BGS v.s. PSA v.s. other grading companies

[mjisaacs]

Which company do you prefer when grading your cards? What are some pros and cons of each company? Trying to decide which company to go with when grading my cards in the future and trying to get an idea of what other people use.

Mjisaacs

[RayquazaTCG]

PSA for resale
BGS if you are certain your card will get a 10 or black label

Just one guys opinion though

[pfm]

In Pokemon PSA and BGS are the only realistic option at this point in time. PSA definitely being the favoured of the two.

Based on my experience, I think the nuance behind the BGS grade really hurts BGS for cards that belong in a set. Having a BGS 9.5 set of cards with a bunch of mismatched subgrades is not as psychologically appealing as a straight PSA 10 set. So I think PSA will always be more popular for cards that are valuable as a set.

On the other hand, for cards that are popular even outside the context of a set (something like your 1st ed Charizards or certain goldstars, one-off japanese promos) I think BGS is a good choice.

[KingPokemon]

Good question but easy answer unless you have stock in BGS.
Since it’s nearly impossible to make accurate condition comparisons between company’s, for Pokemon you should stick to PSA. Mainly because they grade about 50times more Pokemon cards than Beckett’s.
Even if it’s just for your personal collection, if it’s good size, PSA is lighter and takes up less space. In my case that’s a big consideration;)

[mjisaacs]

@KingPokemon

Good question but easy answer unless you have stock in BGS.
Since it’s nearly impossible to make accurate condition comparisons between company’s, for Pokemon you should stick to PSA. Mainly because they grade about 50times more Pokemon cards than Beckett’s.
Even if it’s just for your personal collection, if it’s good size, PSA is lighter and takes up less space. In my case that’s a big consideration;)

I know you have the only 2 BGS Charizards based on the Leonhart vidéo so what made you buy those instead of more PSA 10 charizards?
Edit: That video is actually what sparked my interest in this conversation.
Mjisaacs

[cullers]

If you never sell any cards from your collection do whichever you feel looks most appealing, or the company you trust most.

If you have or ever will sell a card from your collection go with PSA. You’ll have a very difficult time reselling a BGS or other company. BGS is slightly easier than the others.

If you want the more accurate grade I wouldn’t do any company past PSA, BGS, and SGC. I don’t know enough about SGC so I won’t comment on them, but when comparing BGS and PSA I choose PSA. There’s many reasons for this, they have the most experience with Pokemon cards, they’re easier to sell and demand more money, they don’t accept trimmed cards, I find their website easier to navigate, and I like the uniformity of their label.

That doesn’t mean BGS isn’t without some advangates. BGS does have a major advantage in that they’ll grade foreign cards past base set, their case is thicker, they have a Prestine grade; which if you get it on a popular cards they tend to outsell PSA’s counterpart, and some people really like their subgrades.

[cinnaminhbun]

Grading conventions and liquidity aside, I personally just don’t like how the BGS label is not centered.

[cman]

@mjisaacs

@KingPokemon

Good question but easy answer unless you have stock in BGS.
Since it’s nearly impossible to make accurate condition comparisons between company’s, for Pokemon you should stick to PSA. Mainly because they grade about 50times more Pokemon cards than Beckett’s.
Even if it’s just for your personal collection, if it’s good size, PSA is lighter and takes up less space. In my case that’s a big consideration;)

I know you have the only 2 BGS Charizards based on the Leonhart vidéo so what made you buy those instead of more PSA 10 charizards?
Edit: That video is actually what sparked my interest in this conversation.
Mjisaacs

l m a o… so tru tho

To answer your original question, I’m not partial to PSA or BGS, but I like seeing a 10 vs. a 9.5 so if I don’t think the cards meet BGS 10 I’d send to PSA. And judging by the prices on eBay, no one likes a BGS 9.5 over a PSA 10, lol.

[KingPokemon]

@mjisaacs

@KingPokemon

Good question but easy answer unless you have stock in BGS.
Since it’s nearly impossible to make accurate condition comparisons between company’s, for Pokemon you should stick to PSA. Mainly because they grade about 50times more Pokemon cards than Beckett’s.
Even if it’s just for your personal collection, if it’s good size, PSA is lighter and takes up less space. In my case that’s a big consideration;)

I know you have the only 2 BGS Charizards based on the Leonhart vidéo so what made you buy those instead of more PSA 10 charizards?
Edit: That video is actually what sparked my interest in this conversation.
Mjisaacs

Because a BGS 10 doesn’t equate, or compare, to a PSA 10. Apples and oranges.

Plus, I didn’t buy them ‘instead’ of. I bought them ‘along with’.

[azulryu]

It’s strange, when comparing the two companies. I feel like PSA has overall the most experience, but due to how shoddy sometimes their 8 and 9’s can be, makes me feel “meh” about PSA if it’s not a 10 as I’m not sure exactly where a card will stand. Below 8, cards seem less consistent in grading with a varied pool to go by.

I like BGS for the “expert” appeal. I like the subgrading system, the cases have more weight and feel more official. It’s harder to get a BGS 10 over a PSA 10 for multiple reasons and a BGS 10 will ALWAYS be a PSA 10 whereas it’s not a guarantee the other way around.

If you want a collection of 10’s that you don’t plan to sell, I would go with BGS. For everything else, PSA.

[cman]

@azulryu

It’s strange, when comparing the two companies. I feel like PSA has overall the most experience, but due to how shoddy sometimes their 8 and 9’s can be, makes me feel “meh” about PSA if it’s not a 10 as I’m not sure exactly where a card will stand. Below 8, cards seem less consistent in grading with a varied pool to go by.

I like BGS for the “expert” appeal. I like the subgrading system, the cases have more weight and feel more official. It’s harder to get a BGS 10 over a PSA 10 for multiple reasons and a BGS 10 will ALWAYS be a PSA 10 whereas it’s not a guarantee the other way around.

If you want a collection of 10’s that you don’t plan to sell, I would go with BGS. For everything else, PSA.

I agree, but just to note, BGS 8s and 9s are very shoddy as well – more shoddy than PSA imo (although I also find PSA 8s and 9s to have a wide range still). I’ve always considered it to be BGS 10 → PSA 10 → BGS 9.5 → PSA 9… etc.

[azulryu]

@cman

@azulryu

It’s strange, when comparing the two companies. I feel like PSA has overall the most experience, but due to how shoddy sometimes their 8 and 9’s can be, makes me feel “meh” about PSA if it’s not a 10 as I’m not sure exactly where a card will stand. Below 8, cards seem less consistent in grading with a varied pool to go by.

I like BGS for the “expert” appeal. I like the subgrading system, the cases have more weight and feel more official. It’s harder to get a BGS 10 over a PSA 10 for multiple reasons and a BGS 10 will ALWAYS be a PSA 10 whereas it’s not a guarantee the other way around.

If you want a collection of 10’s that you don’t plan to sell, I would go with BGS. For everything else, PSA.

I agree, but just to note, BGS 8s and 9s are very shoddy as well – more shoddy than PSA imo (although I also find PSA 8s and 9s to have a wide range still). I’ve always considered it to be BGS 10 → PSA 10 → BGS 9.5 → PSA 9… etc.

That is an important note to point out, thank you for clarifying that for others.