Which Card Grading Company Should YOU Use?
A comprehensive guide ranking eight card grading companies (PSA, CGC, SGC, TAG, Beckett, AGS, C3, and a wildcard sponsor) based on their value, specialization, and use cases. PSA is identified as the dominant market leader, while other companies excel in specific niches like Pokemon grading (TAG, AGS) or vintage sports cards (SGC).
Summary
The video addresses a frequently requested topic: which card grading company collectors should use. The speaker begins by referencing Gem Rate data showing PSA's overwhelming market dominance, followed by a ranking of eight grading companies.
C3 Grading is presented as a budget option at $9 per card with no tiers, suitable for collectors who want to protect cards for display rather than resale. However, the speaker notes that C3 slabs currently hold minimal resale value.
AGS is highlighted as an AI-powered grading company heavily focused on modern Pokemon, completing over one million cards. While offering quick 20-day turnarounds, AGS cards are valued similarly to raw or PSA 8 equivalents, making it unsuitable for high-end vintage cards.
Beckett, despite being a historic brand now owned by PSA, is experiencing declining market value relative to PSA-graded equivalents. The speaker notes a significant value gap (BGS 9 at $50K vs PSA 9 at $80K for first edition Charizards). However, Beckett Pristine remains exceptionally rare and valuable, potentially worth $1-2 million for premium cards like Michael Jordan rookies.
TAG is emerging as a disruptive force with innovative features like blind-bag shipping and QR code analytics. TAG 10s in Pokemon are rivaling PSA 10 values, though the company struggles in sports cards. The speaker toured their facilities and is impressed by their grading pods concept.
SGC is positioned as specialized for vintage baseball and basketball only, with slabs like 1952 Mantles and 1969 Chamberlains maintaining strong value. Modern Pokemon and sports cards should not be submitted to SGC.
The wildcard sponsor (Brian's company) offers premium display-quality slabs at $500, with plans to downscale pricing. The speaker appreciates the aesthetic quality and wall display options.
CGC, the number two company, has matched PSA's volume with one million cards monthly. While serviceable for all card types (vintage, modern, Pokemon, sports, signatures), the speaker criticizes the label design as having excessive dead space and cheap-looking typography. CGC offers competitive pricing ($17 bulk) but lacks the premium positioning of PSA.
PSA is crowned the clear winner and market leader. The speaker highlights PSA's registry apps, portfolio tracking features, and awards program that grants access to exclusive PSA dinners. PSA slabs command the highest prices at auction across all categories. The speaker acknowledges personal criticisms of PSA's management over the past decade but emphasizes market reality: PSA determines hobby value. He recommends submitting all cards to PSA for maximum monetary return, crossing BGS slabs to PSA, and viewing PSA as "the Dow Jones of the hobby."
Key Insights
- PSA completes approximately 3 million cards monthly while TAG completes roughly 50,000, creating a volume disparity of 60:1 despite TAG's competitive grading quality in Pokemon
- Beckett Pristine 10 labels are rumored to be issued approximately once per year per grader, making them exceptionally rare and potentially worth $1-2 million for elite cards like Michael Jordan rookies
- The value delta between Beckett and PSA grades is widening for the same cards (BGS 9 Charizard at $50K versus PSA 9 at $80K), indicating a systematic market preference shift away from Beckett
- TAG introduced a blind-bag shipping feature where customers receive graded cards without knowing the grade beforehand, creating novelty value and appeal particularly among younger collectors
- PSA's registry app enables barcode scanning to add cards in approximately 10-15 seconds each, and top registry holders receive invitations to exclusive PSA dinners featuring player signings
Topics
Transcript
[0:00] This is a request from many people. Probably the most commented thing. Can you please do a video on which grading company is the best? Which grading company should I use for what, which grades are more valuable across the cards? Well, you have come to the right place. Kick back. By the end of this, you're going to know where to send your cards, how to send them, where to get the most value. All right, so this is Gem Rate. You know, not everybody believes in this data, but this is a good place to start. If you don't follow them on IG, they are, you know, a good good follow. They tend to track the [0:32]…
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