Non Big Three Grading Companies in 2024

[Svabinsky78]

CSG does have the nicest slabs and the vintage cards in CSG slabs I do own, I feel have been properly graded. CSG though (now CGC) has mainly a niche in Pokemon and comic cards. For sports cards, I've mostly seen CSG,CGC associated with modern,/ultra modern, not so much vintage.

I do personally like BVG, but I know that I am in the minority. The BVG slabbed cards I own are properly graded, in some cases undergraded IMO, and I like the feel of the slabs. For some reasons beyond my comprehension, Beckett has turned into a leper.

[swarmee]

CSG/CGC got a lot of vintage submissions when COMC opened up bulk grading submissions to them, but then they all but dried up when COMC started offering PSA grading submissions a few months later.
However, I've been pleased with my submissions to CSG, and hope they add some larger sized holders soon.

[Leon]

I think the CGC (formerly CSG) larger holders will be a bit of a game changer, for vintage, when they start shipping. Hopefully that will be in the next 30-60 days.
All of my submissions go to them already and I can't wait for those holders. They might have to hire more graders!
(note the flip wording...very cool)

Originally Posted by swarmee

CSG/CGC got a lot of vintage submissions when COMC opened up bulk grading submissions to them, but then they all but dried up when COMC started offering PSA grading submissions a few months later.
However, I've been pleased with my submissions to CSG, and hope they add some larger sized holders soon.

[ClementeFanOh]

From VAtoLA- I'm a little surprised to read your question. There's been
commentary worthy of War and Peace on this venue, in regard to viable
options to the Big 3 graders. The very shortest version is that a worthy
4th (or 5th) could provide competition in the industry that ultimately
benefits the consumer, by forcing the others to do better. That's the hope.

Trent King

[FromVAtoLA]

I was asking because there are numerous other grading companies - HGA, KSA, ISA, TAG, GMG, GMA, WCG, MGS, DSG, PGS, RCG, MNT, PGI, FCG, Ace, Arena Club, etc, etc. Several of them already use (or claim to use) AI. Why haven’t any of these moved into the top tier?
I’m also asking because as vintage collectors we’re really the tail attempting to wag the dog. Take a look at the most recent month of grading data. https://www.gemrate.com/january-2024-recap. If you’re trying to start or grow a competitor to PSA you would really want to focus on TCG/Pokemon and ultra-modern sports. Pre-war vintage is a complete afterthought – it’s such a tiny part of the market.
What also jumps out is PSA’s shear, near-monopoly dominance and their ability to maintain growth for an extended period of time. For all of the complaints about being expensive, slow, lacking customer service, etc they’ve established themselves as the brand that will increase the value of your card the most. And let’s face it, that’s what really matters to the vast majority of people in the hobby. And that’s why that laundry list of other companies I’ve mentioned haven’t been more successful.
There are only a handful of true “collectors” who aren’t interested in the financial implications of the grading process (and, yes, many of those are vintage collectors - but we've already established that those are a very small amount of the collectors). And most folks in the hobby don’t really want a perfect grading process. All they want is a company that has a reputation for increasing the value of their card the most. A whole lot of people want to open packs or hunt for raw cards, send them in for grading, and know that they’re more likely to receive a slabbed card that is worth more when it arrives in the mail. PSA has developed that reputation. (And, yeah, SGC has a bit of that reputation in the vintage market as well.) And with that reputation comes a reputation for handing out grades that don’t meet your expectations (because that’s how they maintain that reputation.) If the grading process wasn’t so subjective – why would you even bother to send in the card?
As listed above there are dozens (maybe hundreds?) of card grading companies that all share a very similar business model. Is yet another company using some variant of that same business model really going to matter? Does doing the exact same thing faster, cheaper, with better customer service, or better technology really matter? If the company’s slab is unknown and doesn’t create a premium price for your card what percentage of collectors will use them? (To find out, feel free to send your cards in to any of the companies I listed above and then try to sell them for a premium and let me know how it turns out. I’m genuinely interested!)
Perhaps the issue needs to be looked at differently. Perhaps we’re just stuck with this until a better business model comes along. For instance, if you can develop an AI model where you can take a picture with your phone and get a grade why do you even need a PSA? Maybe you just need an app that costs $19.99 a month or $1 a scan or something….What if a card was graded and embedded with a sensor or invisible ink and the card grade changed as standards changed over time. In 2025 centering is important, so your card is a 7. But in 2035, edges and coloring is more important and when your card is scanned people see that it’s an 8. There’s no slab needed, the invisible ink is untraceable but never goes away. All you need is this iphone app that scans invisible ink for $9.99 a month.
Anyway, I’m interested in the specifics of these types of queries because I’m skeptical. Even if the Net54 card slab debuted tomorrow for $4, with a guaranteed 36-hour turn around, and Leon personally told you the status of your card every hour, would it really move into the top tier alongside PSA and SGC?

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

From VAtoLA- I'm a little surprised to read your question. There's been
commentary worthy of War and Peace on this venue, in regard to viable
options to the Big 3 graders. The very shortest version is that a worthy
4th (or 5th) could provide competition in the industry that ultimately
benefits the consumer, by forcing the others to do better. That's the hope.

Trent King

[ClementeFanOh]

Brian (FromVAtoLA)- I'll do my best to answer your questions succinctly.
I'm just a guy with an opinion, but you asked so here it goes:

1) You listed 16 TPGs and I haven't heard of 11 of them (in 40+ years
of collecting). Even the ones I have heard of (KSA, GMA, etc) haven't
made inroads despite years of trying. My point is that CSG (CGC) and
HGA seem to stand the best chance despite shorter life spans. I believe
HGA uses the AI angle, which specifically was part of the original post.

2) I think you'll find that a hefty number of folks here don't follow your
generalization about caring only for the cash value potential of slabbed
cards. Many comments I have read (and made) want another alternative
that is more accurate in accomplishing the actual job of grading cards,
as opposed to one whose results are more lucrative. You are correct in
that PSA has wormed it's way into the hobby so persistently, that it
covers the lucrative part.

Bottom line is that I want healthy competition from TPGs- I'd love to see
another viable option or two.

Trent King

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by Leon

I think the CGC (formerly CSG) larger holders will be a bit of a game changer, for vintage, when they start shipping. Hopefully that will be in the next 30-60 days.
All of my submissions go to them already and I can't wait for those holders. They might have to hire more graders!
(note the flip wording...very cool)

CGC must be doing well. They have a thirteen digit number on the flip. One would think that they haven’t graded a billion cards yet, but I could be wrong.