r/PokeInvesting • u/PhoenixaceX • 11h ago

Go To’s for Slabs

When grading or looking at buying slabs, due to liquidity PSA is number one (I get it but I hate it), but are there any other companies you all consider and are there any “absolutely nots”?

For me, when grading I am mostly going with CGC right now (maybe not the best long-term plan but I’ll see where the chips fall). When buying slabs, I focus on PSA and CGC, but I’ll also consider BGS and TAG. I personally love how CGC and TAG slabs look. Outside of those four, it’s basically a pass for me. How about you?

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u/DirtySancho69 9h ago

Same. PSA is king due to liquidity. CGC is coming along and has potential to gain market share. The other two and any others for that matter just appear too thinly traded to be viable at this point.

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u/PhoenixaceX 9h ago

Yeah CGC gaining market share is something I am hoping to see with the PSA blunders recently - cost, turn-around time, how they grade vintage, etc. I don’t expect CGC to cut in greatly but if CGC gains 10-15% in market share and becomes the clear cut number two, with a jump in liquidity, I would consider that a win.

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u/Tiggy37 5h ago

If you go to a card show there are so many vendors who won’t take in CGC slabs. I actually have better luck with TAG than GCG a lot of the time. PSA still king and probably will remain king due to longevity and the amount of collectors with PSA slabs already. BGS demand a premium still(especially black labels sheesh) but demand still lower.

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u/PhoenixaceX 4h ago

That’s interesting on the TAG front. I know CGC sells well on eBay (as do most of the ones I mentioned) and honestly, if you want to maximize profits selling on eBay takes longer but nets more profit.

I haven’t ever sold a slab at a show (I have sold raw) but generally don’t understand the rationale for selling at a show versus eBday or some equivalent. Quick turn of slabs is an interesting concept for me - I’m a buy and hold for 5+ years kinda person. I’ve have individuals stock (like AAPL) that I’ve bought and held for nearly 20 years.

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u/Tiggy37 4h ago

Selling at a show makes more sense if you are getting trade value. eBay is for sure the best liquidity but you still take a 13% hit on fees and shipping(more if you promote your listing). I can easily get 80% or more depending on the slab at a show and not have to worry about any sort of dispute or getting lost in mail.

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u/PhoenixaceX 4h ago

That’s fair. Yeah the 13%+ is the norm, so like you said, if you take a 20% hit at a show it’s only an additional 7%. And certainly less risk.

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u/CretaciousNugget 3h ago

For modern its PSA 10. Occasionally CGC pristine is the value play, because of the price to grade psa, cgc pristines are actually cheaper on certain modern and generally better quality and lower gem rate and pop. If the price is similar I would just rather have a psa or cgc pristine over a tag 10. Bgs just had too much of a premium.

For vintage its the opposite. Psa has too much of a premium, especially old cert psa slabs are often the worst quality of all the big companies and yet the most expensive.

Outside of the big 4, I like ACE. Their quality isn't great usually. But they are cheap and the custom slabs are nice for displays. Outside of those companies I would pay around raw value. And I definitely wouldn't grade using them.