News from SGC

[rugbymarine]

That video was just...odd. The comment about cards being down makes it seem like he is more dialed in on the modern card market, which is down A LOT. Even the gas price comment seemed off, since gas is currently cheaper (in most states) than it was before the spike earlier this year.

His delivery sounds like that of a hostage, reading propaganda from a sign, while armed guards stare menacingly just off screen...

[oldjudge]

I find this interesting because PSA came out today with $18 grading on their bulk level service. SGC really staffed up during the pandemic and my guess is that if volumes don’t remain where they were they will have to cut the head count. Also, if there is a price war it will be tough for them to win the battle with PSA who has much deeper pockets. I remember when SGC had two graders and less than ten employees; they can probably shrink down if they need to.
Also, I don’t know this but I would bet that if there has been a decline in submissions it is mainly concentrated in the newer cards. Grading vintage cards is not a growth area. A sizable portion of better vintage cards are already in slabs. The influx in volume comes from new issues.

[Exhibitman]

SGC...Into Darkness

Maybe JJ Abrams directed?

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

I find this interesting because PSA came out today with $18 grading on their bulk level service. SGC really staffed up during the pandemic and my guess is that if volumes don’t remain where they were they will have to cut the head count. Also, if there is a price war it will be tough for them to win the battle with PSA who has much deeper pockets. I remember when SGC had two graders and less than ten employees; they can probably shrink down if they need to.
Also, I don’t know this but I would bet that if there has been a decline in submissions It is mainly concentrated in the newer cards. Grading vintage cards is not a growth area. A sizable portion of better vintage cards are already in slabs. The influx in volume comes from new issues.

My thoughts exactly. You nailed it. Maybe PSA makes another run at purchasing the company?

[oldjudge]

If I am running PSA I’m not sure I see the beauty of buying SGC. What am I adding if I buy them? PSA already has everything they have and then some. The only reason to buy them would be to close them down and stamp out competition and the government doesn’t look favorably on that tactic.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

If I am running PSA I’m not sure I see the beauty of buying SGC. What am I adding if I buy them? PSA already has everything they have and then some. The only reason to buy them would be to close them down and stamp out competition and the government doesn’t look favorably on that tactic.

Agree, but wonder if maybe CSG shouldn't take a look at such an acquisition. They have at least as much, if not more, business background and experience than SGC, as well as financial backing and resources, it seems. They just happen to be the newest recognized card TPG out there, and thus have that hill to climb against the more well-established, longer standing TPG competitors out there. A move such as acquiring and combining what they do with SGC could be a huge factor then in their competing with the other main TPG competitors going forward, PSA and Beckett.

I also thought I saw/heard somewhere that CSG was going to go forward with some type of registry as well, at least at some point. But being so new, they don't really have much of a data base to create a very significant registry......yet. But taking on SGC, and maybe keeping that brand for pre-war and vintage mostly, would allow them to instantly have that data base they could use and incorporate for registry purposes going forward. Would also possibly allow CSG to think about using the black sleeves in their holders, and not just make them look like copycats of SGC. Hey, if nothing else, give your submitters a choice. How nice would that be for submitters to be able to choose if they wanted their cards displayed in such black tuxedos, or not?

No idea how the ownership of SGC would view and receive such an overture, but given the video and comments of others, there seems to be a possible/potential dark underside read into their message being sent. That may be a signal that such an inquiry by CSG wouldn't just be met with summary dismissal. Just a thought!

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

I find this interesting because PSA came out today with $18 grading on their bulk level service. SGC really staffed up during the pandemic and my guess is that if volumes don’t remain where they were they will have to cut the head count. Also, if there is a price war it will be tough for them to win the battle with PSA who has much deeper pockets. I remember when SGC had two graders and less than ten employees; they can probably shrink down if they need to.
Also, I don’t know this but I would bet that if there has been a decline in submissions it is mainly concentrated in the newer cards. Grading vintage cards is not a growth area. A sizable portion of better vintage cards are already in slabs. The influx in volume comes from new issues.

PSA has been opening up new revenue streams - just got an email that they are now grading Funko Pops!!
If there is truth to your points - such a shame for SGC as they are great quality graders just poor visionaries and marketers.
Also agree the video was weird in terms of composition and presentation.

[Johnny630]

I like Peter....let's give the guy a break. He can't wear every hat while running operations at Boca Raton. Hire a profession marketing/media team to help get their message and improvements across.

[raulus]

After reading all of the comments here, I felt compelled to give it a look.

It does seem like he really wanted to get us all jazzed about the new pricing and remind us that they turn items around really quickly.

Plus take a few digs at the competition while doing it.

If we’re being charitable, maybe this is how he expresses excitement and enthusiasm, at least within the context of a recorded advertising message posted to the ‘gram.

I do remember a commercial for Priceline around late 1999 with Captain Kirk, in which they spent most of the spot asserting that they were going to be around for a long time to come. However, the fact that they felt the need to reassure us about this point tended to inspire more concern than anything. In some ways, at least towards the end, this video reminded me of that commercial…

[babraham]

Just watched the video for the first time.
That was....weird.

[BobbyStrawberry]

A wasn't planning on watching it but after reading these comments I might, just for entertainment purposes

[JollyElm]

Tip:
Just download one of those 'sitcom laugh tracks' apps for your phone, and then watch it again while adding fun audience reactions to it, and it becomes so much less dour and gloomy.

[painthistorian]

Back to my original post- I would love to work with SGC again but I did not like the impersonal service policy that went into effect, no phone contact. It can be so hard to get things as efficiently in some cases if only on line service within 24 hrs is only way. Service has also has plaqued PSA but PSA is PSA.
SGC had so many great things going for them and every grading service was making a fortune but somehow, mid size collectors and mid size and smaller dealers that liked getting their cards graded to promote the line were priced out and pulled back, and speculators dumped millions into grading but the pendulum has swung....They still make a great product, wish they had consistant dealer pricing in volume or for collectors that want set quantities graded fairly.