Running CGC (old CSG) Order Tracker

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by Gkozsportscards

It's annoying seeing Pokemon cards all the time since the brand migration.

Without the Pokemon cards, the company wouldn’t exist.

This company made three critical errors in sports cards. The awful initial label. The awful abandonment of subgrades. And the awful merging of CSG and CGC. They missed their window for establishing a position in sports.

[KeltonB]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

This company made three critical errors in sports cards. The awful initial label. The awful abandonment of subgrades. And the awful merging of CSG and CGC. They missed their window for establishing a position in sports.

I'm a CSG/CGC fan, but I agree 100% with the three points made above.

And although not related to sports, they made another huge mistake in changing the CGC label.

Maybe in 10 years no one will remember all these missteps, but they sure stand out now.

[Scottish Punk]

I have said this before. I don't have any idea on why they just didn't integrate the sports card grading right into their normal processes from the get go. No separate division, whatever subgrades options that were on the TCG side, and just use the existing CGC labels. Seems like that would have saved a ton of heartache from both sides not to mention development money from CGC itself. The slabs are fantastic, but it seems they have regressed into just a pokemon grader now.

[TXRunner]

After my first sub with them a few months ago, I do think that their slab is my favorite. That said, they are definitely a value killer in the modern sports world. I have been watching the prices of their slabs when it comes to vintage sports, and it seems like they are catching up to the values of the vintage SGC slabs. That is a plus. If we have SGC and CGC getting good value for vintage, that is great. That way you don't have to wait 6+ months for PSA to grade a vintage order.

[Scottish Punk]

Do you have any examples on CGC and SGC vintage prices getting close? I feel like CGC is an after thought in the vintage market. Whatever they get to grade on the sports card side seems to be all ultra modern stuff.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by Scottish Punk

Do you have any examples on CGC and SGC vintage prices getting close? I feel like CGC is an after thought in the vintage market. Whatever they get to grade on the sports card side seems to be all ultra modern stuff.

It isn't that far off for most stuff. People tend to buy the card and if it looks nice for the price, it will sell. I only use CGC for vintage cards that avoid the dreaded plastic sleeve. Smaller sized cards and cards slightly cut larger, will go to SGC. People aren't as reluctant to buy CSG/CGC vintage cards as people think. There is a decent amount of vintage collectors using the registry.

[Scottish Punk]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

It isn't that far off for most stuff. People tend to buy the card and if it looks nice for the price, it will sell. I only use CGC for vintage cards that avoid the dreaded plastic sleeve. Smaller sized cards and cards slightly cut larger, will go to SGC. People aren't as reluctant to buy CSG/CGC vintage cards as people think. There is a decent amount of vintage collectors using the registry.

Speaking of which. Did you notice that CGC added a "post war HOF RC" for baseball? Some of the choices were odd. They don't use 89 Upper Deck for some, but others. or 91 Bowman. Seem to default the the cheapest RC - base topps in most cases. I was excited to see that it was added. Hopefully, that means the other sports will soon follow.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by Scottish Punk

Speaking of which. Did you notice that CGC added a "post war HOF RC" for baseball? Some of the choices were odd. They don't use 89 Upper Deck for some, but others. or 91 Bowman. Seem to default the the cheapest RC - base topps in most cases. I was excited to see that it was added. Hopefully, that means the other sports will soon follow.

I saw that and some of the choices were puzzling to say the least. Having the 1990 Topps over the Leaf Frank Thomas was a weird one for me. The last year I really collect is 1990 and I also neglect most rookie cards from 1986 to 1990. I should have stopped in 1980. So much overproduced junk and putting most of those cards in slabs is annoying to me. I graded a 1981 Topps Harold Baines with PSA and it got a 9. I should have sold that one instead of my CSG 8. $100 for a $1-2 card because of the opinion.

The only thing that is stopping me from switching over completely to CGC is their inconsistency and inability to have proper slabs for cards. The plastic sleeves inside of them bother me. Plus I would want to have Tall Boys slabbed. They really need to fix their slab issues to keep up with PSA/SGC.

[jtclockwork]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

It isn't that far off for most stuff. People tend to buy the card and if it looks nice for the price, it will sell. I only use CGC for vintage cards that avoid the dreaded plastic sleeve. Smaller sized cards and cards slightly cut larger, will go to SGC. People aren't as reluctant to buy CSG/CGC vintage cards as people think. There is a decent amount of vintage collectors using the registry.

I'm the same way, but I don't mind the plastic sleeve, so I'll send smaller vintage cards to CGC. I feel like their vintage grades are more consistent than SGC and saving $5 a card makes a big difference.

