HGA grading

[Dro133]

Originally Posted by TSonn

Just wanted to add, because I feel like I come across as an HGA hater when that's really not the case...

I was interested in HGA since they first launched and was in their first submission week back in Jan so I've been monitoring this whole time wanting to believe in their whole system. I just haven't liked the decisions and direction they've chosen which seems to be prioritizing custom labels over the actual grading process since there's been zero updates on grading and a ton of updates on custom labels. They honestly haven't done me wrong at all and actually reimbursed me when I pointed out a card was given the wrong overall grade based on the subs which was super cool.

I've overall had a positive experience with them but IMO I think they'd be better off just taking the grading out of the process and doing custom labels - that seems to be what a majority of their customer base cares about anyway. They'd be the only company out there doing high quality slabs with custom labels as opposed to trying to fight the PSA/BGS grading system.

My only doubt would be that HGA does seem, at least to some extent, be filling that hole of relatively cheap and relatively quick grading now that PSA and BGS are overwhelmed, and the re-sale value on their slabs is high enough that flippers will keep sending in their cards to be graded. Until that stops, I don't see why HGA would be incentivized to stop providing grading services.

The other benefit to being a grading company IMO is that it provides more security. Anybody can be a labeling company -- I could buy a printer and a photoshop license and start making my own slabs, but not everybody can be a grading company. If HGA stopped grading, what would set them apart from other companies popping up to do labeling?

Ultimately I agree with you and I'd also like them to become a labeling only company. I would definitely send in some PC items. I just don't see the incentive for them to do that, unless public opinion on their grading quality shifts to the point where the grade no longer provides any meaningful added value to the card.

[Cards and 401K]

The average collector buys the player he/she likes, w/accurate grading in a nice slab: appeals to the masses, most of us on this forum are a bit more sophisticated regarding grading/TPG's in general. The end purchaser: EG collectors always have the final say so. The successful companies always improve by listening to customer feedback and continue to improve the process/methods. That is why I like HGA as a second resource for grading at this point.

[HalfNipponese]

I know HGA is not to everyone's tastes but the market has spoken. HGA has firmly been accepted as a legitimate grader. PWCC will list them and COMC will be accepting them in the future. The biggest players in the collecting game have identified there is money to be made on their slabs.

I never thought I'd see the day but PSA 9's no longer carry a premium on HGA. In fact, it seems as though HGA 9's are the cards carrying the premium.

I'm still firm on a PSA 10 over a HGA 9.5 but from 9 down, I'm redirecting all my cards to HGA going forward. They just move faster for more money.

What sucks is that I have hundreds of cards sitting a PSA that I'm going to be dealing with. It looks like 10's will be far more rare in the future.

[shondamon]

My 30 days was on 4/28 which was confirmed by email. Now it’s 5/3 and still haven’t heard anything. Damn HGA

[imbluestreak23]

When will they accept a bulk order from me of 200 or more?

[salthill]

Originally Posted by shondamon

My 30 days was on 4/28 which was confirmed by email. Now it’s 5/3 and still haven’t heard anything. Damn HGA

Look, “Where 10 Days Means 10 Days” obviously doesn’t mean “where 30 days means 30 days”. I mean they’re completely different numbers of days to start…

[BeefSupreme]

Originally Posted by shondamon

My 30 days was on 4/28 which was confirmed by email. Now it’s 5/3 and still haven’t heard anything. Damn HGA

Ugh, my 30 days is up on 5/5, I guess I shouldn't be expecting them this week...

[Cards and 401K]

maybe scale back down to 2,500 cards a week?

[thewesdub]

Sent two orders totaling 31 cards on 60 day service.

Lot 1 arrived Feb 23
Lot 2 arrived March 3 (TX winter storm delay)

At the end of march I started sending emails asking for confirmation that they were delivered. They acknowledged receiving both orders on April 7.

Each order is scheduled for shipping on 5/21 and 5/27, respectively. They claim this is inside of their 60 day turnaround time.

[acumm11]

Originally Posted by thewesdub

Sent two orders totaling 31 cards on 60 day service.

Lot 1 arrived Feb 23
Lot 2 arrived March 3 (TX winter storm delay)

At the end of march I started sending emails asking for confirmation that they were delivered. They acknowledged receiving both orders on April 7.

Each order is scheduled for shipping on 5/21 and 5/27, respectively. They claim this is inside of their 60 day turnaround time.

It is business days. If they are shipped on those two days that would be pretty close to the 60 business days. I’m counting May 18th for Lot 1 and May 25th for Lot 2. Somewhere around there.

[Woodsy074]

Are they still printing labels at the local 24 hour photo and gluing their slabs together?

[thewesdub]

Originally Posted by acumm11

It is business days. If they are shipped on those two days that would be pretty close to the 60 business days. I’m counting May 18th for Lot 1 and May 25th for Lot 2. Somewhere around there.

I should've edited that part out since it sounded more accusatory than I meant to be...

[Cards and 401K]

Originally Posted by Woodsy074

Are they still printing labels at the local 24 hour photo and gluing their slabs together?

Think they are using the Johnny Carson: "Hermetically" sealed but can't verify.

[acumm11]

Originally Posted by thewesdub

I should've edited that part out since it sounded more accusatory than I meant to be...

Whether or not it is shipped during that time will be the real question.

[SupermanBrandon]

Their slogan should be:

"Where 60 days means...60'ish business days, after we check in your cards that have been in our possession for 30 actual days."

[Kuch86]

Originally Posted by HalfNipponese

I know HGA is not to everyone's tastes but the market has spoken. HGA has firmly been accepted as a legitimate grader. PWCC will list them and COMC will be accepting them in the future. The biggest players in the collecting game have identified there is money to be made on their slabs.

