PSA vs. SGC : The Cards Final test: EBAY!

[Archive]

Posted By: Lance

I decided to give both PSA and SGC an opportunity to out perform the other. I recently obtained two nearly identical 1971 Terry Bradshaw rookie cards. I would grade them NM/MT, possibly Mint 9. But that is not the competition. I sent them out today with the same service, the same 10 day turn-around time (SGC Express $10 & PSA $15), and asked for the same return service. As soon as the cards are graded and returned, I will give the final vitals of the experiment. I know nobody really cares about the cards in question, but they will serve this comparrison the best.

BTW, I am in between constuction projects and have WAY to much time on my hands!!! The O/T threads will cease in mid-September....LOL! I invite your comments and predictions, before and afterwards.

Lance

[Archive]

Posted By: jay wolt

Whats your criteria of success?
Who gets it back to you quicker?, the higher grade? or ?

[Archive]

Posted By: Anonymous

I predict PSA will label the card a T206 Heinie Wagner by mistake and mail it to Jay instead of you.

[Archive]

Posted By: Lance

Jay,
I don't think it's a matter of success. It's more a competition of turn-around, customer service, and of coarse grade. I didn't put them under a microscope, but under 4X & 10X, they were virtual twins. I wish I had scanned them, but I didn't. I will post when the cards enter their respective systems, when they earn grades, and when they hit my door step. I have been pretty hard on PSA in the past and very pro-SGC since my first submission. I already know how the majority of the board feels on the subject and this will be some confirmation or clarification for myself, mostly. I don't want this to turn into another PSA bashing. I really want to see how well the services perform given the exactness of the circumstances. I may even go as far as selling them on the same day and time, a week apart.

Peter...LMAO!!!!!

[Archive]

Posted By: Jason L

have a competition with multiple criteria being judged, then we must certainly come up with a multi-factor model or simplistic weighted average or something!!! I demand it!



I'm with Peter.

[Archive]

Posted By: JimB

If they are reading this, you may get a record turnaround time from both.
JimB

[Archive]

Posted By: ali_lapoint

you may also get a couple of "Auth"'s

[Archive]

Posted By: JK

Jim - I was thinking the exact same thing. The test is no longer valid.

[Archive]

Posted By: Lance

I can only hope the self-promotion instincts kick in at both SGC And PSA! I admit it, I didn't start this thread to gain anything. But, afterwards, I thought it isn't going to slow to process down. I still think it is a fair competition.

[Archive]

Posted By: Steve Dawson

Jim/JK...

Me three. I know Laura Rosenberg at PSA reads the Net54 forums, since she emailed me once about a post I had made here. And of course, we've all seen posts here from SGC honchos.


Steve

[Archive]

Posted By: Peter_Spaeth

As if PSA with all the submissions it gets, or SGC for that matter even though it gets fewer, is going to be on the lookout for Lance's Terry Bradshaw rookie and give it special treatment.

[Archive]

Posted By: Lance

SGC posted receipt 8/28/08. PSA 8/29/08. SGC 1, PSA 0
PSA sent their submission email to confirm receipt. SGC 1, PSA 1

Peter- I agree, Bradshaw isn't that special of a card, unless you grew up in the '70's and lived in, say... Central PA....Please check the attached logo....LOL.

If they were both NM green Cobb's, they might be on the look out. But not these cards.

[Archive]

Posted By: Mark Anderson

Speaking as a collector on this one... you might also crack the cards upon receipt and reverse them (send the SGC card to PSA and vice versa) thus adding in the element of grade comparison.

[Archive]

Posted By: JimB

"SGC posted receipt 8/28/08. PSA 8/29/08. SGC 1, PSA 0"

This could be a result of when they received them. Did you have a signature confirmation? If they both received them the same day, then you are right. Otherwise, it is NJ post office 1, Newport Beach Post office 0.

I always send grading submissions via registered mail. They get to SGC incredibly fast for some reason. Happens every time.
JimB

[Archive]

Posted By: Anonymous

Jim,
Both submissions were sent via a 2 day service with confirmation. SGC posted the same day of delivery and PSA posted the day after. Not a very big deal up front, but if PSA misses the 10 day limit by 1 working day, it will run into a weekend and cause a 3-4 day difference in the return time...a much bigger deal. One other stat I left out of the score card was the price of service. Again, for the project $10 SGC vs. $15 PSA for the same 10 day turnaround. $5.00 isn't that big of a deal until you look at it in a percentage... 50% more to use PSA.

SGC 2 - PSA 1.

[Archive]

Posted By: Lance

SGC was at their normal great pace. Theier submission was completed 09/08/08, 4 days in advance, and was at my door step 09/10/08. PSA has yet to post completion of the order. Today is the final day of the 10 day service. In my experience, SGC has always out performed PSA in turn-around time and reliability, so this didn't surprise me in the least. As I stated before, the extra day it took to process the order will eventually cost me 4-6 days in deivery time(including the weekend.)

SCG 3, PSA 1

SGC graded the card in the expected range. When I have both to scan, I will post them and let you all decide who wins the grading point. One point for accuracy of grade based on your opinion.

The final points will be for the sale price. I personally feel this is a 2 pointer and will be based on the percentage achieved vs. VCP.com.

[Archive]

Posted By: Alan U

More than likely your PSA shipping will be longer in any case since they send everything registered mail, which is the safest, but takes a few days longer.

My experience is that SGC usually ships at least a few days before the deadline, and PSA ships on the day the deadline ends or a couple of days later.

When comparing selling prices, I think the post-war SGC cards will sell for less, but vintage may sell for more.

-Alan

[Archive]

Posted By: Lance

Both are shipping with my personal FedEx account.

