PunsRTonsOfFun

You can be honest and just say their grades are easier instead of pretending it's something otherwise. Denial never benefits anyone. I can't wait til PSA's recent (and long overdue) increase in standards creates all sorts of chaos in the hobby. A PSA 10 from five years ago would barely be a PSA 8 today. When those older PSA cards start hitting the market, people are going to notice.

The Wander base card raw will be $5 or $10 soon. They were ridiculously overprinted. The parallels will have a ton of long-term value. He's absolutely the real deal.

Not only am I going to keep subbing with them, but due to their tough grading and high standards, they're going to be the only company I use and buy. People are finally starting to realize that PSA is only popular because their grading is lax and they give out Gem Mints like candy. At some point, the actual condition of the card has to matter rather than just the acronym on the slab label. When the hobby becomes smart enough to understand this, CSG cards will go through the roof, especially the Pristines and Perfects. I roll my eyes when people on here complain about their ROI on CSG cards. CSG has been in the sports card business for a year. Did you really send them your cards thinking you would get ROI of companies that have been around for decades? That miscalculation is on you. CSG is a long-term play. It's not for flippers. And that's a good thing.

I don't know why people are expecting a company that's been in business for just a year to have the same ROI as PSA when other grading companies that have been around decades (BGS and SCC) still don't. Also, CSG will not be going belly up anytime soon, if ever. They were just purchased by Blackstone in July and have Fanatics (future gatekeeper for all things sports cards) as a minority investor. They're the only grading company currently setup to challenge PSA over the long term. The short sightedness of this hobby is staggering.

First, don't get a 1/1 graded unless you can choose Gem Mint as a min grade or Authenticated if not Gem. A Gem grade will add value to a 1/1, any other grade will not in nearly all cases. As for your question about value, there's no correct answer. A 1/1 card is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. If the player is a nobody or even a minor star, the card isn't going to have much value despite being a 1/1. That's actually something that's been misconstrued in the of card breakers. Cards aren't valuable just because they're numbered. They still have to be the right player and even the right set. I cringe when I see breakers freaking out over a numbered card to 25 of some backup catcher. That card is basically a common.

Selling for the cheapest is temporary. I don't know why people are expecting a company that's been in business for just a year to have the same ROI as PSA when other grading companies that have been around decades still don't. The short sightedness of this hobby is staggering.

There's no grading company that cleans or preps the card before they grade it. They actually can't because they could risk damaging the card in the process of doing so.

Same thing happened to my 1993 SP Derek Jeter. Teenage me had kept it pressed down in a screwdown and CSG understandably sent it back EV/Trimmed. Sent it to SGC and they actually graded it. Whatever technology CSG is using is ridiculously impressive and not something utilized by the other grading companies. As more collectors begin to understand that, CSG should (and probably will) gain a large following. Between their best in the industry slab and tough grading standards on condition and alteration, it's becoming pretty obvious CSG is step above the other grading companies right now. And eventually, that's going to matter more than the acronym on the slab label.

On card autos also mean the card was sent to the player, who handled it, signed it, and sent it back so it's tough for them to gem with so much activity. Regarding the Vlad Jr., there's pretty obvious whitening in some of the corners, which would prevent a gem or mint grade.

It was a very impressive first year considering constant comparisons to businesses that have been around for more than two decades. The future is very bright for CSG despite what the naysayers and short-sighted think.

Be very careful removing that 52 Mantle from that screwdown. I would try to get it in a one touch like the other ASAP.

Yeah, one of those (HGA) is not like the others (PSA, BGS, SGC, CSG). I get some people think their slabs look cool, but it floors me that people think they're reputable graders.

I can't believe how much complaining there is in this thread about CSG having high standards. If you want to take the easy road with your cards, there are other grading options.

Please remember that CSG 10 isn't equivalent to a PSA 10. CSG 9.5 is Gem Mint, which is equivalent to PSA 10. CSG 10 is Pristine, which PSA doesn't have. CSG 10's should be and will be rare.

Couldn't agree more about the SGC case. Not only does the tuxedo worry me in terms of possibly damaging the card, but their slab is, by far, the easiest to crack.

You realize that CSG's grading scale isn't the same as the other companies, right? At PSA and SGC, Gem Mint is a 10. Gem Mint at CSG is a 9.5, like BGS. 10s at CSG are labeled Pristine or Perfect and should be valued far higher than any PSA 10. That's why they're rare, they're basically perfect cards.

I'm submitting to CSG (and buying their graded cards) as a long term play. With the Blackstone acquisition and already established partnership with Fanatics, the future is bright for CSG. They're the only grading company positioned to compete with PSA in the long term (5+ years from now). Flippers and the short sighted don't understand this and shouldn't concern themselves with it. Let them focus on PSA, but CSG is going to catch up, it's just going to take a while.

40% of my 50 card CSG order was graded 9.5s or higher with one 10. Sounds like someone is used to the lax, lazy, and low standards grading you see with the other companies...

If that's the case, that's pretty impressive grading. A Perfect grade must literally be just that!

Very similar to the front. If it's off, it's not by much.

I knew this card would Gem, but I wasn't expecting a Pristine. So close to Perfect!

Bulk order mailed 4/3 and received in system on 6/17. Shipped 10/25. Thrilled with the grades, I'll be a repeat customer.

You had zero chance of these cards crossing over to a PSA 10 in their CSG slabs. PSA has zero incentive to make people think that a CSG 9.5 is a PSA 10. Had you cracked the CSG cases and sent the cards in, you had a shot. Same goes with SGC. PSA is not going to make customers think CSG and SGC are on the same level as them, though they're both definitely tougher than PSA. It's that simple.

That last step is typically super quick (in my experience). Order usually ships within two days of moving to that status.

Buyer's dream! With the Blackstone acquisition and already established partnership with Fanatics, the future is bright for CSG. They're the only grading company positioned to compete with PSA in the long term (5+ years from now). That's not great now for flippers, but too damn bad.