versions. in 10 years when SGC and beckett are long gone, the prices of those slabs will plummet. Nobody will want to buy them. Sort of like a GAI slab now.

And if you want to get your money out of your cards, you will be forced to submit to to PSA and deal with the outrageous new grading standards.

Sucks for me, as two of my favorite cards are in SGC slabs - my 54 Aaron and 50B Jackie.

I won't say a fraction, but I would say less if both companies go defunct.

For those that think SGC and Beckett brands continue, I ask why would Collectors run 3 separate grading companies?

[Section103]

Originally Posted by Mrc32

I think over time, all non PSA slabs will be worth a tiny fraction of their PSA versions. in 10 years when SGC and beckett are long gone, the prices of those slabs will plummet. Nobody will want to buy them. Sort of like a GAI slab now.

And if you want to get your money out of your cards, you will be forced to submit to to PSA and deal with the outrageous new grading standards.

Sucks for me, as two of my favorite cards are in SGC slabs - my 54 Aaron and 50B Jackie.

I can only hope for underpriced cards on the market. I'll buy em up as much as I can afford if they fall to a "tiny fraction" of PSA counterparts.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Mrc32

I think over time, all non PSA slabs will be worth a tiny fraction of their PSA versions. in 10 years when SGC and beckett are long gone, the prices of those slabs will plummet. Nobody will want to buy them. Sort of like a GAI slab now.

And if you want to get your money out of your cards, you will be forced to submit to to PSA and deal with the outrageous new grading standards.

Sucks for me, as two of my favorite cards are in SGC slabs - my 54 Aaron and 50B Jackie.

I would say from what I'm seeing in the Major Auction houses none of the key stars in SGC holders are selling for a faction of their PSA Versions. To many great vintage pre and post war cards are in SGC holders. To me they're in no way shape or form going to become Current GIA value.

[ezez420]

GameStop will be next as the outlet for both these players. GameStops will be hubs across the country for submissions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[chalupacollects]

At what point is this considered an illegal monopoly?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by chalupacollects

At what point is this considered an illegal monopoly?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The point at which the government (or, I suppose, a private plaintiff) successfully challenges it. Once could certainly ARGUE it's been a monopoly for quite some time based on market share and pricing practices.