[Archive]

Posted By: Anonymous

PSA posted the grades Monday evening and the cards arrive today. Their original lateness cost total delivery time of 6 days behind SGC. These are the two cards. Please cast your grade as Card #1 and Card #2. As you can see, these were 2 ideal cards for the comparison. I will post the cards in their holders in a couple days.

Card #1


Card #2

[Archive]

Posted By: Anthony S.

83 completions in 218 attempts. I know pass defense rules hadn't been changed to the offenses' benefit yet, but Yikes.

[Archive]

Posted By: Bottom of the Ninth

NM+ on both

[Archive]

Posted By: raymond g.

He's a hero to Steeler fans. When you get the cards back I maybe interested in one from you. Let me know! I plan on being at Beaver Stadium for the Michigan game, if your going I can see you there, meet via cell phones.
We are ---

[Archive]

Posted By: jmoran19

I'll play, top card is in a PSA holder and is graded 7.5, the bottom card is SGC 84

[Archive]

Posted By: Alan U

IMHO, both look like 8.5's and maybe 9's. Back centering may be the only thing holding them back.

Is it possible the SGC card was expedited because someone read this post?

Also I think the SGC Express fee will be comparable to the PSA fee when their rates go up in October.

In any case, I like SGC and PSA equally.

-Alan

[Archive]

Posted By: Felicia

SGC = 88
PSA = 8

The backs are to off to allow much higher in my opinon,
Nice cards either way!!

[Archive]

Posted By: Matt

Is there a small vertical wrinkle on the back of the SGC Bradshaw visible in the black at the top?

[Archive]

Posted By: Anthony S.

I think it's just a strand of Terry's doomed hair.

[Archive]

Posted By: Lance

Anthony-You're not far off...it's a Jack Russel hair belonging to Abby, my dog.

Raymond- I wish I could be there! I grew up in Huntingdon County, one mountain away. I will let you know about the cards when they become available. Here's a great joke:

After former Florida State head football coach dies and enters the Pearly
Gates, God takes him on a tour. God shows Bobby a little two-bedroom house
With a faded FSU banner hanging from the front porch.

God says, "This is your house, coach. Most people don't get a house up here.

Bobby looks at the house, then turns around and looks at the big house
Sitting on top of a big hill. It's a huge two-story mansion with white
Marble columns and little patios under all the windows. Penn State flags
Line both sides of the walkway, and a huge Penn State banner hangs between
The marble columns.

"Thanks for the house, God. But, let me ask you a question. I get this
Little two bedroom house with a faded FSU banner and Paterno gets a mansion
With new Nittany Lion banners and flags flying all over the place. Why is
That?"

God looks at him seriously for a moment and says, "Paterno's not dead.
That's my house."

.........PENN STATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!

[Archive]

Posted By: Steve Murray

Card 1: PSA 8; SGC 84

Card 2: PSA 7; SGC 80

[Archive]

Posted By: Chris

Card 1: PSA 8

Card 2: SGC 84

[Archive]

Posted By: Fred Y

I'm going to say the SGC graded 86 7.5 and the PSA graded 8, thereby leaving you w/ the tease to send it back in for the .5 bump!

[Archive]

Posted By: Mark Anderson

NM-MT+ (8.5) on both

[Archive]

Posted By: Al C.risafulli

Top one looks like the bottom-left corner has some excess chipping, and it looks like a printing flaw or smudge in the upper-right corner of the picture. I'd say it's a 6.

Bottom one looks sharp, some chipping but not so bad. I'd give it an 8.

-Al

[Archive]

Posted By: Anonymous

Here are the cards. I think they were graded a little tough, but fair.

PSA was the first card and SGC was the second. I think most of you were in the ball park, and I will call it a split decision on the grading...very even. SGC will win this compitition, due to time lose on both ends 4-2. My biggest decision will be should I go for the 9 or be satisfied with the 8.5?????

[Archive]

Posted By: Neal Kane

looks like both companies missed the boat, as they both looked like 7's to me.

[Archive]

Posted By: Red

"The final points will be for the sale price. I personally feel this is a 2 pointer and will be based on the percentage achieved vs. VCP.com."

So the final step in this "test" will be to list the cards on Ebay. You'll provide links to the auctions so we can all play along and provide daily updates on how the competition is going. Who will be the winner? SGC or PSA. The real winner, with a 9.5 in creative spamming, will be the seller. Very well done!

[Archive]

Posted By: Lance

I will provide a link to the Ebay listings when they happen. I am partners with my brother on these and probably will sell them on his sight. He sells a ton of the more modern-vintage and will get more traffic.

Red, Thanks for the 9.5. But, if I wanted to boost my exposure or sales, these would be on the BST, not out here under the microscope to be scrutinized. I thought this would just be fun and enlightening.

Again, thanks to all for your input.

[Archive]

Posted By: leon

I agree with you in the sense of having some fun and doing this on the main board. Please don't think that the BST pages get more exposure. They don't.....The front page gets 5x the views as the BST pages. It's not a debate it's a fact.....I thought this was fun too and had I thought you were only trying to "sell" on the front page I would have said something about it, as that is a no-no....Interesting little project and good luck with them...take care

[Archive]

Posted By: Lance

You just can't please them all...

[Archive]

Posted By: leon

Unfortunately Red isn't the only one with a cynical attitude. It is very much warranted in the wild wild west out here. I guarantee there were lots of others that had the exact same thought as Red....My antennae have to go up on just about everything on the board so I just take it in and make educated guesses by what I see. I don't blame him for the comment (please be careful on the anonymity thing with "opinionated" remarks) regards