GRADING COMPANIES ARE TECH GIANTS
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PSA, SGC, BGS: Judging Sports Cards, Tech Style
Today, we’re diving into the big three sports card grading companies and drawing a little comparison between them and the tech giants of the workplace world. Why? Because who doesn’t want to know why PSA is the Microsoft Office of sports cards?
Stick around—it’s going to be part informative, part opinionated, and 100% likely to attract comment section trolls. Let’s break it down:
PSA: The Microsoft Office of Grading
Let’s talk PSA, the reigning king of sports card grading. According to October’s numbers from @GEMRATE, PSA graded a staggering 888,000 sports cards—blowing away the competition by a cool 730K.
If PSA were a tech company, it’d be Microsoft Office. Think Word, Excel, and PowerPoint—the classic, reliable tools your mom still uses to write letters to the editor. PSA is the standard, the default. New to grading? Odds are someone’s already whispered in your ear, “Go with PSA.”
But, like all royalty, PSA has its quirks: delays, frustrating communication, and the “we’re doing you a favor by existing” vibe. Kind of like that high school crush who’d let you buy her caramel frappes but wouldn’t go to prom with you. Is it worth it? That’s your call.
SGC: The Google Workspace of Grading
Next up, SGC—the sleek and savvy underdog climbing the ladder like a gamer nailing that Mario cloud vine. If PSA is Word, SGC is Google Docs. They’re all about speed, accuracy, and their signature tuxedo cases.
They’re perfect for the modern collector who doesn’t have time to wait for PSA to acknowledge their existence. Fast, user-friendly, and approachable, SGC has gained traction as a go-to for both vintage diehards and modern flippers. Bonus points for those “buy it now” steals on the secondary market.
BGS: The Apple Pages of Grading
Ah, Beckett (BGS). Once the giant of the industry, BGS is like Apple Pages—beautiful, sturdy, and just a little out of touch. Sure, they’ve got those glorious Black Labels, but innovation? Not so much. In October, BGS graded just 26,000 sports cards—falling behind even CGC in sports. Ouch.
They’re the Russell Westbrook of grading: still capable of highlight moments but with more issues than a Jay-Z song.
The Takeaway
If I had to pick, I’d go with SGC for the tuxedo cases and lightning-fast turnaround. But here’s the real PSA—no, not that PSA: It’s about the card, not the case.
Flippers, chase those PSA 10s for top dollar. But collectors? Consider snagging that same quality card in an SGC slab at a lower price. It’s your cardboard, your call.
Stay tuned for more takes, tips, and spicy analogies. Until next time: keep your cards clean, your slabs safe, and your grades better than a 7. Hit follow or subscribe, and let’s keep collecting cool.
Y’all be kind and never stop collecting!✌️
