The Break Brothers

I think the truth is in between. I you look a the 3,900 items when just use CSG, there all sorts of other stuff that has 'csg' in there name from hot wheel cars, athletic shorts, silver collectors, auto parts, etc. Toys alone account for 1,400 of that list. Business and industrial is another 1,200 from that list. Take a look at what comes up - the list on the sidebar is the balance of the items that arent cards but you cropped it just to show cards. If you hit the filter for CSG graded cards in that list and it drops to 22. which obviously isn't accurate, but def isnt 3,900.

1000's? I am not seeing that many coming out, and from the forum it looks like people aren't really anything back so I am not sure where you are pulling this into from. If I type 'CSG graded' into eBay I get 368 results. Not really the Tsunami you describe and them in better position than PSA?!? We are rooting for them to succeed, but I wont drink the koolaid.

Good to hear yours is moving. We just got notification that ours is graded and shipped. It had hit grading/Quality Control on Tuesday. Once it is received here (tomorrow) we will update our whole timeline for an standard 25-day order (25 day option at the time it was sent). CSG physically received it 3/29.

Today, my sub went from 'scheduled for grading' to 'grading/quality control'. I wish I had received an email notification; instead of stumbling on that the status had changed. Seems like an easy thing that builds customer service. As a programmer, its a just a trigger. Status changed, trigger an email with the new status. With HGA I get an email at each step, received, scanned, graded, printed label, slabbed, packaging/shipping. Getting emails alleviated stress, and saved me time of having to check all the time on the site, wondering if something changed. Little thing, but transparency goes a long way in customer service. I'm shocked with CSG being in business for 100 years, that this had eluded them.

You can check their service and fees page for where they are at...which isnt far...see attached image from today.

Not sure, I usually bring it up on both phone and desktop, and one of the two always gets a reasonable spot. We put orders in up to twice per week. We haven't experienced any difficulty that we've seen other express. Not sure why, maybe just getting lucky over and over. I'd keep trying though, its usually Tuesdays at 5pm (EST) and Fridays at 9pm (EST).

This sucks, another week has gone by, and now almost 3 weeks in "Scheduled for grading". Zero chance this place hits the 25 day turnaround, only months after launch. We submit almost weekly to HGA, and getting them back in 10 days at the same price as CSGs 25-days. HGA is currently eating CSGs lunch.

We were received in the system 5/4, standard (single card) service. We paid the sent invoice and has been scheduled for grading for over a week. Not sure when will get out of scheduling and actually graded, paid invoice over a week ago.

Mine were delivered 3/29 but not received in the system until 5/4. That's scary, two days of progress in the ensuing 17 days??

Did they send you the invoice yet? Once mine got scheduled for grading I was sent the invoice to pay. I did not get any indication on the website that I sent one, happened to see it in my inbox. Is it possible youmissed it and is holding things up? BTW, I could find a way to pay it on their site, I had to call and pay it over the phone which seemed odd. Having been in business for 100 years (coins and comics), you'd think they would have come up with a less manual process to pay those at this point... EDIT: Just saw you paid, I assume the sent invoice - that is weird then that's its MIA

It's tough to figure out timing. 8+ days ago, was scheduled for grading. I few days later I received an invoice which I paid. Now a week later, the status is still scheduled for grading. I am not sure if the clock starts when they "receive" it in their system. According to their website, the 8 steps are: 1) Receiving 2) Verification 3) Authentication ----> Invoice sent here 4) Grading 5) Encapsulation 6) Imaging 7) Quality Control 8) Packaging and Shipping Apparently I'm in the status between steps 3 and 4. Which sucks, as Took 6 weeks to be received in the system for 25-day service (received 3/29, 5/4 in system)...looks like will be a while still given FIFO and took 6 weeks to receive. Official Status Explanations (which aren't as granular as their 8 steps)... Received The submitted cards have been counted and entered in CSG’s computer system along with the submitter information, submission date and requested service(s). In the next step, a detailed description of each card will be entered in CSG’s computer system (a process commonly called “verification”). The cards will be separated from any paperwork that would identify the submitter and the submission will be prepared for grading. Scheduled for Grading Each card has now been described in detail in CSG’s computer system and checked against the submitter’s descriptions. A unique identification number has been assigned to each card. These identification numbers are printed on temporary holders and will be used to track each card throughout CSG’s grading process. Submissions are then arranged by service and received date so that they can be graded on a "first in-first out" basis by service level. Grading / Quality Control Cards are authenticated, graded and encapsulated. Once encapsulated, they are re-examined to verify that the grade and accompanying description is correct. The holder is also checked for defects such as scuffs or nicks. Finalized / Imaged / Shipped Cards have been inspected and approved in Quality Control, photographed, carefully packaged and returned to the submitter. Grades are now available for viewing online.

