SGC vs. PSA vs. GAI

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Posted By: Charlie O'Neal

IMO

I like SGC the most b/c of the black background and the consistency in grading. It does seem that SGC will grade cards better that might be potentially be miscut though. When given the chance I will buy cards graded by SGC over all others with PSA a fairly close second. I have a pretty good idea of what the card will look like when I buy an SGC card and most of the time the same goes for PSA (lower grades).

The really only problem that I have with PSA is that they give favor grades for high end cards to high volume dealers. My evidence for this is some of the T206's in the mastro auction. If I remember correctly there is a Ty Cobb (Red) PSA 7 or 8 that has a major defect on the card that any other day would make the card a 2, 3, or 4. This defect is pointed out in the auction. Until PSA treates everyone on a level playing field they will probably continue to get a bad rap which they deserve if they are unwilling to change the way they do business and treat everyone equal.

As far as GAI goes they are in the same boat as PRO or any other fly by night grading company. They are the most inconsistent grading company of the 3 big names. While GAI does have it's own grading system it seems as though it's comes from another planet. The lower grade cards that I have seen on ebay leaves me to wonder if the only way to get a 1 grade on a card is if the card is not 100% whole and even then some of the cards get a 1.5 with some of the card missing. I have seen some beater cards grade anywhere from a 1.5 to a 2. That would get the Poor grade from PSA or SGC.
Of the GAI cards that I own I will not try to cross them over b/c it looks as though all of them are over graded compared to PSA and SGC by a grade.

Sorry no spell check on this computer.