How does CSG compare?

[Onlineracing]

Looking for opinions on CSG slabbed cards. How do they compare value wise compared to PSA and SGC? 60%? 80%? I am looking at some cards slabbed by CSG and just not familiar with them. Any help would be apricated.

[hcv123]

I will not touch them with a 10-foot pole for now. The quality of grading is inconsistent and inconsistent with PSA and SGC and they are hard to sell. There is a CSG 8 52 Mantle in an upcoming auction - really curious to see how it does (and hoping it isn't one of the "powers that be" behind CSG bidding it up!

[G1911]

Originally Posted by hcv123

I will not touch them with a 10-foot pole for now. The quality of grading is inconsistent and inconsistent with PSA and SGC and they are hard to sell. There is a CSG 8 52 Mantle in an upcoming auction - really curious to see how it does (and hoping it isn't one of the "powers that be" behind CSG bidding it up!

I somehow doubt that auction is going to be entirely an honest result.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by G1911

I somehow doubt that auction is going to be entirely an honest result.

Any chance you have any real proof or is that purely hearsay?

[raulus]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Any chance you have any real proof or is that purely hearsay?

I think we're all just assuming there must be some hijinks at play here, simply because no one in their right mind would proceed on this basis.

I suppose we'll see how the final results play out. If it sells for $3M, then we'll all suspect that the auction was manipulated. If it sells for $100k, then probably less so.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by raulus

I think we're all just assuming there must be some hijinks at play here, simply because no one in their right mind would proceed on this basis.

I suppose we'll see how the final results play out. If it sells for $3M, then we'll all suspect that the auction was manipulated. If it sells for $100k, then probably less so.

I was just being a smart butt as Greg always asks for proof. You don't have to try to convince me how shady this hobby is. I just do my best not to care or post about it anymore.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by bnorth

Any chance you have any real proof or is that purely hearsay?

It is neither; as it is a stated speculation about a future event. If I could prove the future, well, I’d be on my private island with a bunch of models instead of with y’all.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by G1911

It is neither; as it is a stated speculation about a future event. If I could prove the future, well, I’d be on my private island with a bunch of models instead of with y’all.

I'm offended that you wouldn't even at least invite me.

[raulus]

In some ways, they're just so new that it's hard to tell with any degree of confidence.

One thing you might try if you really want to dig in here. I know that PWCC tends to auction off a lot of CSG items. So you could take a look at their weekly auctions for the last few weeks. Pick out a few pieces where you can get a good sense as to their pricing, then compare to similarly graded items from PSA and SGC. It will probably be difficult to try to nail it down to a precise amount, simply because the results will probably vary widely. That and some will suggest that being on PWCC's auction site has the possibility to also skew the results.

You will probably also want to try to stick to a similar time period as what you're considering picking up. You might find that a lot of the CSG pieces are modern items, maybe with some post-war vintage at lower grades sprinkled in. So there might not be a whole lot of data to evaluate, especially if you're looking at pre-war pieces.

But with any luck, with a bit of homework, you'll at least get a sense as to whether the discount is commonly 25%, 50%, or 75%, give or take.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Onlineracing

Looking for opinions on CSG slabbed cards. How do they compare value wise compared to PSA and SGC? 60%? 80%? I am looking at some cards slabbed by CSG and just not familiar with them. Any help would be apricated.

Look at completed sales on ebay, you will probably get a pretty good idea that might be more factual than opinions.

[Rhotchkiss]

I collect prewar (almost all pre WWI). I would not buy a card in a CSG slab and I would have doubts about any card in a CSG slab just bc why would they go there vs SGC/PSA? I have the same opinion about Beckett; there is a 1914 CJ set all slabbed in Beckett for that hot second when Beckett bought Goodwin’s auction, but aside from those, I want no part of a prewar card in a Beckett slab.

I find it noteworthy that VCP is starting to accumulate data on CSG sales

[Yoda]

I can't still but help wonder why Ebay went with the least popular TPG'er under their convoluted 'authenticity' marketing disaster. Guess PSA, SGC and Beckett must have told them to go pound sand.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Yoda

I can't still but help wonder why Ebay went with the least popular TPG'er under their convoluted 'authenticity' marketing disaster. Guess PSA, SGC and Beckett must have told them to go pound sand.

My guess is price and they got that price because they are smart over at CSG. The advertising they get is as they say priceless. I still need to add one of their early slabs to my slab collection.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by bnorth

My guess is price and they got that price because they are smart over at CSG. The advertising they get is as they say priceless. I still need to add one of their early slabs to my slab collection.

+1

I would think that this was a shrewd marketing move by CSG to attempt to demonstrate that they can run with the big dogs. Or at least they are trusted enough by a major market player so much that we should all trust them too.

Sort of like how I implicitly trust Tom Brady and Steph Curry when it comes to all of my investment decisions.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I collect prewar (almost all pre WWI). I would not buy a card in a CSG slab and I would have doubts about any card in a CSG slab just bc why would they go there vs SGC/PSA?

Perhaps because they wanted their cards back this century? CSG has been cheaper and quicker than PSA and has not messed up my orders anywhere near as often as SGC. My last SGC order had a major card misidentified and two variations not noted on the slabs. 3/12 cards wrong.

CSG is not going away, folks. it is part of a well-capitalized, established collectibles grading business. I think the time to go with CSG grading on vintage is when many are trash-talking it. The same was true of SGC when it started up. I got most of my vintage slabbed with SGC when it was relatively cheap and easy, and it was a prudent move since the prices for SGC and PSA are much closer than before. Over time, as us old farts age out and newer collectors take over, they will do so in a multiverse of TPGs that will include CSG. I also like their holders better than SGC and BVG, and they definitely do a better job than PSA with oddball or irregularly shaped cards