[Scottish Punk]

I have a small stack of cards sports and some gaming cards that I am ready to send for grading. I have been flipping back in forth from sending to CGC (cheaper/better cases) or SGC or splitting them up with just vintage going to SGC. Are you feeling CGC grades are more consistent, but are they inline with SGC/PSA or more like BVG. I feel like they may have been better recently? However, last sub I sent in three 77 Star Wars card SGC crack outs (2 7.5, and 1 7). All three got 8's from CGC. It just gave me pause again. They do look great in the cases though. And $5 per card cheaper adds up in a hurry even with a few add on $2 for autos.

[KeltonB]

Originally Posted by Scottish Punk

However, last sub I sent in three 77 Star Wars card SGC crack outs (2 7.5, and 1 7). All three got 8's from CGC. It just gave me pause again.

Are you thinking CGC is over-grading on vintage now? Most of my older stuff is already graded in green CGS slabs - they were very strict on green labels I thought.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by KeltonB

Are you thinking CGC is over-grading on vintage now? Most of my older stuff is already graded in green CGS slabs - they were very strict on green labels I thought.

These same cards could have been graded 8's if submitted back to SGC. You can get a "hard" grader at SGC/CGC and an "easy" grader at SGC/CGC. Too small of a sample to make any conclusion on.

CGC also grades differently than SGC. The rubrics are similar, but I see differences. CGC seems to be easier on corners than SGC, but is harder on surfaces. Just like PSA is easier on centering, each company grades cards differently. An off center SGC 7 could be a PSA 8. A perfectly centered SGC 8 could come back a PSA 7.

BVG gets a bad reputation, they are not that far off of SGC/PSA as people think they are. Most people would lump them in with BCCG unfortunately. There are many BVG slabs that would cross over well to PSA and SGC. However, you need to know how each company grades these cards. I have three stacks of cards savers. One is for SGC, one for PSA, and one for CGC. I know how each company grades cards and send cards based on how each company trains their employees.

[Scottish Punk]

CGC is definitely easier on corners. Most of the overgraded stuff I have seen in vintage with CGC you can pinpoint to dinged corners. I would also agree CGC is harder on surface, my guess that is due to their machine scanning which picks up more defects. I don't think SGC is as advanced as PSA/CGC when it comes to machine assistance.

SGC is for sure a stickler on centering. Two of those three cards are 7.5 so, yes, any given day that coin flip could go to a 7 or 8 with any grader. It just gave me pause since all three were in the same direction and held to the pattern I had with past subs. I am leaning toward another small sub to CGC since it might have some more gamer cards and ultra modern. I have a few more SGC crackouts i can add. The stupid thing is that it is cheaper to regrade old green SGC labels to CGC than just to reholder at SGC (which they may regrade anyway?).

I would disagree with BVG though. They have been poop for a long time with vintage grades. They are consistent. Just expect one full grade lower when crossing to PSA/SGC.

Anyways, hopefully CGC has smoothed out their grading and can be consistent going forward. That is the big thing. They started out hammering chrome/prizm surfaces on ultra modern and really crazy loose with vintage with the green labels. Changed the grading scale a touch with centering. Now tightened up a bit with vintage. Maybe they have passed all the growing pains. My opinion, is that all of this back and forth is one of the big reasons they haven't made much a dent in the sportscard side.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by Scottish Punk

I would disagree with BVG though. They have been poop for a long time with vintage grades. They are consistent. Just expect one full grade lower when crossing to PSA/SGC.

You have to remember that the majority of BVG slabs were graded in a period of time when PSA/SGC also were grading easier. If you have an older label or cert # PSA slab, it may also grade 1 grade lower compared to current standards. Same thing with the older green label SGC slabs.

[YeahBuddy]

Originally Posted by KeltonB

And although not related to sports, they made another huge mistake in changing the CGC label.

Well had they have kept the blue label for Sports cards, I would not be sending sports to them. So while that may have pleased many poke-nerds ... it wouldn't me.

I preferred the CSG gold lettering on the slab with black label, but I can live with the CGC white lettering.

[Scottish Punk]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

You have to remember that the majority of BVG slabs were graded in a period of time when PSA/SGC also were grading easier. If you have an older label or cert # PSA slab, it may also grade 1 grade lower compared to current standards. Same thing with the older green label SGC slabs.

Yes, I have received a bump down in grade when crossing really old PSA labels to SGC. The recent 77 star wars SGC were all older green labels. I think old SGC aren't nearly the difference between old/new PSA. I will fully admit my sample size is small. Like I said, I have a few more green SGCs that I am going to see what CGC says about them. I still SGC grading, but if they are close and CGC is consistent, I can live it with fine. Modern stuff all seem fine, but some of that is real easy. You can put a 9, 9.5, or 10 and likely can justify the grade fine. And for most things, I don't really care about the difference since is miniscule in most cases.

