Player 3 has entered the chat. PSA to grade comics.20986

Originally Posted by sborock_ComicLink
Who are the experts? What do they know about restoration? What is their standing in our community? What are the prices/tiers? I think it was a lack luster 1st announcement....

They called me for advice and I had a 1 hour+ zoom call with them and gave them plenty of advice for free. Then I told them, that was free because I feel the need for a 3rd true grading service and I would be happy to help them, but time is money for me.

I said it would be a very nominal fee, but the lady I spoke to was very arrogant at the end of the meeting and said that she did not need me and could do it herself. Pretty dumb if ya ask me. Oh, well.

I hope that they do well for our amazing hobby. Just not sure the will. Time will tell....

Originally Posted by esaravo
For a company that has been around since 1991 and is considered to be the largest card grading company in the world, I have to say that I am not impressed. I don’t know who they talked to (besides Borock - very briefly according to Steve, and a YouTube influencer), but it doesn’t seem like they put a whole lot of research and effort into this. I can see wanting to keep a similar label as their cards, but they couldn’t come up with something more appealing than that?! As mentioned, the dimensions seem wrong, so their slabs won’t fit in standard sleeves or storage boxes. Are they going to make and sell those too for their own product? And why would you use a picture of an actual comic, but put false information on the label? Did their “experts” not know anything about Newsstand editions? Seems like a very amateurish mistake that doesn’t exactly fill you with confidence in their ability to get things right.
If they have as deep pockets as everyone is saying, then they will go ahead and try to be a major player in the comic and magazine grading market. I would expect growing pains, delays, and mistakes, but ultimately they will be judged by the prices the books in their slabs sell for. CGC has been grading comics since 2000, and they are still making mistakes. But because they were first, and have put so many books in slabs over that time period, they are practically bulletproof. Too many collectors, dealers, and spectators are too invested at this point in time that I don’t ever see them disappearing, or even giving up the #1 spot. CBCS has had many chances over the last few years to really cut into CGC’s share of the market, but unfortunately, even with a superior slab and probably more consistent grading, they remain a distant #2 (and seem to be okay with that). I thought Beckett would have really made a push when they purchased CBCS, but it seemed more like a whimper than a bang. No noticeable increase in advertising, no noticeable increase in special deals or sales, mostly business as usual (they did do away with memberships, changed the tiers, and raised prices on grading, pressing, and shipping plus insurance).
Competition is good for business. The presence of CBCS has at least put a little pressure on CGC. I wonder how they would have reacted to their numerous “issues” if there was no competition? Maybe PSA will put pressure on both of them to improve. I won’t even talk about PGX (formerly PGA World - anyone remember that label), because I don’t know anyone that would use them. The fact that they, and companies like EGS even exist, tells you that people will try out PSA. There’s definitely room for three comic grading companies. PSA has, or is about, to throw their hat in the ring. The question that we should be asking on this forum is - will CBCS remain content with being #2, or will they be okay if they become #3? Time will tell.

Originally Posted by sborock_ComicLink
Who are the experts? What do they know about restoration? What is their standing in our community? What are the prices/tiers? I think it was a lack luster 1st announcement....

They called me for advice and I had a 1 hour+ zoom call with them and gave them plenty of advice for free. Then I told them, that was free because I feel the need for a 3rd true grading service and I would be happy to help them, but time is money for me.

I said it would be a very nominal fee, but the lady I spoke to was very arrogant at the end of the meeting and said that she did not need me and could do it herself. Pretty dumb if ya ask me. Oh, well.

I hope that they do well for our amazing hobby. Just not sure the will. Time will tell....