Non Big Three Grading Companies in 2024

[Snowman]

As far as any "AI" grading options making its way to the vintage sector, I see that as highly unlikely. I work in AI, I'm a data scientist, and I'll spare you the details but grading vintage cards accurately through any sort of automation or "AI" process is much more difficult than grading ultra modern cards. I'm not convinced that "AI" will ever outperform human grading in this hobby. But I've been wrong before.

[Exhibitman]

Where CGC has a real opportunity is with sub-$500 cards. Sending cheaper cards to PSA is cost-prohibitive. Their prices eat up too much of the margin for resale.

One thing I tested about GCG is slab toughness and they pass. Opening those suckers is hard work. I had to cut off a lot of the top before I could get a screwdriver in the gap and crack it the rest of the way.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Snowman

As far as any "AI" grading options making its way to the vintage sector, I see that as highly unlikely. I work in AI, I'm a data scientist, and I'll spare you the details but grading vintage cards accurately through any sort of automation or "AI" process is much more difficult than grading ultra modern cards. I'm not convinced that "AI" will ever outperform human grading in this hobby. But I've been wrong before.

Curious if you think any of the big three are using it now. My guess is yes, but more so for identification and sizing of cards, not for grading.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Curious if you think any of the big three are using it now. My guess is yes, but more so for identification and sizing of cards, not for grading.

No, they're definitely not using it to grade cards. None of them. PSA is using it currently to detect counterfeit cards though.

[refz]

There will always be other tpg (non big 3) around to try and steal the competition away but will fade away eventually due to not enough support. I think they are a waste of time & $..

As far as CSG / CGC I do not own one slab, again, I do not love them nor hate them. I’m just not sold on their product and I feel I’m not alone here with this.

[NATCARD]

Now non big 2!

[Cory]

I prefer the look of SGC slabs (all t206 for me), but I actually prefer the smaller PSA slabs - it takes less room to store them (and ship them). I would prefer a grader that uses a smaller and easy to store slab - specifically for T206 cards - with a nice way to present them - maybe a 9 slot binder that holds the smaller slabs. Not sure what the smallest effective slab could be.

I don't use the registry - but lots of people seem to find value in that - so a registry would be a good addition.

I do use the PSA pop reports pretty frequently - those are really nice. SGC's is kind of a pain in the ass to use (or I don't know how to use it effectively). Likely none of the others are large enough to be useful, yet?

As far as other graders I think I have one BVG slab - seems too big, and another that I can't recall (MBA?) that's just a card saver with a holo tag on it. No experience with any others.

Given that I'm focused on the low end (A to 2) - with a goal of getting the best looking card at the cheapest price, I have lots of A's and 1's. So I would like a much more nuanced 1 grade (or maybe I don't because I buy the card not the grade?). Not sure how to do it, but I have 1's that look near mint (as least as much as a 115 year old card, can) because they have small paperloss or writing or some other small flaw on the back and I have 1's that look like they've been in a blender. Maybe PWCC's Eye appeal rating, solves this? Or a 1.1 to 1.9 rating - flaw x (paperloss, crease, mark, etc.) automatically gets you a category 1 rating, but beside that flaw the card presents as a 1-9. Or they could add a 0 grade - not altered, still a number grade, just a 0. Just spitballing.

All that being said - It's gonna be hard to supplant the leaders - there is definitely a winner take most effect here - but some of these other graders can maybe carve out profitable niches - for example you can't justify grading lower value cards when the cost to slab is $15 to $20 - so there's space for a low cost grader - just don't know how profitable it would be.