I have been thinking about the preservation side of my collection more recently. It is no secret, that SGC slabs are pretty damn flimsy. They are not waterproof, which means I don't know how much humidty gets in to the case. I do my best of keeping them safe, but you never know. I can see if the slabs were dropped, the black insert could damage the card if it has defect or edge to it, as well as the slab cracking open. CGC slabs bring in the security of a BGS slab with the size of PSA slabs. The black label pretty much stolen from SGC's black label. So you get a bit of the best of all three.

[YeahBuddy]

Originally Posted by Scottish Punk

Yes, I have received a bump down in grade when crossing really old PSA labels to SGC. The recent 77 star wars SGC were all older green labels. I think old SGC aren't nearly the difference between old/new PSA. I will fully admit my sample size is small. Like I said, I have a few more green SGCs that I am going to see what CGC says about them. I still SGC grading, but if they are close and CGC is consistent, I can live it with fine. Modern stuff all seem fine, but some of that is real easy. You can put a 9, 9.5, or 10 and likely can justify the grade fine. And for most things, I don't really care about the difference since is miniscule in most cases.

I have been thinking about the preservation side of my collection more recently. It is no secret, that SGC slabs are pretty damn flimsy. They are not waterproof, which means I don't know how much humidty gets in to the case. I do my best of keeping them safe, but you never know. I can see if the slabs were dropped, the black insert could damage the card if it has defect or edge to it, as well as the slab cracking open. CGC slabs bring in the security of a BGS slab with the size of PSA slabs. The black label pretty much stolen from SGC's black label. So you get a bit of the best of all three.

SGC slabs can most definitely damage some cards. Some purposefully as I've seen some die cuts in them that rattle and hit edge that shouldnt be in those slabs. Then some damage by mistake as when I first used them in pandemic some of those black inserts the corner edge cuts basically needed sanding down as it was sharp.

Sure ONCE they are in your house and you arent shaking them much with movement you are fine, but those slabs shake in shipment and no way around that damage.

Seems they've gotten better on those jagged edges ... but its amazing that after all these years when they keep promising "BIG THINGS TO COME" they cant invest in keeping a "tux" look but modernizing their case for protection and also security.

[The_Reverend]

Originally Posted by TXRunner

After my first sub with them a few months ago, I do think that their slab is my favorite. That said, they are definitely a value killer in the modern sports world. I have been watching the prices of their slabs when it comes to vintage sports, and it seems like they are catching up to the values of the vintage SGC slabs. That is a plus. If we have SGC and CGC getting good value for vintage, that is great. That way you don't have to wait 6+ months for PSA to grade a vintage order.

I agree about the slabs and why my PC is primarily in CGC/CSG slabs. They have the clearest slabs for a very fair price. They have a great turnaround time, especially since nothing I send is time sensitive. PSA is my ROI company and it is not even close. CGC is my PC company and it is not even close.

[TXRunner]

Originally Posted by The_Reverend

I agree about the slabs and why my PC is primarily in CGC/CSG slabs. They have the clearest slabs for a very fair price. They have a great turnaround time, especially since nothing I send is time sensitive. PSA is my ROI company and it is not even close. CGC is my PC company and it is not even close.

I have been sorting through cards where they need to go to PSA for ROI purposes. But I have now also been creating a pile of cards to go to CGC. Either PC cards or cards where even in a CGC slab, there is added value to the card. Right now, I will take a slightly lower ROI for better customer service/quick turnaround.

[YeahBuddy]

Can a mod rename the thread to CGC and not CSG ?

[YeahBuddy]

the last stage of grading is such a death crawl. "Finalized" but takes forever.

[collective]

They need additional staffing on the quality control side

[TXRunner]

What's the current turnaround time for CSG looking like? I have an order of some 70's/early 80's sports cards that I was thinking of sending their way or to SGC depending on what processing times look like.

[YeahBuddy]

Originally Posted by TXRunner

What's the current turnaround time for CSG looking like? I have an order of some 70's/early 80's sports cards that I was thinking of sending their way or to SGC depending on what processing times look like.

Depends. is it for bulk service? I'd say expect at least 2 months on a mixed bulk. However if all vintage maybe quicker

Also I like their text message customer service.

As long as the left hand is talking to the right hand you could simply ask there.

855-472-3310

[TXRunner]

Originally Posted by YeahBuddy

Depends. is it for bulk service? I'd say expect at least 2 months on a mixed bulk. However if all vintage maybe quicker

Also I like their text message customer service.

As long as the left hand is talking to the right hand you could simply ask there.

855-472-3310

Text message customer service? That is a cool concept.