SGC Grading Turnarounds

[Peter_Spaeth]

Accurate and fair, not overly harsh, grading would seem FAR more important than turnaround time as long as that time is within reason. I frankly don't understand the obsession with turnaround time as evidenced by all the duplicative threads on the same topic, are people THAT impatient/in need of instant gratification? To me if a card comes back super fast graded one or two grades low, that's a disaster, not something to celebrate.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Accurate and fair, not overly harsh, grading would seem FAR more important than turnaround time as long as that time is within reason. I frankly don't understand the obsession with turnaround time as evidenced by all the duplicative threads on the same topic, are people THAT impatient?

Yes
.

[Orioles1954]

Harsher grading is not better grading.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

Harsher grading is not better grading.

Especially if your cards already, for the most part, sell at a discount.

[Lorewalker]

As discussed routinely here, both PSA and SGC are just killing submissions. If asked they will tell you nothing has changed. It has and it is very obvious. Only thing that SGC offers over PSA at this point is fast turnaround times and much cheaper cost per card. Neither of which are enticing to me. Selling an under graded SGC card for a strong price is virtually impossible.

And there is an obsession in our hobby with fast turnaround times. It is very overrated. Get the job done right in a reasonable amount of time for a reasonable fee. Getting all giddy over your cards coming back in 5 days is nothing I can relate to.

[hockeyhockey]

Originally Posted by Lorewalker

Only thing that SGC offers over PSA at this point is fast turnaround times and much cheaper cost per card. Neither of which are enticing to me. Selling an under graded SGC card for a strong price is virtually impossible.
.

and that's not even the case anymore. PSA value is $30. i used SGC a few times and have nothing bad to say about their customer service, but if i'm choosing between the 2 with no cost difference and no 16 month turnaround, it's an easy choice with PSA. at least for me.

[ClementeFanOh]

Peter- and I think you're behaving as doggedly as the people you've
criticized for being "overly concerned" with turnaround times, or for
"overemphasizing" those times. After all, you are most certainly a
participant in the very event you are condemning. You are complaining
about the verbal tennis match while being a continuing part of it. And I'll still
say that getting cards back in a timely manner is a benefit, and openly
question those who can't (or won't, more probably) admit it.

Trent King

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by hockeyhockey

and that's not even the case anymore. PSA value is $30. i used SGC a few times and have nothing bad to say about their customer service, but if i'm choosing between the 2 with no cost difference and no 16 month turnaround, it's an easy choice with PSA. at least for me.

True that PSA has a $30 service level but it does not allow for cards that are valued up to $1,500 like SGC permits. You have to pay $100 at PSA for cards valued at $1,500 and they will take 30 business days.

[ClementeFanOh]

PeterSpaeth- While we are on the subject of "not understanding" things, I
think you're falling into your own category. I am not "obsessed" with card
grading turnarounds, I think appropriate turnaround is an expectation of
people we pay in advance (!), to know their stuff. There appear to be 2
major camps at play in these grading chats. The first is people who expect
their graders to get the job done before the collector dies of old age. The
others, tacitly at least, put up with PSAs lag times and unpredictable grading
because of hammer values. The complicating factor currently in play is both
PSA/SGC seem to regard vintage as the whipping boy of the card world,
and it affects consumers of both products. There's no "obsession", at least
not with me- my family and job consume the vast majority of my time and
this is an avocation. We are on a card forum after all, so it stands to reason
that controversial or persistently unresolved topics will reoccur. This is the
place for those chats, and people are free to ignore them without
commenting (lest they become obsessed with commenting about the
perceived obsession). Trent King

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Accurate and fair, not overly harsh, grading would seem FAR more important than turnaround time as long as that time is within reason. I frankly don't understand the obsession with turnaround time as evidenced by all the duplicative threads on the same topic, are people THAT impatient/in need of instant gratification? To me if a card comes back super fast graded one or two grades low, that's a disaster, not something to celebrate.

Call me impatient, but I find the lack of clear expectations about PSA turnaround times unacceptable. Don't they still have submissions from early 2021 that they haven't finished grading?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Call me impatient, but I find the lack of clear expectations about PSA turnaround times unacceptable. Don't they still have submissions from early 2021 that they haven't finished grading?

I qualified my statement by saying "within reason." 1.5 years (and a friend of mine and I are still waiting on a sub from early 2021) is not within reason.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Trent as I am sure you deduced, the main point of my post, by which I stand, is that IMO fair grading is much more important than turnaround times, within reason. Do you disagree?

[ClementeFanOh]

Peter- Well, I believe fair grading is more important, but I feel confident
saying many posters don't agree with your sentiment. Between PSA and
SGC, strictly regarding "fairness" of grading, it's my opinion that SGC is
far more consistent than PSA ever has been. Does that make SGC more
fair? I'd say yes; however, even they have fallen into this trap of seeing
who can be harshest/finest in their grading, like it's a badge of honor in
some game no one else wants to play. Their relative speed is a bonus.

I'll stand by my comments about "obsession", though. Sports cards
enthusiasts and sports fans (people who can talk the sport, not just the
card) tend to be passionate folks. Within the small context of this hobby,
the wait times and "moving the goalpost" grading standards are issues
that continue to frustrate many collectors; however, it's not even close to
an obsession. It's a first world problem that sure beats talking about work
life, but I'm not on the verge of becoming Private Pyle from "Full Metal
Jacket" over it. Trent King

[Peter_Spaeth]

I think you're reacting too strongly to "obsession" which was just dramatic phrasing but if it makes you feel better I'll modify the point to say I don't understand people's emphasis on turnaround times.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I qualified my statement by saying "within reason." 1.5 years (and a friend of mine and I are still waiting on a sub from early 2021) is not within reason.

I agree with that assessment. My point is that, when customers have no idea about turnaround time, there's no way to know whether or not it will be "within reason". Whether SGC's turnaround is 5 days or 5 months, at least it seems like I can trust knowing ahead of time that that's what it will be, unlike PSA.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

Call me impatient, but I find the lack of clear expectations about PSA turnaround times unacceptable. Don't they still have submissions from early 2021 that they haven't finished grading?

Correct....we sent one in around Fed/March of 2021 that didn't get officially entered until May.....still outstanding......outstanding as in, not completed.

[Tyruscobb]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

are people THAT impatient/in need of instant gratification?

Answering this question requires knowing the submitter’s intent. A business/flipper may require a quick turnaround time to maintain cash flow to pay overhead. Cards do not make money sitting in a warehouse at PSA for over a year. However, a PC submitter has the luxury of waiting.

[Frank A]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Accurate and fair, not overly harsh, grading would seem FAR more important than turnaround time as long as that time is within reason. I frankly don't understand the obsession with turnaround time as evidenced by all the duplicative threads on the same topic, are people THAT impatient/in need of instant gratification? To me if a card comes back super fast graded one or two grades low, that's a disaster, not something to celebrate.

Who the hell want's to wait a year before they get their cards back. You could be dead by then. Thats not impatient, that's common sense

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by Frank A

Who the hell want's to wait a year before they get their cards back. You could be dead by then. Thats not impatient, that's common sense

Wait times at PSA on recent subs are not going to be anywhere near a year but I get your point. I think if I am submitting for resale I will remain patient. PSA tends to bring more money and until recently they were grading less harshly.

For me neither SGC nor PSA is an option at this present time.