New PSA prices

[ejharrington]

I understand PSA's decision. They are a business trying to maximize their profits. Their reputation is also being harmed because they have been grading altered cards and not meeting expectations with respect to turnaround times, in large part due to a massive backlog.

This price increase will ensure profitability while almost certainly reducing backlog. I have accumulated about 20-30 lower value cards over the past 2-3 years that I was planning on sending in this year (likely through the Memberships, which are currently sold out). Clearly, I cannot do that now. I can't be the only one in that boat.

I expect (and hope) that, once the current backlog subsides, they have implemented the investments in people and technology needed to meet current demand.

Of course, SGC or the new company could use this as an opportunity to take away some of their business. For example, they could offer to crossover PSA Set Registry cards (assuming they pass muster) that would allow customers like me to switch over. I'm not holding my breath however.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by ejharrington

I understand PSA's decision. They are a business trying to maximize their profits. Their reputation is also being harmed because they have been grading altered cards and not meeting expectations with respect to turnaround times, in large part due to a massive backlog.

This price increase will ensure profitability while almost certainly reducing backlog. I have accumulated about 20-30 lower value cards over the past 2-3 years that I was planning on sending in this year (likely through the Memberships, which are currently sold out). Clearly, I cannot do that now. I can't be the only one in that boat.

I expect (and hope) that, once the current backlog subsides, they have implemented the investments in people and technology needed to meet current demand.

Of course, SGC or the new company could use this as an opportunity to take away some of their business. For example, they could offer to crossover PSA Set Registry cards (assuming they pass muster) that would allow customers like me to switch over. I'm not holding my breath however.

Meanwhile, across the street, SGC just raised their prices as well.

https://gosgc.com/

[Fred]

Pretty soon the price of the slab will be worth more than the actual card it encapsulates.

Sellers will be selling PSA slabs. Who's gonna care about the card?

[conor912]

If I owned SCG I would he offering free crossover for cards above a certain $ amount. If you want to seriously compete, you need to do whatever it takes to get notable cards into your slabs and then use that as a leveraged talking point to draw in more clients, starting from the top down.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by conor912

If I owned SCG I would he offering free crossover for cards above a certain $ amount. If you want to seriously compete, you need to do whatever it takes to get notable cards into your slabs and then use that as a leveraged talking point to draw in more clients, starting from the top down.

Unfortunately, they chose a different path.

[Fred]

PSA is the "gold" standard for collectors and registry collecting. People will gladly pay for the label/slab than the card.

If we took a poll, I'm going to guess that at least 80% of the people on this board would say that PSA encapsulated cards will sell for more than most other TPG graded cards.

It's like people have pointed out, PSA has people throwing money at them. Until/unless that stops, they'll keep following the supply/demand principle of jacking up prices until it's no longer viable to jack up prices.

[Jayhawke]

Imagine the prices at shows. Same day $200? We’ll have something new to complain about.