PSA vs. SGC

[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.

[Fred]

Originally Posted by 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.

Yes, the black background/border is the key to SGC packaging. Cards look better in SGC holders but PSA has a price advantage when it comes to sales. Since I don't sell much, I don't care.

As of late, I wouldn't trust much of what SGC authenticates in the way of signed cards. Probably goes the same for most of the signature/autograph authenticators (opinions). What a mess....

[sycks22]

GMA is the best

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by sycks22

GMA is the best

Hard to argue with that. Only company I know of that will sell you empty slabs and a machine to seal those slabs.

[silvor]

BOTH.

I think SGC does a better job on the pre-war cards. To me a 3 or 4 in SGC looks nicer than PSA, even newer PSA ones with the hologram. Now, PSA today may have caught up, I don't know.

For my 70's cards, I prefer PSA. And yes, much because of the registry.

I have no clue about the 50's and 60's cards who is better.

[JohnP0621]

I prefer PSA any day .Had very Bad experiences with SGC.

John P

[swarmee]

Definitely a PSA guy. Love the registry. Sure, they all have warts, but all are good for some things and bad at others.

And if you're really using snips to cut SGC cases, you're doing it wrong. You can usually "crack" and SGC case just by running a butter knife up and down the side seam.

[frankbmd]

My ego does not require a registry set for life support. My wallet thanks my ego for this. My resale value for my low to mid grade vintage cards expressed as a percentage (ie - Return on Investment) is virtually identical for PSA, SGC & BVG slabs. To be sure I do not sell BVG slabs for PSA prices and I don’t pay PSA prices for SGC slabs. And yes to make $1000 I have to sell more BVG slabs than I would have to sell PSA slabs, but my costs are the same. You can spend $750 on any company’s slabs and sell them in 3-5 years for $1000. I have done this and have the data as proof. I am not a crossover artist and am not a flipper. Most of my sales are the result of upgrades.

Be wise, buy the card, not the slab, not the TPG ,not the grade and don’t overpay and you will be fine.

I have said all this before and realize that I may be a minority of one, but I am a very content minority of one. I will neither make or lose a fortune in a hobby I enjoy.

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