SGG at the National - Onsite Grading?

[notfast]

Last year, PSA announced their national plans in the first week of July. I believe SGC was within a day or two of that announcement stating they wouldn’t be.

I’d expect to hear something in the next week or two.

[rand1com]

SGC cannot be considered a big player in the card grading game if they do not grade cards on site at the National.

The National exposure of grading on site is huge.

They should also make the pricing reasonable, no more than their current pricing structure to entice business and make the collectors feel they are getting a good deal.

They could cut off new submissions after Saturday and catch up any backlog by the end of the day Sunday. If they have to take limited stock back to complete after the National, they can offer free shipping as a perk.

They cannot take the #1 spot from PSA in the grading game but they might just bleed off some business from them if they approach this National correctly.

Just one opinion of course.

[jab72]

Originally Posted by rand1com

SGC cannot be considered a big player in the card grading game if they do not grade cards on site at the National.

The National exposure of grading on site is huge.

They should also make the pricing reasonable, no more than their current pricing structure to entice business and make the collectors feel they are getting a good deal.

They could cut off new submissions after Saturday and catch up any backlog by the end of the day Sunday. If they have to take limited stock back to complete after the National, they can offer free shipping as a perk.

They cannot take the #1 spot from PSA in the grading game but they might just bleed off some business from them if they approach this National correctly.

Just one opinion of course.

No more than their current pricing structure? 10 fold their onsite staff travel, lodging and other expenses? 10 fold their freight costs to get the necessary equipment to Chicago…. All at the same cost they can do it at home for? I get needing/wanting exposure for a brand that is more economical than other grading options …. But they are a business first and foremost. That said I hope they grade on-site … but I wouldn’t expect it to be less than 2x or more their regular submission pricing.


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[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by notfast

Last year, PSA announced their national plans in the first week of July. I believe SGC was within a day or two of that announcement stating they wouldn’t be.

I’d expect to hear something in the next week or two.

Thanks, I guess we will see. I wish SGC's marketing would improve, it leaves a lot to be desired.

[A2000]

Originally Posted by notfast

Last year, PSA announced their national plans in the first week of July. I believe SGC was within a day or two of that announcement stating they wouldn’t be.

I’d expect to hear something in the next week or two.

Beckett and PSA has graded on-site at the National as far back as I can remember going back 20+ years and their announcement a month before the show is usually to inform the public on what type of specials they'll be running.

Taking a look at the dealer floor map, there's no way SGC will be grading on site with slabbing because they just do not have the purchased floor space. If they were going to grade/slab on site, they would've announced that long ago.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by A2000

Beckett and PSA has graded on-site at the National as far back as I can remember going back 20+ years and their announcement a month before the show is usually to inform the public on what type of specials they'll be running.

Taking a look at the dealer floor map, there's no way SGC will be grading on site with slabbing because they just do not have the purchased floor space. If they were going to grade/slab on site, they would've announced that long ago.

Interesting about the floor layout.

I really hope SGC doesn’t fumble the ball and not grade at the National yet again.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Interesting about the floor layout.

I really hope SGC doesn’t fumble the ball and not grade at the National yet again.

Has not hurt them one bit not showing up to do onsite. Their regular service is so fast and reasonably priced unlike PSA and BVG that maybe they do not feel they need to be at the National to grade.

All I know is that if I like a company, I want them staying in business and making decisions that are good for their financial health--not ones that cater to my convenience.

[Vintagedeputy]

I just participated in a group sub with SGC. My cards were back in a week.

No need to grade at the National.

[ClementeFanOh]

The last time I got an onsite grade from SGC was years ago in Strongsville.
Other collectors have touched on this, but the bottom line is they don't feel
the need to set up camp in Chicago and do something less efficiently than
they can do at home. They get cards out quickly to submitters, and uprooting
to Chicago does nothing to further that goal. Trent King

[parkplace33]

For the last three responses, I am surprised at this sentiment. If going to the National and you like SGC, wouldn't you want to have cards graded onsite?

The bottom line for me is this is just bad optics for SGC. If all the other grading companies are grading onsite and SGC is not, it just begs the question why. And has begged this question now for 4 years running.

[Zan]

Originally Posted by A2000

Beckett and PSA has graded on-site at the National as far back as I can remember going back 20+ years and their announcement a month before the show is usually to inform the public on what type of specials they'll be running.

Taking a look at the dealer floor map, there's no way SGC will be grading on site with slabbing because they just do not have the purchased floor space. If they were going to grade/slab on site, they would've announced that long ago.