It was about 5 weeks from the point CSG physically received the card. Sent 3/24, received 3/29...entered as received in system on 5/4. Has anyone found an average time it take to get to the next step, scheduling - for standard service? Average time to get to grading from scheduled? Thanks! Edit: 5/11/2021 Though I didnt get a notification, we are now scheduled for grading. So, would be a week or less after receiving the card in this case.

Ding, ding, ding! My 3/29 submission was entered today! Sent 3/24, delivered 3/29, entered 5/4! Standard Service, 25 days w/subs and auto.

I would think there would always be a market for cards turned around on time, for a realistic price, and holds value. PSA fulfills 2 of the the 3 currently. And they arent digging out of their backlog anytime soon, if ever.

I saw this at the end of last week...Zion rookie PSA vs HGA (another new grader)....quite a difference. one was auction the other BIN.

This is beyond pathetic. They have been on 3/15 for what, 6 weeks now? See below, a post from earlier in this thread from April 15!!! Has anyone who has gotten a card(s) entered in their system, how long after is it scheduled for grading or is it another month to get scheduled and the clock actually starts? From Nick Mares Posted April 15 Yea I had Called today and they said they were working on March 15-19th

You didn't read it thoroughly....those were in fact green sold prices. See how before the $2000 it says "Sold For"....one was auction, other BIN

Why dont you just opt for the plain label them? No one forces you to use the team or card colors?! Do you have an issue with the grading itself there? CSG has butt-ugly labels too, but it isnt a reason to not use the service. Are you saying PSA has great looking labels? Turnaround, cost and ROI should be more of a determining factor I'd think, no? Right now, not much difference between CSG and HGA on ROI, and HGA seems to be the belle of the ball between the two right now on eBay. Right now, faster turnaround (for same price) and same or better ROI then CSG is looking better at the moment. At least HGA are receiving cards in a timely basis, and not raising prices at the same time they are extending turnaround times. Here's a recent comp, 2019-20 Panini Certified Red Mirror - SOLD PRICES PSA 10 vs HGA 10 $415 vs $2000

Shockingly, the day I heard about HGA I was able to submit a few hours later when I got a decent spot in the queue. We will likely submit more given the service levels if we get spots in the queue again.

We decided to try out two new grading services to compare. Both had 1 card submitted with subs, autos and same overall price. I went with CSG and HGA. CSG was standard, with 25-day, HGA for same price was 10-days. CSG (auto Jasson Dominguez refractor) Sent 3/24, received (physically) on 3/29...still not entered in system HGA (auto Rookie Trout refractor) Sent Tuesday, April 27, received today, April 29. Entered in their system as received, today, April 29. Now to see if they hit their 10-day turnaround.

Obviously not taken personally. But every grader is behind. But, if youre turnaround sucks and you raise prices to PSA levels, without their pedigree, it seems like a foolish move two months in. Why not rise it to $100 card to stunt submissions. That mentality hasnt proven effective yet, or slowed subs. PSA raised prices and had to shutdown. CSG isn't ignorant of the market they decided to enter. They knew that PSA and Beckett were swamped, and they would be likely too. They didnt preapre, and set prices and expectations they could never meet, so now raising prices. I am starting to appreciate HGA and their answer. Limit amount of subs, prices low, and turnaround times met. I just sent off a Trout Auto RC refractor today, with 10-day turnaround. I'm curious to how both my CSG and HGA subs do, and their respective turnarounds. The 10-day with HGA was exactly as much as CSG, with 25-day with auto and subs. I really hope CSG is a solution to PSA and Beckett, but I'm not seeing it so far, including on ROI consistently.

I would hope they caught up on entering subs and had some consistent ROI from their slabs before they started raising prices. They have only been grading cards since February, 2 MONTHS. They are brutally behind and losing ground by the day it seems on entering subs. With turnaround times already being raised, they are now raiding prices. More pay for slower work. I am not sure how I am supposed to be impressed. With inconsistent ROI, this isnt a great start for only 2 months in.

"They'd likely lower prices when they streamline their process"? Doubtful. Esp if they feel the need to raise prices when they arent hitting turnarounds (by a good amount). Has PSA or Beckett lowered prices as they streamlined?

They should add the month+ it takes to "receive" the submission to the turnaround times. They hired more people, raised prices - which should have meant something should have changed for the positive, not negative. If you have more people working why did turnaround times go up? Why did prices go up when you cant meet the current demand and fulfill on time currently? If you were hitting turnaround times, and needed to hire more to keep hitting them is one thing. But raising prices AND turnaround times, after hiring more people seems like a cash grab. You're getting in tons of cards, according to your customer service and sub entry timelines, this increase in sales should have driven more hires, not higher prices. Something seems fishy here.

Salient points! You are not wrong.