New Grading Company - CSG

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by Stampsfan

Question for Leon. Their promotional video flagged on the other thread says they are only grading Pokémon and Magic cards, yet you’re sending in your vintage.
Are they currently grading vintage and other cards?

That video is for their CGC grading that was doing comics but will now include TCG.

CSG is going to be their spin off that will grade sports cards:
https://www.cgccomics.com/news/artic...-card-experts/

[bswhiten]

Since I like to have my slabs in binders with 4 pocket pages, the slab size alone kills it for me. Why so tall?
Hopefully the design gets more thought. The PSA and SGC proportions and labels are much better imo.

[whitehse]

And people complained about the new SGC flips.... Not a fan of this one to be sure.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Their gaming card flips turned out OK, and don't seem to be crazily over-sized.

[Tyruscobb]

Although competition generally benefits consumers (e.g. lower prices, better service, etc.), I’m skeptical that any new third-party grader will help solve the hobby’s biggest problem - altered cards receiving numerical grades and over-grading.

The reason is the vintage fee structure. Most TPGs do not have a flat fee. Instead, the fee varies depending on the card’s value. This creates a subconscious financial incentive (and, unfortunately, probably a conscious one for some TPGs) to over-grade. Over-grading increases the card’s price, which, in turn, increases the fee. An increased fee increases the company’s profitability, which, in turn, may increase the grader’s pay. The current vintage fee structure has too many interest conflicts that have created the current problems.

Removing the financial incentive to over-grading is what needs to happen to fix the problem. TPGs should charge a flat fee to grade a 1956 Mantle. The fee should not vary depending on whether the card comes back a Poor 1 or gem 10. So, unless any new grader uses a flat vintage fee, the problem will continue.

A new TPG will make the existing TPGs improve their services and fees, as well as reduce turnaround times. However, any new TPG that uses the same vintage fee is equivalent to putting a bandage on a bullet wound - it will not cure the underlying problem. It may temporarily improve the situation, but eventually even a new TPG’s actual graders will fall victim to the above-referenced dilemma - increasing the company’s bottom line.

I’ll pump the brakes on my excitement until I see the vintage fee schedule for any new TPG. * This post does not mention any specific TPGs, and presents general issues. *