It may not be a floor layout thing. I distinctly remember in 2018 (albeit different venue and I understand that) they took cards literally underneath the convention center where they had an encapsulation machine doing cards.

[Snapolit1]

Hard to come up with a legitimate reason not to be there grading from the point of view of business development. It's basically saying we are happy playing a very distant second fiddle to PSA and really don't give a shit what anyone in the hobby thinks about that.

[bigfish]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Hard to come up with a legitimate reason not to be there grading from the point of view of business development. It's basically saying we are happy playing a very distant second fiddle to PSA and really don't give a shit what anyone in the hobby thinks about that.

maybe we should go to the show and just have a great time.

[ClementeFanOh]

Bigfish- BINGO!! Trent King

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by bigfish

maybe we should go to the show and just have a great time.

I plan to. Thanks.

Had SGC same day grade some cards for me at the last pre Covid national in Atlantic City 5 or so years ago. Was really cool. There was like zero line there and seamless. It was great. Having a hard time believe those few days set their business model back in any meaningful way.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I plan to. Thanks.

Had SGC same day grade some cards for me at the last pre Covid national in Atlantic City 5 or so years ago. Was really cool. There was like zero line there and seamless. It was great. Having a hard time believe those few days set their business model back in any meaningful way.

Gee zero line...I wonder if that just might be a factor. LOLOLOLOL. Ummm...any idea what it cost and the time involved in moving a grading operation to another location? Again, you can get almost immediate turnaround with their present model.

I really do not understand the arguments for them to be at the National grading other than people being people and wanting what they want without any regard for how what they want comes to fruition. SMH.

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by A2000

Beckett and PSA has graded on-site at the National as far back as I can remember going back 20+ years and their announcement a month before the show is usually to inform the public on what type of specials they'll be running.

Taking a look at the dealer floor map, there's no way SGC will be grading on site with slabbing because they just do not have the purchased floor space. If they were going to grade/slab on site, they would've announced that long ago.

Remember there are also a ton of meeting rooms at the Stephens Convention Center and you don't have to be on the main floor to have a place to do grading on-site.

Many of the rooms are big enough for grading. I know one year Beckett had people in both the main floor and in a meeting room

Rich

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

While it's possible that the logistics are not cost-effective. I would point out that SGC graded at LOTS of shows in the past, not merely the national. Were they really flushing money away multiple times a year for many years?

[ValKehl]

Re SGC grading onsite at the National, half of me says, "when in Rome, do as the Romans do." The other half of me says, "no need to be a copycat."

[Snapolit1]

Eating into PSA’s commanding lead in market share doesn’t seem to be a priority. It’s their business and if they are happy where they are more power to them. I’d have to think if they they could begin to close the gap with PSA they’d be a much more valuable business. In the modern card realm and Pokémon and Magic stuff they are essentially irrelevant.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Eating into PSA’s commanding lead in market share doesn’t seem to be a priority. It’s their business and if they are happy where they are more power to them. I’d have to think if they they could begin to close the gap with PSA they’d be a much more valuable business. In the modern card realm and Pokémon and Magic stuff they are essentially irrelevant.

The owner is probably happy doing what he's doing and isn't driven by ambition at this point. After all, he's made huge sums of money as a card (whatever noun you want to use), and seems to be doing very well in life. Just speculating but it makes sense to me. Not everyone in life is driven.

[Snowman]

The fact that SGC didn't generate long grading lines (or any lines at all for that matter) while their competition had lines wrapping around the building tells you everything you need to know about about why they've chosen to not grade cards at the National. Especially nowadays where the shows are perpetually patrolled by an army of social media "influencers" who can't wait to post videos comparing them against PSA and trashing them for not having a line.

Add in the fact that it doesn't make economic sense for them to send a grading team, and it's really a no-brainer decision.

[Snowman]

Actually, I think I've changed my mind already. They could generate long lines simply by offering a $5 grading special (or some other very enticing low number that gets new customers' hands on SGC slabs), while not getting too slammed by implementing some restrictions on that (maximum of 5 cards & $499 declared value). It would generate huge buzz in the hobby, and would have all the influencers praising them instead of crapping on them. The marketing value add would greatly overcome any labor costs in grading a large volume of cards.

Also, all of would take to cover the entire grading team's expenses is for one high end card that someone doesn't want to risk sending in the mail to get slabbed at the National that otherwise ends up in a PSA slab because they weren't grading there.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by notfast

Last year, PSA announced their national plans in the first week of July. I believe SGC was within a day or two of that announcement stating they wouldn’t be.

I’d expect to hear something in the next week or two.

I’m thinking $150 a card like last year.