SGC has announced a major change to its grading structure for trading cards. As opposed to offering several levels of service with regards to grading turnaround times, the company is moving to a two-tiered structure effective immediately. The plainly worded levels are aimed at reducing its current backlog of orders, which grew to sizable levels in the wake of … [Read more...]
PSA Announces New Pricing Structure
Still deluged by submissions, PSA is changing its pricing structure for several service levels beginning January 1. While collectors and dealers who submit orders of 50 or more cards for grading and encapsulation and those who use the company’s regular 15-day service won’t see any changes, those who want faster turnaround times will notice some significant price … [Read more...]
SGC Moving to 10-Point Grading Scale, Plans Submission Process Upgrades
SGC will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this summer but cake and ice cream aren’t the only thing the grading and authenticating firm will be passing out. Some big changes are happening as part of an overall rebranding of one of the hobby’s most familiar names. Earlier this month, the Florida-based company announced the upcoming launch of a uniform … [Read more...]
Beckett Grading Suspends 10-Day Service Option as Orders Pile Up
Due to a backlog of orders, Beckett Grading has suspended its 10-day guaranteed service for trading cards. A message on the company’s website reads, “Due to a historic number of orders/cards being submitted, and our growing wait times with our non-guaranteed service level, Beckett Grading will temporarily suspend their 10-day service level starting June 7, 2018.” With … [Read more...]
8 Collecting Tips To Help You Avoid Being Ripped Off
Other than losing a collection of cards or having a prized collection stolen, it may be a collector's worst nightmare. Each year, collectors are duped over and over by purchasing fake or altered cards. With improved printing capabilities and other technologies, it is easier than ever to create authentic-looking forged and altered vintage cards. While no 100% foolproof … [Read more...]
BGS to Offer Single Grade Option
Beckett Grading Services (BGS) is offering to grade your modern era cards without sub-grades. The company announced Monday that it would offer the new single grade option at a lower price than its usual service that features separate sub-grades for corners, edges, centering and surface. Those ratings are used to determine and help explain the overall grade of the card. The … [Read more...]
PSA Begins Dual Grading For Autographed Cards
PSA is now providing dual grading for autographed trading cards submitted for certification. The insert label within the PSA holder will indicate the individual grades for both the card and the autograph. For example, a card might be graded PSA Mint 9 while the autograph could be given a different grade. The move is similar to what Beckett Grading offers for autographed … [Read more...]
9th Edition of Graded Card Price Guide Released
Beckett Media has released the 9th edition of its Graded Card Price Guide. The 380-page book includes pricing information and checklists for professionally graded sports cards, as accumulated by its staff. Sales of BGS/BVG, PSA, and SGC graded cards are analyzed to determine pricing information. The company first launched the graded guide in December of 2011 and the book … [Read more...]
PSA to Offer On Site Grading Special at NSCC
PSA says collectors have been asking them to bring down prices for grading at the National so lower priced cards can be submitted for quick turnarounds. The company has responded. Normally, on-site card grading fees range from $35 to $300, depending on the declared value of the cards. Traditionally, most submitters have chosen on-site grading for their more valuable cards … [Read more...]
PSA Offers On Site Grading Special at NSCC Show
PSA will offer an on-site grading special for lower-priced cards during the 32nd National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago August 3 - 7. On-site card grading offers the chance to have a submission processed immediately, avoiding the time and expense of shipping your cards across the country. Normally, however, on-site grading fees range from $35 to $250, … [Read more...]