I never thought I'd see the day but PSA 9's no longer carry a premium on HGA. In fact, it seems as though HGA 9's are the cards carrying the premium.

I'm still firm on a PSA 10 over a HGA 9.5 but from 9 down, I'm redirecting all my cards to HGA going forward. They just move faster for more money.

What sucks is that I have hundreds of cards sitting a PSA that I'm going to be dealing with. It looks like 10's will be far more rare in the future.

You are doing a great job of shilling

It's a brand new company with a very low number of slabs out there. No question there is interest due to the labels.

They still have yet (to my knowledge) demonstrated their "AI" objective grading. That alone gives them no legitimate grader status. They make cute looking slabs and that's about it at this point. Companies like PWCC are selling them because people want to buy them at the moment. It's simple business.

The day they are regularly grading 6 figure high end cards (after they have demonstrated their "AI") will be the day they are considered a legitimate grader.

[Woodsy074]

Originally Posted by Kuch86

You are doing a great job of shilling

It's a brand new company with a very low number of slabs out there. No question there is interest due to the labels.

They still have yet (to my knowledge) demonstrated their "AI" objective grading. That alone gives them no legitimate grader status. They make cute looking slabs and that's about it at this point. Companies like PWCC are selling them because people want to buy them at the moment. It's simple business.

The day they are regularly grading 6 figure high end cards (after they have demonstrated their "AI") will be the day they are considered a legitimate grader.

They can start by introducing some security to their slabs first. Anyone with a commercial photo printer, scissors and double-sided tape can reproduce their label (Full disclaimer, I'm relying on the earlier post of someone who cracked a HGA slab and posted the pictures). Its only a matter of time till fake slabs are found on the market which will tank the values of all HGA slabs. I imagine the hardest part is getting someone to knock off the two pieces of plastic that need to be glued together which probably isn't that hard if you know what you are doing. Once they fix this, then they can start to be in the discussion as to whether or not they are legitimate.

[Cards and 401K]

In, paid, done... another 5 card order.. happy to send my cards to HGA!! One of 1st groups in lotto today.

[The_Reverend]

Originally Posted by Kuch86

You are doing a great job of shilling

It's a brand new company with a very low number of slabs out there. No question there is interest due to the labels.

They still have yet (to my knowledge) demonstrated their "AI" objective grading. That alone gives them no legitimate grader status. They make cute looking slabs and that's about it at this point. Companies like PWCC are selling them because people want to buy them at the moment. It's simple business.

The day they are regularly grading 6 figure high end cards (after they have demonstrated their "AI") will be the day they are considered a legitimate grader.

Totally agree about HGA and their small number of slabs out there. They are not on the same level as PSA in 10 or their PSA 9 vs HGA 9. Lots of shilling I suspect and the slabs cannot stand alone. If they could people would not put PSA I. Their listing.

Again PC cool slab but I will never own one. If I am going to grade cards I want too ROI and PSA is king. Oh I don’t cRe about the wait because I am grading modern cards and not big population ultra modern currently.

[shondamon]

My order shipped today finally

[HalfNipponese]

Originally Posted by Kuch86

You are doing a great job of shilling

It's a brand new company with a very low number of slabs out there. No question there is interest due to the labels.

They still have yet (to my knowledge) demonstrated their "AI" objective grading. That alone gives them no legitimate grader status. They make cute looking slabs and that's about it at this point. Companies like PWCC are selling them because people want to buy them at the moment. It's simple business.

The day they are regularly grading 6 figure high end cards (after they have demonstrated their "AI") will be the day they are considered a legitimate grader.

Go to a local card show and look at the tables. HGA cards are all over the place. Ask the dealer the price and see what they are quoting. The market is paying a premium for the slabs.

My friends would call me a PSA fanboy 6 months ago but I’ve come around. Holding one in person is what changed me. The grading appears accurate and the slab is of way higher quality. Epoxy seal is of much higher durability than a sonic weld.

PSA 10 will always be my go to though.

[PepperDean]

Originally Posted by imbluestreak23

When will they accept a bulk order from me of 200 or more?

Honestly given the inaccuracy of their grading and shoddiness of their work I'm surprised they aren't already. They could have a random number generator assign grades and it would be just as accurate, and far quicker.

Then again, the process would probably still be slowed when they Elmer's glue the two label halves together, so until they can find a way to speed that up, I think you'll have to wait.

[PLB9eight]

Originally Posted by HalfNipponese

Go to a local card show and look at the tables. HGA cards are all over the place. Ask the dealer the price and see what they are quoting. The market is paying a premium for the slabs.

My friends would call me a PSA fanboy 6 months ago but I’ve come around. Holding one in person is what changed me. The grading appears accurate and the slab is of way higher quality. Epoxy seal is of much higher durability than a sonic weld.

PSA 10 will always be my go to though.

I have doubts whether epoxy is more durable than weld. Anything to back that up or just how it feels?


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[PepperDean]

Originally Posted by HalfNipponese

Go to a local card show and look at the tables. HGA cards are all over the place. Ask the dealer the price and see what they are quoting. The market is paying a premium for the slabs.

My friends would call me a PSA fanboy 6 months ago but I’ve come around. Holding one in person is what changed me. The grading appears accurate and the slab is of way higher quality. Epoxy seal is of much higher durability than a sonic weld.

PSA 10 will always be my go to though.

I was just at the Miami Courtside Show (a massive show) and didn't see a single HGA slab. Granted, the cards at the show were predominantly high dollar cards, which nobody is sending to HGA.

[salthill]

Originally Posted by HalfNipponese

Epoxy seal is of much higher durability than a sonic weld.

Purpose of the seal is to be tamper-evident, not tamper-proof.