PSA vs. SGC

[garymc]

Sorry, if you if you find this harsh.....my opinion of the grading company's !

https://www.flickr.com/photos/151843924@N04/albums

[bobbyw8469]

as Joan Jett would say " Fire away "

That would actually be Pat Benatar who says that.

[jchcollins]

PSA is the market leader because they were smarter with their promotions in the early days. The idea of a set registry was genuis. Say what you will about the Gretzky Wagner gaffe, but it put them on the map - and there they have stayed. In recent years, PSA has become a lot tougher on vintage - my guess just as a ploy to set themselves apart from the others. You would think this goes against their credibility- one reason to have a card graded by someone who is an "expert" on the standards is that those standards should not change from 1998 to 2018, but alas - it hasn't really worked out that way. At the end of the day a high grade from PSA on a tough vintage or condition sensitive modern card is still the mark of pride that most high-profile collectors are after. Their problems aside, PSA has been able to maintain that distinction.

I have no problems with SGC and honestly think that from a collector's perspective they are probably the more fair grader overall. Beckett is more or less garbage for vintage. They are more popular with collectors of modern cards, but that's not a space I play in often.

[Millerd33]

I'm going SGC all the way. They are much more consistent with their grading and their customer service is top of the line.

Currently PSA cards sell for more but I don't look to sell them so i'll take the cheaper fee and must more attractive holder all day. When they finally roll out this registry with images I may even enter a few of our cards into it.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Millerd33

I'm going SGC all the way. They are much more consistent with their grading and their customer service is top of the line.

Currently PSA cards sell for more but I don't look to sell them so i'll take the cheaper fee and must more attractive holder all day. When they finally roll out this registry with images I may even enter a few of our cards into it.

Will agree that on the whole SGC's holders are more aesthetically appealing. Unless you are doing '71 Topps. I do like the new PSA holders with the hologram or the lighthouse logo, but for some of the older ones, they have been around long enough now where some of the early 2000's slabs are downright nasty. Why people will buy a card for hundreds or thousands of dollars but then not bother to take care of the slab it may be residing in for the long run is something that has always perplexed me about collectors of graded cards.

[SetBuilder]

Are slabs airtight?

I was thinking about this the other day when it comes to slabbed Old Judge cards...

Those cards have organic material on the surface that is basically decomposing very very slowly and releasing tiny amounts of gas (sulfur?). If the air is trapped inside the slab and can't circulate, then it is probably speeding up the decomposition of the images.

I read an article that the Hall of Fame removes all cards from slabs because they're not sure what the long term effects are.

[mrvster]

great question....I would assume so??

but you know what that means!

all my ojs are slabbed

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by SetBuilder

Are slabs airtight?

I was thinking about this the other day when it comes to slabbed Old Judge cards...

Those cards have organic material on the surface that is basically decomposing very very slowly and releasing tiny amounts of gas (sulfur?). If the air is trapped inside the slab and can't circulate, then it is probably speeding up the decomposition of the images.

I read an article that the Hall of Fame removes all cards from slabs because they're not sure what the long term effects are.

i'd assume NOT airtight!

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by SetBuilder

Are slabs airtight?
I read an article that the Hall of Fame removes all cards from slabs because they're not sure what the long term effects are.

True. The HOF if they put a card into any type of holder uses inert mylar. There is a site where you can buy products like this for cards, but I remember thinking they were very unconventional, in addition to being pretty pricey.

If you look at some of the older cards the Hall has in their collection and has used for images on calendars and the like - they used to write their collection numbers in pencil on the backs of many of the cards themselves. I would assume they don't still do this, but no way to know for sure.

[oldjudge]

I'm sorry for every card I ever had graded with SGC. PSA is the clear choice.

[steve B]

I asked SGC, and they are not airtight.
I believe PSAs slabs are also not airtight.


Now whether they have enough air transfer to prevent problems is another thing. We do know that there are PSA slabs with acidic cardboard that have been sealed for over 25 years, and they seem fine. But archivists look for more.

Originally Posted by SetBuilder

Are slabs airtight?

I was thinking about this the other day when it comes to slabbed Old Judge cards...

Those cards have organic material on the surface that is basically decomposing very very slowly and releasing tiny amounts of gas (sulfur?). If the air is trapped inside the slab and can't circulate, then it is probably speeding up the decomposition of the images.

I read an article that the Hall of Fame removes all cards from slabs because they're not sure what the long term effects are.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

Will agree that on the whole SGC's holders are more aesthetically appealing. Unless you are doing '71 Topps. I do like the new PSA holders with the hologram or the lighthouse logo, but for some of the older ones, they have been around long enough now where some of the early 2000's slabs are downright nasty. Why people will buy a card for hundreds or thousands of dollars but then not bother to take care of the slab it may be residing in for the long run is something that has always perplexed me about collectors of graded cards.

SGC holders, at least until the brand new ones, scratch if you breathe on them and get cloudy, and get these little internal cracks that reflect light. PSA holders, on the other hand, in my experience are more durable and in any case clean up beautifully for the most part with Novus. SGC do not clean well at all. My percentage of sending in SGC cards for new holders is much much higher than PSA.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

SGC holders, at least until the brand new ones, scratch if you breathe on them and get cloudy, and get these little internal cracks that reflect light. PSA holders, on the other hand, in my experience are more durable and in any case clean up beautifully for the most part with Novus. SGC do not clean well at all. My percentage of sending in SGC cards for new holders is much much higher than PSA.

I've used some of the Meguiar's products for cleaning scratches from car headlights to freshen up PSA cases before. For the most part it works quite well.

[iwantitiwinit]

Bottom line for me is SGC holders with that gasket sux. I love the black background but the cut out is terrible for securing cards. Here's a suggestion SGC keep the black gasket but insert a plastic ridge on one piece of the holder like PSA, you do that and I would bet submissions would increase. In general I think many collectors like that black background.

[sycks22]

GMA is the best

[jayandbutton]

loved their old holders, far better quality than PSA. but when they changed to cheaper looking labels and holders they lost my business. but then you are stuck with those ridiculous wait times at PSA. no win situation.

[bnorth]

My 2 cents that probably isn't worth 1 cent.

PSA is a marketing genius and are constantly doing things to make them more attractive to the sellers. Now their actual product is complete garbage IMHO.

SGC until the recent changes seemed like a bunch of stoners that are happy with their product. They just didn't seem like they wanted to expand because that would mean more work. I love how cards look in their slabs and I believe they do the best job of grading cards by far.

I use both. PSA for resale and SGC for my personal collection.

[perezfan]

NM

[PiratesWS1979]

I used to be 50/50 PSA/SGC until I started using a loop to look at the backs of my pre-war especially T206's. I found a good portion of SGC had edge damage on the back, yes PSA had some as well but not nearly as much, and was very happy to hear of the design change.

I even posted on the thread about needing a Beckett type sleeve in between two thinner gaskets. No movement, better protection and keeps the aesthetic appeal. didn't happen.