It has always been the aspiration of any collector to get a hold of their dream card. Whether it’s a 2003 Topps Chrome LeBron James or the grail itself, a 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan, nothing can quite compare to seeing that one card you’ve been chasing for forever right on the palm of your hands.
But do you know how to top that experience? It’s by getting your chase card graded and getting a pristine 10 in return. If this is what you’re after, there are only two options you should consider – PSA and BGS. Of the two, which is the better option for your card grading needs?
The grading process
In essence, getting a card graded means assessing it to determine the appropriate condition. Grading companies would usually check the card’s corners, surface, edges and centering for any defect or issues. Once the assessment is done, a grade will be handed out with 10 being the highest. The card will then be encased within a slab containing the grade to preserve its condition.
To make this happen, customers would have to send their cards over to a grading company. Depending on the card’s value and the kind of service chosen, the process itself would take more than six months to a couple of weeks. Once the cards have been graded, they will be safely shipped back to their owners.
Collectors sport this process to increase the value of their key cards while preserving them in good condition. In turn, they will command a higher price when sold in the market, especially if these cards obtain a grade of 9 or higher.
Why go for PSA
Without a doubt, PSA is the biggest name when it comes to grading and authentication services. Collectors have flocked to this company to have their respective cards graded. One good reason for this trend is because a PSA-graded card, more often than not, sells higher than its BGS counterpart.
Let’s take a look at one of the hottest cards in the market–Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic’s 2018 Prizm base rookie card. A PSA 10 of this card was last sold on eBay for $1,350. Meanwhile, a BGS 9.5, which is widely considered as its direct competitor, only goes for $900 recently. That’s a $450-difference PSA fans enjoy over those who opted for BGS. It’s also a trend that’s prevalent in other sports card markets.
BGS vs PSA? The numbers don’t lie. pic.twitter.com/QrdLyigqPM
— Dave Guido (@Devoguido) April 20, 2018
Of course, getting a pristine 10 is the best-case scenario when choosing BGS. A Doncic Prizm rookie card with that kind of grade was recently sold on eBay for $8,950. The thing is, it’s pretty hard to get that grade from BGS while it’s a little easier with PSA. The same goes for buying a graded 10 card as well, with PSA coming out on top of BGS.
Why go for BGS
While PSA gets the lion’s share from consumers, Beckett Grading Services is no slouch in the grading industry either. This company has two advantages over its main competitor: a better-looking label and a faster turnaround time.
Most BGS slabs sport a multi-detail label at the top. It primarily features the card’s overall grade with different subgrades on the side. This helps the card owner determine how card’s condition and its flaws, if there are any. Meanwhile, PSA’s slab label is seen as lacking when compared to BGS’s more appealing design.
Another reason to go for BGS is their faster turnaround time. Since a lot of people are sending their cards over to PSA, a massive backlog will form in the process. This problem makes PSA notorious for going over the promised schedule to send back graded cards to their owners.
Justin, most people are probably going to tell you to send them into PSA, but I actually prefer BGS when I send in cards. Faster turn around, and they do half grades and sub grades. I just sold a Brady Autographics rookie and got an extra 10% because I had higher sub grades
— Mr Winter Beard (@MrWinterBeard1) February 1, 2021
BGS, on the other hand, is a bit faster than PSA in this regard. Do keep in mind that the recent surge of popularity of cards has bludgeoned the capability of both companies to get the job done within a reasonable amount of time. You can expect some delays when sending your cards to either company to have them graded.
The verdict?
Having a good-looking slab in your hands at the fastest time possible is certainly a welcome development. But at the end of the day, it’s always the slab’s value that will reign supreme for collectors and investors alike. In this regard, PSA wins.
But of course, the final decision still lies on the card owner. What’s important is getting the best service possible from either grading company in a manner that will yield a satisfying outcome in the end.
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