What is the difference b/c a card graded by PSA and by BGS?

Is one preferred over the other by card aficionados?

Is one better than the other?

I just moved back to S. CA, and am just a few miles from one of the places where I can go to drop off the cards to be graded via PSA.

Also, how do you know, when you are dropping off your baseball cards to be graded, that they don't switch a lesser graded card, and keep your cards if it's a better on.

Thanks

I feel the same way about the switching.
Some cards I gave to BGS that were imaculate came back with a less grade than what I saw with my magifying glass and lights. The centering was a bit off that I hadn't noticed before either. From now on I will photo copy every card, back and front and see for sure that the card I send is the card I get back.
By the way, BGS is the toughest grader and the best as far as getting a good price on a high graded card.
PSA is fair as far as I know and the prices are very good for the high graded stuff.

BGS is the most stringent esp. on surface grades and generally bring premiums. PSA is a good alternative as they are the most popular and have decent standards. You might also consider SGC because they have cool holders. Any other grading company is not worth using in my opinion.

For those not familiar with the grading system, selling a "perfect 10" graded card by PSA may be more appealing than the 9.5 of BGS.

Actually most people consider a BGS 9.5 to be more appealing than a PSA 10, according to sell values on Ebay.

I prefer BGS just because they are super strict. It sucks sometimes when your getting your cards graded but when your on the buying end you can feel confident of exactly what you are getting and that a 9.5 is top notch.


BGray

I will have to go with BGS if I am going to get any of my cards graded. As BGray stated they are the toughest in the industry for grading but you know that you will get more with the higher graded card over the others. After BGS I would go with PSA. Outside of those two it is not worth it. Just my 2 cents. :)

Richie
mookigremlin
:p

Originally posted by podstock

Also, how do you know, when you are dropping off your baseball cards to be graded, that they don't switch a lesser graded card, and keep your cards if it's a better on.

Thanks

Do a test :) you don't have to pay shipping so go in and submit them for as many day service as you can for the lowest price. Use a card you don't care about make a mark on it somewhere that will be impossible to make a parallel of and when you get your card back check to see if it is there. You probably don't need to do this. I am sure it has been done before and if they did switch the cards they would go bankrupt and out of buisness.

lakerswiz..lol, I thought about doing that.

by the way, any particular reason for your interest in Kareem Rush?

I am an alumni of UCLA, and remember vividly his big brother, JaRon. This dude was incredibly hyped up by the media. And unfortunately, he got caught up in the hype. Never improved his game during the couple of years he was at UCLA. Tried to enter the draft early.

Now, he's laboring for some team overseas, I think.

JaRon's a big reason Kareem stayed an extra year at Mizzou.

i like how bgs gives half grades

BGS in my opinion is the strictest of the two, and most auctions that I have seen BGS always brings the hightest return...Several collectors myself included would prefer a lesser graded card from BGS over a PSA 10 IMO.....

Originally posted by Qball76
BGS in my opinion is the strictest of the two, and most auctions that I have seen BGS always brings the hightest return...Several collectors myself included would prefer a lesser graded card from BGS over a PSA 10 IMO.....

They bring in more money for modern cards, not vintage. The people who collect vintage material go with PSA or SGC as it brings in more money.

Sorry for bringing up such an old thread - but I have to ask: has anything changed over the years?

Is BGS still the strictest when it comes to grading?

I've thought about buying some graded high-end cards on eBay but always wonder: which one should I go for? BGS or PSA?

I also worry that something that was graded by one of these companies 5 or so years ago would be different if regraded today or worry that the card hasn't stayed in its top condition?

Maybe it's just my paranoia. :confused0024:

BGS for Newset Modern card if you send in this years cards you it seems like you get better grading. a 10 year old or older its hard to get over a 8.5.
I like to buy vintage BGV cards when ever I can in 6.5 or better becouse they are so tuff, I feel Im getting just a bit better card, about a half grade at times.
PSA 50s to 90s - some peoplwe will only do PSA and want the same grader for entire collection of slabbed cards.
SGC pre WWII cards there are much better at the old stuff

SAY AWAY FROM AGAIN THING ELSE - it will hurt not help you values

BGS for Newset Modern card if you send in this years cards you it seems like you get better grading. a 10 year old or older its hard to get over a 8.5.
I like to buy vintage BGV cards when ever I can in 6.5 or better becouse they are so tuff, I feel Im getting just a bit better card, about a half grade at times.
PSA 50s to 90s - some peoplwe will only do PSA and want the same grader for entire collection of slabbed cards.
SGC pre WWII cards there are much better at the old stuff

SAY AWAY FROM AGAIN THING ELSE - it will hurt not help you values


Sounds about right except I'd go PSA 50's to 80's and 90's and newer to BGS. BGS really hurt themselves with the site change and the destruction of their registry.

