Results 11 to 20 of 23
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11-08-2003, 02:19 PM #11
Actually, GAI is considered to be an up and coming grading service for vintage cards. Right now, many serious vintage collectors view them as being behind only PSA in reputation. BGS (BVG, BCCG, ABCDEFG whatever!) really doesn't rate in vintage. How much vintage do you see graded by them, anyway? At the major NY area shows, you can't even find Beckett graded vintage. Thank goodness...
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11-11-2003, 10:27 PM #12
Thanks for the help! I like the look of PSA but do you have to sign up for memebership (and pay) to get cards graded?
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11-12-2003, 01:38 AM #13
Yes, they recently changed it so you have to buy a membership in their collector's club to submit cards to them. This isn't a bad deal, however, if you plan to submit more than a few cards. I believe the membership is $99.00 a year, but they give you 6 free gradings (worth around $10.00 each), and you get a years subscription to the SMR magazine and a years access to the on-line SMR and pop report. They also sent me a nice book on the top 200 cards in the hobby, and a few other small things.
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11-12-2003, 02:09 AM #14
Originally posted by bootydaddy
How much vintage do you see graded by them, anyway? At the major NY area shows, you can't even find Beckett graded vintage. Thank goodness...
That's because even though they claim to grade easier, they really don't which then pisses people off when they get bad grades. A great graded BVG will bring in a premium over a PSA though.
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11-12-2003, 07:17 AM #15
Actually, GAI is considered to be an up and coming grading service
I hear they have 2 of the most well rounded, knowlegable graders, long time PSA employees if I'm not mistaken.
They are #1 in graded Packs which do quite well.
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11-12-2003, 10:27 AM #16I hear they have 2 of the most well rounded, knowlegable graders, long time PSA employees if I'm not mistaken.
That's correct, and one of the reasons some long time PSA collectors are giving them some respect as of late. I have met some of their reps at shows around the area, and they seem quite knowledgeable, and would certainly get my business if there were any long term issues over at PSA.
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11-12-2003, 10:38 AM #17
The 2 gentlemen that started GAI are Baker and Rocchi. They were with PSA in the beginning. There main niche right now however is grading/authenticating unopened packs which is a great idea in my opionion. As far as there service goes for cards I have heard good and bad about them.
As far as Beckett goes, no matter what service it is, I stay away even if they command premiums in the modern card market. Too many horror stories lately about cards going from an 8.5 to a pristine 10 over night. PSA's reputation has also been tarnished over the past year with numerous incidents. As of right now all roads are starting to point to SGC as a good service to get vintage cards grading with. They are very accurate with grading(sometimes a little lenient on centering) and you can get cards in their holders for a fraction of what they go for in PSA holders. A very good buy right now in my opinion.
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11-12-2003, 10:41 AM #18
Good point, John. I remain a PSA loyalist, but I have found some nice vintage cards in great condition in SGC holders and crossed them over to PSA holders. The SGC cards were graded fairly, but were not nearly as expensive as if they were originally done by PSA.
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11-12-2003, 11:50 AM #19
Originally posted by john1170
There main niche right now however is grading/authenticating unopened packs which is a great idea in my opionion.
I personally think this is one of the stupidest things ever and for this reason is why I consider GAI trash (I also used to work for a company called GAI so I'm sure that plays a little role into it too).
My post was old and when I found it the eBay auction was already out of the data base... but I had a link to an eBay auction where GAI graded one of those fleer Billy Ripken *error* cards. The card was in a cello pack and they gave the pack a 9.5! Completely unreal! You can't even see the bottom of cards because the plastic isn't all clear. Here's a pic of one :
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=28086
It's the griffey in the center. See what I mean? ALl those cards could have effed up bottoms... but GAI graded a cello pack just like that a 9.5.
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11-12-2003, 01:11 PM #20
Originally posted by IggyWH
I personally think this is one of the stupidest things ever and for this reason is why I consider GAI trash (I also used to work for a company called GAI so I'm sure that plays a little role into it too).
My post was old and when I found it the eBay auction was already out of the data base... but I had a link to an eBay auction where GAI graded one of those fleer Billy Ripken *error* cards. The card was in a cello pack and they gave the pack a 9.5! Completely unreal! You can't even see the bottom of cards because the plastic isn't all clear. Here's a pic of one :
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=28086
It's the griffey in the center. See what I mean? ALl those cards could have effed up bottoms... but GAI graded a cello pack just like that a 9.5.
Iggy,
They grade the condition of the pack and not the cards inside which they state. I agree that assigning grades to a newer pack is kind of stupid but when you are dealing with older packs that go for a ton of money an authentication system is in need. Do you know how many people in the past have re sealed packs. I for one do not want to spend money on a pack and find that it has already been opened and re sealed.
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