CSG Grading - Is It a Real Option Yet?

[npa589]

It really does depend on what you want it for.

At this point, the ship has sailed on anyone that's going to compete with PSA in terms of resale value.

SGC is the only one close - but the main issue is the well established Set Registry which introduced competition to people with disposable incomes. That was the knockout punch years ago. Any TPG that wants to supplant PSA or even become close to them will have to gradually steal market share for the competitive aspect of the hobby (set registries). If SGC is going to do it, it'll take decades.

[Johnny630]

No, to me they way over grade.

This is horrible for a 8. Corners are weak, back corner has a crease.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...e+csg&_sacat=0

[53toppscollector]

I am pretty much done with graded cards for my own personal collection, so they aren't an option. If grading to sell ever becomes a viable option again, I don't see how they'd be viable given how awful their flip is, and how far they lag behind PSA in terms of re-sale.

PSA has made so many mistakes in the last few years, yet they've remained at the top, and I can't really see that changing.

If you like the flip, and if you are just using them because you want the card encapsulated, then go for it I guess. If you are thinking about how much you'll be able to sell the card for in the future and it matters to you, I'd probably steer clear.

[edhans]

I gave them a small order just to see how they did. Service was as advertised, pricing was fair and they seem to be knowledgeable. They've jumped on the I'm-the-toughest-grader-in-town bandwagon, however. Not necessarily the worst thing, as long as they're consistent.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

No, to me they way over grade.

This is horrible for a 8. Corners are weak, back corner has a crease.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...e+csg&_sacat=0

I mean, jeez, just replace this with the 10's of 1000's of PSA 8's, 9's and 10's that are basically just trimmed authentics.

I think they're fine. Slabs are almost the exact same size as PSA, so not sure why people are hung up on the size of the flips.

I sent them about 20 cards or so. They might grade vintage differently from PSA, but I know for sure I got some modern-ish (late 70's-80's foreign issues) 9's and 9.5's, that seem to be graded tougher then some PSA 10's I sent in and got back around the exact same time.

10's seem to be nearly impossible from them.

I'll admit, that Chase does look horrible in that flip. Hopefully it's just a hiccup, as all the TPG's have gone through periods of sloppy gasket placements and inserts at one time or another.

Got several "Newton's Rings" examples from PSA, that are rather annoying, but likely not damaging in any sort of way.

[Orioles1954]

Based on the initial hype and their background I thought they would have a bigger footprint by now.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

Based on the initial hype and their background I thought they would have a bigger footprint by now.

I wonder if getting bought out right after forming had any effect?
.

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by Leon

I wonder if getting bought out right after forming had any effect?
.

I wasn't aware of that. Probably.

[Dead-Ball-Hitter]

I like the idea of another non-PSA option that is affordable and timely.

My concerns are:
-will resale values approach SGC / BGS levels?
-will they grade consistently?
-can they do something about improving the look on the undersized cards? T206’s look ridiculous when the flip is so disproportionately large.

I guess time is needed to answer these questions. There clearly is room for another grading company in this space.

[Tyruscobb]

Originally Posted by npa589

the main issue is the well established Set Registry which introduced competition to people with disposable incomes. That was the knockout punch years ago.

This is probably true. However, I’ve never personally understood the registry or its appeal. Many hobbies require time, talent and skill, such as photography, gardening, painting, etc. The set registry just requires money. Period.

Anyone with enough money can climb the ranks. All it requires is having enough money to buy the highest numerically graded card in a specific set. That’s it. Not much skill or talent. If Warren Buffet or Bill Gates wanted to have the best set registry, they could make it happen relatively quickly with checks. However, they couldn’t become master photographers or gardeners overnight. It takes time, skill, and talent.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Tyruscobb

This is probably true. However, I’ve never personally understood the registry or its appeal. Many hobbies require time, talent and skill, such as photography, gardening, painting, etc. The set registry just requires money. Period.

Anyone with enough money can climb the ranks. All it requires is having enough money to buy the highest numerically graded card in a specific set. That’s it. Not much skill or talent. If Warren Buffet or Bill Gates wanted to have the best set registry, they could make it happen relatively quickly with checks. However, they couldn’t become master photographers or gardeners overnight. It takes time, skill, and talent.

I agree.

I will say the registry is a powerful drug. I never gave graded cards a thought because I laughed at how silly it was. Then I got a set of beyond amazing vintage cards. I had the entire set graded back when it was cheap. I had the 3rd best complete set. Then I got addicted to make it the highest graded set. Luckily I kicked the habit and sold almost all my graded cards. I have less than 20 now.

Kicking the graded card silliness(to me) was the best hobby choice I ever made.

[Snowman]

As an FYI, I've been told that CSG is going to be changing their flips in the not too distant future. Apparently, they have been sending out surveys with what the new ones might look like.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by Snowman

As an FYI, I've been told that CSG is going to be changing their flips in the not too distant future. Apparently, they have been sending out surveys with what the new ones might look like.

Makes sense. I was wondering when Blackstone, their owner, would do this to make them more profitable. Will be interesting to see what they come up with. Going to be hard to top SGC's look. I hope they don't just rip off SGC's black slabs.

[ClementeFanOh]

The sample size I've seen is limited; however, they seem to get the grades
right, which is what i care about. As with any TPG card, the best approach is
to buy the card, not the holder. Trent King

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

The sample size I've seen is limited; however, they seem to get the grades
right, which is what i care about. As with any TPG card, the best approach is
to buy the card, not the holder. Trent King

I agree. The grades I've seen have been pretty accurate and that's all I care about as well.

[GoldenAge50s]

I sent them around 60 cards back in the early beginning, mainly because of the lesser wait time & reasonable pricing. I also wanted to see how a new Company would fare.

I definitely feel they were TOUGHER on Centering than any of the established graders, and feel many of my cards were, if anything, UNDERGRADED!

I believe several of my cards stand a good chance of an upgrade if resubmitted to PSA or SGC!

[Natedog]

Back in the beginning of May I sent them an order of 50+ cards - mostly modern, 80's/90's and even some pre-war mixed in as well for my PC. I wanted to try them out and take advantage of their $8/card bulk promotion. Unfortunately, by that time they were already inundated with submissions. So here I am, 8+ months later still waiting for my cards. When I sent them in, the wait time listed on their website was ~60 business days. Ha! I'm still amazed by how these TPG's can get away with this without recourse.

As far as them being a major player in the grading game - maybe some day. I don't mind their slabs, even without the sub grades. Problem is, PSA is cemented as the #1 option for the foreseeable future, and as long as they keep getting the best ROI, it's not going to change.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by GoldenAge50s

I sent them around 60 cards back in the early beginning, mainly because of the lesser wait time & reasonable pricing. I also wanted to see how a new Company would fare.

I definitely feel they were TOUGHER on Centering than any of the established graders, and feel many of my cards were, if anything, UNDERGRADED!

I believe several of my cards stand a good chance of an upgrade if resubmitted to PSA or SGC!

I sent about 40 or 50 cards to CSG at the beginning. All modern cards. The grades were overly harsh. Stupidly harsh. I cracked out all of the cards that were any good (8 or 9 of them) and crossed them over to PSA and SGC. All but one got a grade bump at PSA and SGC. Cards that are perfectly 50/50 centered on front getting 8.5 sub grades because back centering is 60/40. It's absolutely ridiculous.

But the crazy thing is they seem to overgrade vintage. Cards that would get 3s at PSA get 5s at CSG. It's just an entirely different grading scale. It's like a blend of PSA for modern and BVG for vintage but with the BGS grading scale.