I agree with Nebboy and co. to the extent of their SGC and PSA reco's. On a personal note, I used to swear by PSA on everything, however after having sent a couple cards to SGC, I am thoroughly impressed by their customer service. Actually got to talk to the grader at SGC, about not only my submissions but the hobby in general. It was pretty refreshing after years of getting the cold shoulder when trying to personally communicate with anyone at PSA. From now on, anything prior to 1980 I will send to SGC. Also, on an asthetic note, I find their holder more attractive than the other two companies, especially for pre-WWII cards.

That being said, for any "newer card" submissions, I will likely stay with PSA, for the sole reason that I have several cards already with them and find them to be the industry standard bearer for new card submissions. BGS always worried me for a couple of reasons, including 1) my perception of a conflict between running a grading company and a pricing catalog (I know PSA does the same thing, but PSA's primary business lies with slabbing, not advertising and pricing) and 2) I have always found the fact that BGS runs off shoot companies such as BVG and BCCG? as dilutive of their grading credibility. It doesn't make much sense to me to run seperate companies instead of slabbing everything with a BGS slab. If someone can explain the rationale behind this, I would appreciate it.

I have heard that BGS does a great job with newer cards, but I have had newer (post 2000) cards slabbed and regret this decision in general. In my point of view, there is no reason to slab a serial numbered, autoed or jersey card--as most of the new cards should be garnering grades of 9, 9.5 or 10 anyway. I just don't see the return on investment of slabbing a newer card. I guess this may be better suited as a topic for another post though, sorry.

Thank you, thank you and thank you for all the info/insight. It is very helpful and appreciated.

I'm a basketball collector and would really like to start buying graded in the mid to late '80s. I think I've found my calling in what I want to collect.

Does Beckett still use BVG and BCCG? Do they have lower standards when grading? If so why do they do this? Appeal to a market that doesn't want to spend as much?

Finally, is it uncommon to get a card regraded? Especially after finding out its registry is > 5 years old or that you are just simply unhappy with the condition of its holder from another individual?

I agree with Nebboy and co. to the extent of their SGC and PSA reco's. On a personal note, I used to swear by PSA on everything, however after having sent a couple cards to SGC, I am thoroughly impressed by their customer service. Actually got to talk to the grader at SGC, about not only my submissions but the hobby in general. It was pretty refreshing after years of getting the cold shoulder when trying to personally communicate with anyone at PSA. From now on, anything prior to 1980 I will send to SGC. Also, on an asthetic note, I find their holder more attractive than the other two companies, especially for pre-WWII cards.

That being said, for any "newer card" submissions, I will likely stay with PSA, for the sole reason that I have several cards already with them and find them to be the industry standard bearer for new card submissions. BGS always worried me for a couple of reasons, including 1) my perception of a conflict between running a grading company and a pricing catalog (I know PSA does the same thing, but PSA's primary business lies with slabbing, not advertising and pricing) and 2) I have always found the fact that BGS runs off shoot companies such as BVG and BCCG? as dilutive of their grading credibility. It doesn't make much sense to me to run seperate companies instead of slabbing everything with a BGS slab. If someone can explain the rationale behind this, I would appreciate it.

I have heard that BGS does a great job with newer cards, but I have had newer (post 2000) cards slabbed and regret this decision in general. In my point of view, there is no reason to slab a serial numbered, autoed or jersey card--as most of the new cards should be garnering grades of 9, 9.5 or 10 anyway. I just don't see the return on investment of slabbing a newer card. I guess this may be better suited as a topic for another post though, sorry.

I have heard many positive things about SGC's customer service, more than any other company. BVG hurt themselves when they cut out the subs-they became PSA w/ a better case. I think BVG is supposed to consider the time frame in which the card was produced the tech used in making it (ex.rough cuts).

I can see getting modern stuff graded if a collector wants to product their collection b/c the BGS case is the best out there.

Thank you, thank you and thank you for all the info/insight. It is very helpful and appreciated.

I'm a basketball collector and would really like to start buying graded in the mid to late '80s. I think I've found my calling in what I want to collect.

Does Beckett still use BVG and BCCG? Do they have lower standards when grading? If so why do they do this? Appeal to a market that doesn't want to spend as much?

Finally, is it uncommon to get a card regraded? Especially after finding out its registry is > 5 years old or that you are just simply unhappy with the condition of its holder from another individual?

BCCG is the mass grading service that Beckett offers and they don't grade as strict. BVG just handles cards 80/79 and earlier.

Finally, is it uncommon to get a card regraded? Especially after finding out its registry is > 5 years old or that you are just simply unhappy with the condition of its holder from another individual?

