Thoughts on GAI grading?

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

this, plus one. Having said that, GAI in their initial days had cards actually selling for higher prices than PSA. That did not last long. Their initial graded cards (different flip from later graded cards) gives you a better shot IMO of obtaining a card not trimmed and free of issues. I actually have a T206 graded by them when they first came out. It is not trimmed, but if I did sell it, it would bring a fraction of the price compared to being slabbed by PSA if not crossed over....

I agree.... The earliest GAI holders are OK but run, not walk, away from the newer slabs. Even the early ones carry the stigma. I THINK I have one or two around here still but generally, except for PSA, SGC and Beckett, I "crack'em all".

[Peter_Spaeth]

In the early days I did well crossing GAI to PSA; I was happy to buy either one. Baker was very solid. I'm not sure what happened, but the product definitely lost its reliability. The problem is that except for some cards that say 1st graded which almost certainly are very early grades, and some very late grades after they changed the flip, you can't really tell from the flip or holder.

[ethicsprof]

With my ole buddy Peter, I do remember the earliest days when GAI did
ok. In fact, I still have quite a few which say 'first graded' and feel comfortable with their grades.
Alas, the problem is there are only very,very few of us who still remember those 'halcyon' days so I suspect we'll be keeping our gai cards for aeons.
Any gai after the first days, run away from quickly...very quickly.
all the best,
barry

[drcy]

Below is an original generation GAI graded card with the original style flip and 'first graded' designation.

[glynparson]

Last I heard he was bar-tending. I believe in Tahoe area somewhere.

[Jay Wolt]

Originally Posted by drcy

Below is an original generation GAI graded card with the original style flip and 'first graded' designation.

and here's one (from eBay) that has the newer label
which many believe has more relaxed grading standards
Perhaps they utilized the newer label when they moved to Iowa

[Fred]

My understanding was that they placed the "1st Graded" designation on cards that were the first to recieve that grade. For example, there could be 10 "1st Graded" T206 Cobb (bat on shoulder) cards. There'd be a "1st graded" "1", "2" "3", etc.

I'd pick up GAI cards if the discount was good and the card didn't appear to be trimmed. I think cards were reliably graded by GAI in the early stages of the company life. However like someone already indicated, all TPGs have their own fleas.

[Stonepony]

Agree with all posts...however....last year I broke out an GAI Authentic E93 Mathewson... and SGC gave it a 5