SGC'S Aggressive Upcharges

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by jayshum

How are you being upcharged if the grade is worse than expected? If upcharging happens because the value of the card is higher than the submitter estimated based on the expected grade, then how can a lower than expected grade result in an upcharge unless you're underestimating the value that a higher grade would have resulted in, or am I missing something?

Long story... here's the abbreviated version. I submitted cards to SGC at a show. The SCG representative told me the exact values to use for each card. Many were up-charged well beyond the normal $15 fee.

3 weeks later they posted the lower than expected grades, but SGC said I owed them $830 for some God forsaken reason. They wouldn't release my cards until I paid them their ransom.

And their customer service is not just bad... it's non-existent. So I cannot get any further answers or even appeal the outcome.

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Long story... here's the abbreviated version. I submitted cards to SGC at a show. The SCG representative told me the exact values to use for each card. Many were up-charged well beyond the normal $15 fee.

3 weeks later they posted the lower than expected grades, but SGC said I owed them $830 for some God forsaken reason. They wouldn't release my cards until I paid them their ransom.

And their customer service is not just bad... it's non-existent. So I cannot get any further answers or even appeal the outcome.

Wow, that's crazy. It makes me glad I've never submitted anything for grading because I definitely wouldn't want to deal with something like that. I hope you get it resolved soon. Is there another show soon that you can go to where SGC will be at so you can at least talk to someone in person?

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Wow, that's crazy. It makes me glad I've never submitted anything for grading because I definitely wouldn't want to deal with something like that. I hope you get it resolved soon. Is there another show soon that you can go to where SGC will be at so you can at least talk to someone in person?

Yes, thanks.... And I plan to do just that, as there's another show in November.

And I agree with you about not submitting cards to these corrupt money-making machines. I only did it in anticipation of selling. All the "pundits" in this hobby seem to think there's a stigma on raw cards and/or something must be wrong with them if they're not graded. Sad state of affairs, the way they've ruined the hobby.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Yes, thanks.... And I plan to do just that, as there's another show in November.

And I agree with you about not submitting cards to these corrupt money-making machines. I only did it in anticipation of selling. All the "pundits" in this hobby seem to think there's a stigma on raw cards and/or something must be wrong with them if they're not graded. Sad state of affairs, the way they've ruined the hobby.

Regarding your experience with the grading company, I am sorry to hear that happened.

When it comes to the stigma of raw cards, though, I view things a bit differently. Since the majority of newcomers to the hobby won't touch raw cards, it makes them harder to sell. I find that to be a positive when I'm at a show. Less competition and lower prices are obvious perks. The other one I've found is that the dealers are generally nicer, as are my interactions with them. I guess they're grateful to be talking cards with someone. They probably hear "...I'm looking for a so-and-so rookie in PSA X that's centered..." all day long.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by perezfan

And I agree with you about not submitting cards to these corrupt money-making machines. I only did it in anticipation of selling. All the "pundits" in this hobby seem to think there's a stigma on raw cards and/or something must be wrong with them if they're not graded. Sad state of affairs, the way they've ruined the hobby.

I couldn't agree more.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

I couldn't agree more.

Yeah, with regard to TPGs, I contemplated for a while how to phrase that last sentence. Could've gone with any of these...

"They've commandeered the hobby"
"They've corporatized the hobby"
"They've taken control of the hobby"
"They've hijacked the hobby"
"They've held the hobby hostage"
"They've tainted the hobby"
"They've turned the hobby into a business"

But "ruined the hobby" just seemed to encompass it all.

[timn1]

Maybe you want to consider posting the long story, because that has not been my experience with SGC. I often don't get the grades I hope for, but they haven't ripped me off and my interactions with their customer service have been very good, especially recently.

Originally Posted by perezfan

Long story... here's the abbreviated version. I submitted cards to SGC at a show. The SCG representative told me the exact values to use for each card. Many were up-charged well beyond the normal $15 fee.

3 weeks later they posted the lower than expected grades, but SGC said I owed them $830 for some God forsaken reason. They wouldn't release my cards until I paid them their ransom.

And their customer service is not just bad... it's non-existent. So I cannot get any further answers or even appeal the outcome.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by timn1

Maybe you want to consider posting the long story, because that has not been my experience with SGC. I often don't get the grades I hope for, but they haven't ripped me off and my interactions with their customer service have been very good, especially recently.

I posted a separate thread about it 2-3 weeks ago, but it's probably dropped to page 3 by now.... easily findable if you really care to see. Not going to dredge it back up, as I'd rather just put this in the rear-view mirror.

Glad you've had success with them... they're better than PSA, I'll give you that!

And if you have any advice/tips/recommendations on how to reach an actual SGC human being, I'm all ears. Their only listed phone number automatically refers you to email (which they don't reply to). So a contact person's name/number would be much appreciated... Thanks!

[gunboat82]

I'd gladly pay an upcharge for the services of whomever SGC had grading strip cards in the olden days. The goalposts have moved considerably.

[jchcollins]

I'd guess the upcharge enforcement is just the hand of Collectors finally moving on SGC policy. They never really used to do that much.