You don't need to resubmit the card for a re-grade if it is still in its holder. Grading companies offer reholdering services, usually for somewhere around $5, but you're also on the hook for shipping both ways as well, and the time it takes to get the service done.

You don't need to resubmit the card for a re-grade if it is still in its holder. Grading companies offer reholdering services, usually for somewhere around $5, but you're also on the hook for shipping both ways as well, and the time it takes to get the service done.

I have had it done for BGS and PSA. BGS was quite a bit faster w/ the service and sending the card back.

BCCG is the mass grading service that Beckett offers and they don't grade as strict. BVG just handles cards 80/79 and earlier.

Oh okay. I guess I can understand them having BVG... BCCG just seems unnecessary.

You don't need to resubmit the card for a re-grade if it is still in its holder. Grading companies offer reholdering services, usually for somewhere around $5, but you're also on the hook for shipping both ways as well, and the time it takes to get the service done.

Thanks. That sounds like it can add up. How long does it usually take?

I have had it done for BGS and PSA. BGS was quite a bit faster w/ the service and sending the card back.

How much does it run you average per card to 'reholder' it?

How much does it run you average per card to 'reholder' it?

BGS costs 5 bucks for reholdering plus shipping to and from.

Oh okay. I guess I can understand them having BVG... BCCG just seems unnecessary.

It is.lol


Thanks. That sounds like it can add up. How long does it usually take?

About a week for me. A BGS rep I spoke w/ told me they usually do the seervice w/in three days of receiving the card unless they are swamped w/ submissons.

BGS costs 5 bucks for reholdering plus shipping to and from.

The shipping is what kills you.

The shipping is what kills you.

Return shipping is a little over $20-pricey in my opinion.

What would "SGC 96" grade in BGS?

What would "SGC 96" grade in BGS?

Its equivalent to a 9 in both BGS and PSA.

Depending on the card though, it may sell for more or less than the equivalent with the other companies. Unless it is vintage, likely it will be less.

What about GEM?

I have a GEM 10 Marino Rc.

BCCG is the mass grading service that Beckett offers and they don't grade as strict. BVG just handles cards 80/79 and earlier.

BCCG never grades as strict. As those cards are just Mint supposedly and that could be like 8.5. So anyone that buys BCCG and looking at the Beckett and saying wow I have a 10 it worth Hundreds. As Don Wilson from the home shopping network used to do this. He explained the difference of BCCG versus BGS but just quoted what a 10 was worth.

What about GEM?

I have a GEM 10 Marino Rc.

GEM is worthless.


Here a article on card grading by someone else that I posted:

http://www.sportscardforum.com/articles/?p=187

Also, this was the best article I ever posted on Grading:

Problems in the Grading Industry

http://www.sportscardforum.com/articles/?p=33

As it shows a example of a card going from a PSA 8 to a BGS 9.5 10 auto with the same serial ed numbered card. So anyone that says Beckett is more stringent has got to be kidding!!

Don

Also, this was the best article I ever posted on Grading:

Problems in the Grading Industry

http://www.sportscardforum.com/articles/?p=33

As it shows a example of a card going from a PSA 8 to a BGS 9.5 10 auto with the same serial ed numbered card. So anyone that says Beckett is more stringent has got to be kidding!!

Don

That's a good article. It would be nice if a machine actually did all the grading. I am beginning to lean on buying graded cards from now on but I hope they keep raising the bar...

Sorry I'm late guys, I was held up at the intersection of graded toys and graded comics.

My comment on this thread is this:

BGS for modern cards. Anything 80-present.
PSA for everything else.

I also have to endorse GAI. They really are an unappreciated company. They're just as tough as PSA and BGS and way more affordable.

I've never used SGC. It's just something about their grade levels that bother me, 100, 96, 88, etc., etc., etc. But if they have great customer service I may need to give them a go.

I like BGS's and GAI's website features. They're smooth, modern, attractive, and so-on. However, PSA's website is like staring into a 1980's Macintosh program. Everything is almost like blocked. It doesn't have any eye appeal and their online submission option absolutely sucks!

BGS grades the quickest and PSA grades the slowest.
BGS has far better customer service and PSA... well at times I don't think they have customer service. They're rude, unhelpful, snotty, short, and almost arrogant. They make you almost feel like, "just another broke *** collector/dealer".

I honestly believe if PSA doesn't change some things, i.e. update their website, improve their customer service, adjust their prices, etc., that they will be dethroned by BGS. Don't get me wrong I like PSA, but I feel they live to much on, "We were the first, that makes us the best, so we can half-*** everything else". Well, I believe that just may be their demise.

Either way, nice thread! Cheers mates!