What's this SGC rumor????

[vintagetoppsguy]

Here's the bottom line. I agree that both companies make mistakes. We all do - none of us are perfect. It's how we deal with those mistakes that matters (and says a lot about our character). From what I can tell, SGC owns up to their mistakes. They make a mistake, they admit it, they fix it and move on. That's the way it should be.

PSA on the other hand tries to cover up/hide their mistakes. They think they can sweep the problem under the rug by deleting a thread and it will go away - out of sight, out of mind, right?

Let me give you a great example of this. About 4 years ago there was a thread started on the PSA boards about a 1966 Topps Harmon Killebrew that was graded a PSA 10 being sold on eBay by a reputable dealer. Most agreed that the card looked like it probably shouldn't have graded over a 6/7. The case was not tampered with, so it was either a mechanical problem or a grading problem. It was quite a controversy on the boards. Anyway, rather than doing the right thing and making good on their buy-back guarantee, they removed the certification number from their data base. The seller was pretty pissed about it and rightfully so. I don't know if PSA ever compensated him for the card or not, but this is not how you handle problems.

I don't know about anybody else, but I've never had a problem just magically go away. Problems linger. The best way to deal with problems is to face them head on. There is absolutely nothing wrong with admitting you made a mistake. In fact, it shows a lot of character when you own up to your mistakes. However, I have never seen PSA own up to anything. When’s the last time they admitted they were wrong about something? Instead, they just try to shut up those making the noise.

Say what you want about PSA, but if your honest with yourself, then you know in your mind I am right. Even Jeff said in the Joe Orlando thread, “I think I'd have some respect for Joe if he didn't do all that he could to shut down any sort of public criticism of PSA. That doesn't suggest to me that he cares about fixing his company's problems.”

Again, we're all going to make mistakes. It's how you handle those mistakes that set you apart from others.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by vintagetoppsguy

When’s the last time they admitted they were wrong about something?

David- I agree with almost everything you said pertaining to mistakes. God knows I make my share. That being said I do know that PSA bought back a fake Sporting News Ruth from Andy Baran, quite some time ago. Also, I would bet a friendly dollar that if someone brings that blue Fro-Joy to Joe O, he will make it right. best regards

[smtjoy]

I use both and have been overall happy with them. If I had to choose one it would be SGC mainly based on accuracy and consistency of grading the cards I collect, exhibits. They both make mistakes but I have seen far more exhibit mistakes by PSA than SGC. I was involved with an ebay seller who was selling 8 high grade PSA exhibits a year ago that were all fake, I also own a fake PSA graded exhibit from 2 years ago that I just held onto because I only had $20 bucks into it. I have never seen one of these fakes graded by SGC and hope not to as its far to easy to tell them apart. I have also seen way too many times PSA messes up the years on exhibits, this has been to my benefit a number of times as I buy them then cross them over to the correct year, its usually 1923-24's listed as 1921's and 1926 listed as 1925, 1927, or 1928. In 7 years I have purchased over 10 of these and seen double that number mis graded by PSA, in the same time frame I might have seen only 3-4 from SGC, big difference.

I am concerned with all the recent turnover and lack of merger announcements over at SGC and really hope it improves in the near future, I do still believe they have the top graders and at the end of the day that is most important to me.

[tbob]

I think BVG doesn't get the credit they deserve for accuracy in grading. I have always used SGC with prewar cards but lately have started leaning toward using BVG more. That said, I disagree with Barry and others with regard to the sale prices of comparable SGC and PSA cards. I hate to admit it but even with pre-war cards I think if you are selling, PSA is the way to go. I think PSA cards sell for more although I prefer SGC. I hate the "slip sliding" cards in PSA holders and love the black distinctive format of SGC cardsbut I just think PSA cards sell for more.

[tbob]

I also think, rightly or wrongly, that if you have pre-war cards with beautiful fronts and slight paper damage or writing on the back, and you plan on eventually selling them, PSA is the way to go. I have just about had my fill of those great looking pre-war cards, even with blank backs, which have very tiny paper or writing imperfections getting downgraded all the way to "10s" or "20s" by SGC. But at least I know going in that they are going to hammer them. It is not at all uncommon to take one of these "10s", crack it out, and resubmit to PSA and get a 7 MK.

[Rickyy]

I guess I've been lucky so far...My experiences with PSA and SGC have all been positive experiences counting some 200+ submissions ....the grading has been satisfactory to my eye....with SGC leaning slightly toward more stricter and consistent grading across the board. The customer service with each has been without any problems... PSA contacted me right away via email for a error I made on the form that I didn't catch....SGC mislabled one item and corrected it without hesitation...and in some cases they shipped items PRIOR to the actual turnaround date....

Ricky Y

[T206Collector]

I will once again repeat my theory -- a lot of PSA graded pre-war cards you see for sale are for sale because SGC wouldn't cross them over.

My percentage of blind PSA purchases -- where I made a purchase decision based on a scan or a representation as to grade, but didn't hold the card in my hands -- where the card had an obvious defect upon receipt has gone way up over the last several years.

Put another way, I've seen tons of PSA 5 T206s that had wrinkles or creases, or were obviously trimmed. I've not seen an SGC 60 T206 with a wrinkle or a crease, or that was obviously trimmed.

Say what you want about JSA's ownership interest, the main graders are all still there. And they sometimes come out from behind the curtain to chat with customers about their grading practices. Very educational.

Finally, I had amazing service from SGC at this year's East Coast National. I got a ton of stuff done with their on-site grading service, and a strip card that couldn't be done on-site got done the next day and I received it in the mail today -- $13 total, including encapsulation and shipping!

Keep up the good work SGC.