Beckett questions

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Posted By: Rob

1) Why does beckett get no respect in the vintage arena? Do they have poor grading consistency? Lack of alteration detection? Their holders too tough to break apart? I've seen some nice cards in beckett holders ...

2) Ebay - when selecting categories for "older" stuff (pre 70s?), and you select "graded", I don't believe "BVG" comes up as an option. But "SCD" does!

Rob

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Posted By: davidcycleback

Beckett's specialty is modern cards not vintage, just as SGC's is vintage cards not modern. That's 70 percent of your answer right there. For vintage cards, Beckett has some growing pains with their grading system (a common complaint was their first grading system was, of all things, too hard!) and they have graded sheet cut cards. This has slowed their acceptance with vintage collectors. However, they are reputable at authenticating vintage cards and there's no reason to turn down a mid grade BVG card if the card looks okay.

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Posted By: Dave F

I think you can find some great deals with pre-war cards in beckett holders...I've bought a couple and had no problems getting an equal grade through PSA.

I would by far be more comfortable buying beckett than I would gai...

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Posted By: Jim Dale

As stated Beckett as a modern card grading service is great; I enjoy it a lot for the 2003 Pristine Basketball set I collect and my etopps cards. For these I don't even look at PSA or SGC. PSA wins the mid era cards for me and SGC for the vintage cards for me. My guess is that Beckett lacks respect in vintage because they really didn't have any expertise there when they started. They might still be weak on expert graders in vintage cards?

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Posted By: Dave F

Jim,
I don't think Beckett has the respect of either SGC or PSA...but the couple of times I've bought the holders, they have hit it on the money. Both were T206's...one was a T206 common that converted to a PSA 6 and the other was a Sam Crawford that converted equally to a PSA 4...I think number wise, beckett gets pretty close on grading

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Posted By: Jimmy

They have always been the top grader for modern cards, it really comes done to the staff they have. I feel they may have more people working for them that have an interest in modern cards and SCG and PSA focus more on the vintage cards. They are truly respected in the hobby, just not for graded vintage cards.

Jimmy

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Posted By: Marc S.

of a vintage card I currently have in a Beckett holder is a very badly trimmed T-206 EPDG Magee portrait. I bought it for the back, knowing that Beckett totally messed up on even holdering the card in the first place...

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Posted By: leon

They have gotten better lately but I still wish Dr.Jim ran the show....I think they do a pretty good job overall...I don't know much about Post WWII cards though which is their strong point.....regards

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Posted By: davidcycleback

Leon, their strong point is more like Post Gulf War I. Pre-War collector means one who owns a 1990 Leaf set. An old timer is someone who saw Roger Clemens pitch for the Red Sox.

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Posted By: Paul S

David gave a great analogy(ies), especially if you've ever gone over and read their message board. That's probably the best way to find out who is a company's audience - the same as reading the Letters to the Editor section of a publication, you can suss those to whom they cater.

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Posted By: jay wolt

Had just 1 vintage Beckett card and it crossed
over nicely into an SGC holder although cracking
the holder was no small feat.

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Posted By: davidcycleback

I was not putting down down Beckett collectors. I was just saying that they tend to be younger and more into current cards. As Clemens left the Red Sox 11 years ago, a fourteen or fifteen year old probably does not remember him pitching for the Red Sox.

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Posted By: Paul S

David -- I didn't perceive your comment as demeaning. I hope my own response was not taken in that manner as well. It's the same whether one goes to a PSA or SGC message board, you can see what type of clientele would tend to use their services, it's neither a good nor bad thing...just a thing unto itself.

This can be corroborated if anyone's ever gone to the store section of the Beckett site. Perhaps 98% of merchandise for sale is exactly in the area of what you described.