New PSA prices

[Yoda]

Third party grading has been the most dramatic matrix shift in my long experience in the hobby; it has monetized card values in the extreme and given the graders immense power. TPG'ers were ill-prepared to meet the grading demands brought on by COVID and asset reallocation to cards, and they are clearly floundering with this massive backlog. That why I am watching closely the new grading company, CSG, and just sent them some nice '57 Topps football, including Johnny U. and Bart Starr. I just wish the name and logo didn't look like a rip-off of SGC.

[Mike D.]

Ah, crap...I missed this news last week, only discovering it when I went to submit a value submission tonight. Ugh...

[moogpowell]

My kneejerk takeaways from the price hikes.

1. Unremarkable PSA graded cards (think those worth say < $40) will be harder to find as fewer collectors will roll the dice on grading non-star cards given the higher cost. So the existing supply of unremarkable cards may slowly come off the market. That said, they may now fetch a premium as the grading, which is now pricier, is already done.

2. The priciest cards may experience pricing pressure but I am less sure of this. If someone is paying a lot to slab a card, they will save it for the best cards with the most upside, so money ordinarily earmarked for lesser cards may be redirected to top cards. If the higher price is not a deterrent for grading then more supply could pressure prices.

3. I don't believe any other grader will meaningfully threaten PSA. Collectors are stuck in PSA's web.

4. If and when PSA ever can make grading as simple as having it done while you wait and lower the price, the hobby could become far more popular and dynamic. For long-term collectors, there is no pressing need to grade cards when they cost an arm and two legs to grade and take an eternity to receive.

5. I think one day, pricing, helped by technology, will come down. Over time, as volume rises, prices can come down. But for now, though the fees are confiscatory, the rationale for raising prices given a heavy backlog makes sense as a deterrent and to slow submissions. My hope is that if and when they get their act together that they can in tandem speed the turnaround process and lower prices.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by moogpowell

My hope is that if and when they get their act together that they can in tandem speed the turnaround process and lower prices.

Haha... Would you settle for one out of two? Their prices ain't coming down anytime remotely soon (if ever).

[Jayhawke]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Haha... Would you settle for one out of two? Their prices ain't coming down anytime remotely soon (if ever).

After I read this, first thing that came to mind was what would Maxwell Smart say, “ would you believe?”.

[Fred]

I thought the TPGs were starting to charge fees based on the value of the card. Is that not correct? If so, it must cost quite a bit to get, what used to be a moderately priced card, graded based on today's pricing.

Does anybody know how much it cost to have a "4" green Cobb graded 2 years ago and how much it would cost today?