Anyone prefer Beckett to PSA?

[Leon]

Personally I think BVG is the best grader of vintage material. As far as market value for holders, PSA has the best marketing. Just my half cent.
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[Tyruscobb]

BVG's holders are too thick. Plus, the encased penny sleeve takes away from the card's presentation. It is sometimes wrinkly and caused glare.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Tyruscobb

BVG's holders are too thick. Plus, the encased penny sleeve takes away from the card's presentation. It is sometimes wrinkly and caused glare.

I don't like the penny sleeve either. It's ugly, IMO. PSA uses something similar when they don't have a holder that properly fits the card. So in terms of sheer aesthetics, I like SGC best.

I know some people take issue with the gasket, but I've never had a problem.

[Johnny630]

I think many pre world war and post war look much better in SGC slabs.
The white borders or colors look great in their black inserts.
58 Toppps
33/34 Goudey
Diamond Stars
48 Leaf
T206’s and especially t205’s look much better in sgc slabs

[bbcard1]

I prefer PSA because it is much easier to break the cards out of their slabs.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by perezfan

I don't like the penny sleeve either. It's ugly, IMO. PSA uses something similar when they don't have a holder that properly fits the card. So in terms of sheer aesthetics, I like SGC best.

I know some people take issue with the gasket, but I've never had a problem.

I like SGC as well....until I had cards slide out of their gaskets.

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

I like SGC as well....until I had cards slide out of their gaskets.

And on my SGC 52 mantle with the "new white insert" that shows the grade and details came unglued and droops. Always trying to straighten it out as the card is diamond cut too. . and it looks caddywhompus.

They all look good in their own right though. Agree with others here on their assessments for each TPG

[RedsFan1941]

Originally Posted by Leon

Personally I think BVG is the best grader of vintage material. As far as market value for holders, PSA has the best marketing. Just my half cent.
.

surprised to see you say that leon. thought you were on record of saying sgc was your choice? did this scandal change your mind or was it something else? or is my memory mistaking?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by RedsFan1941

surprised to see you say that leon. thought you were on record of saying sgc was your choice? did this scandal change your mind or was it something else? or is my memory mistaking?

I didn't say who was my choice, I said who I thought was the best at grading vintage currently. Andy B has been at BVG a long time and came in 2nd in a grading contest many moons ago. Derek G came in first on that one. Derek has been at Heritage a long time. So technically, if you go by that contest, BVG does have the best grader at a grading company. They just don't have good marketing behind their vintage for whatever reason.
.

[JackW]

Originally Posted by Leon

I didn't say who was my choice, I said who I thought was the best at grading vintage currently. Andy B has been at BVG a long time and came in 2nd in a grading contest many moons ago. Derek G came in first on that one. Derek has been at Heritage a long time. So technically, if you go by that contest, BVG does have the best grader at a grading company. They just don't have good marketing behind their vintage for whatever reason.
.

Leon, can you shed some light on the grading contest? I've never heard about that.

[ahumes13]

Originally Posted by JackW

Leon, can you shed some light on the grading contest? I've never heard about that.

Guessing it’s like a drinking contest, but with more beer...

[frankbmd]

I’m with Leon on this one. My ROI on Vintage about the same regardless of the holder. Buy the card not the holder and don’t overpay. You’ll be fine.

[Brian Van Horn]

I would say PSA, despite the scandals. As for Beckett, this is my one card graded from them:

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by JackW

Leon, can you shed some light on the grading contest? I've never heard about that.

PSA occasionally does grading contests at the NSCC. I think it was either 2003 or 2004 when they had the one where Derek won and Andy was second.

Andy, at the time, was working for a second tier grading company. By the time the NSCC was completed, Andy was on his was to Dallas to begin working for Beckett. PSA had another grading contest at the 2019 NSCC BTW. They may have had a few others along the way as well.

Regards
Rich

[JackW]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

PSA occasionally does grading contests at the NSCC. I think it was either 2003 or 2004 when they had the one where Derek won and Andy was second.

Andy, at the time, was working for a second tier grading company. By the time the NSCC was completed, Andy was on his was to Dallas to begin working for Beckett. PSA had another grading contest at the 2019 NSCC BTW. They may have had a few others along the way as well.

Regards
Rich

Thanks, Rich. I didn't realize the grading contest was 15 years ago.

[Vintageclout]

Originally Posted by Leon

I didn't say who was my choice, I said who I thought was the best at grading vintage currently. Andy B has been at BVG a long time and came in 2nd in a grading contest many moons ago. Derek G came in first on that one. Derek has been at Heritage a long time. So technically, if you go by that contest, BVG does have the best grader at a grading company. They just don't have good marketing behind their vintage for whatever reason.
.

Not agreeing or disagreeing with you Leon but you’re forgetting one major aspect here. Beckett deals with a “fraction” of the volume that PSA handles. I can only wonder how their alleged “accurate” head grader would perform if millions of vintage cards were passing his way? Totally different ballgame.

[Leon]

Actually Joe, I am only talking about knowledge.

Originally Posted by Vintageclout

Not agreeing or disagreeing with you Leon but you’re forgetting one major aspect here. Beckett deals with a “fraction” of the volume that PSA handles. I can only wonder how their alleged “accurate” head grader would perform if millions of vintage cards were passing his way? Totally different ballgame.

[AGuinness]

From what I've seen in the hobby, I think believe this about SGC/PSA/Beckett:

• In general, the actual grading of cards is about the same across these three companies. There are examples of each one of them being overly harsh on a specific card, just as there are examples of each one of them being overly generous, and there are also examples of silly mislabeling and other mistakes in all three companies.
• All three companies are unable to catch all alterations that pass through their hands.
• It has been strongly suggested that some submitters receive preferential treatment (most notably some of the work that BODA has done).
• PSA cards, in general, sell for more than the competitors.

Based on this, there are two things that make the companies different. The first is the slab/gasket/flip, which is an aesthetic thing for collectors. I like SGC's the best.
The second is PSA's registry. And the conclusion I've come to is that I have very little need to pay more for a card in a PSA slab just because of the registry. Considering everything I noted above, the biggest (perhaps only) reason PSA cards sell for more is because of the competition the registry creates. When you bid on a card in a PSA flip, you bid against registry people and the privilege of adding those points to your registry. Any individual card in a PSA slab might be better or worse than another example of the same card in a SGC or Beckett slab at the same grade, but the price will be driven higher due to the registry.
That doesn't make much sense to me, as I have no interest in participating in the registry. If I'm going to buy a slabbed card, I'd rather get an example that appeals to me in an SGC or Beckett slab than pay more for an equivalent in a PSA slab (with noting that if an example in a PSA slab is around the same price point, I would consider it).