KSA - Canadian card grading company

[Melagoo]

https://www.ksagrading.com/

I want to grade some cards and being in Canada sending them to the USA is really expensive ... I wondered if anyone in Canada uses KSA ... or has advise on the best way to grade if you are NOT in the States ...

[RL 1953]

ksa probably will not bring much of a premium to u.s. buyers.
but that can change eventually when / if more ksa graded cards hit the market, and if ksa builds its reputation in the u.s. to be a trusted grading company.

[Melagoo]

Originally Posted by RL 1953

ksa probably will not bring much of a premium to u.s. buyers.
but that can change eventually when / if more ksa graded cards hit the market, and if ksa builds its reputation in the u.s. to be a trusted grading company.

... I'm thinking with all the cheats and scandals at Beckett and PSA they may be to go to place ...

[Beavers98]

I've found the few I've come across to be pretty solid examples of the cards. Not inflated grading at all. Looks as good as anyone else imo.

[Melagoo]

Originally Posted by Beavers98

I've found the few I've come across to be pretty solid examples of the cards. Not inflated grading at all. Looks as good as anyone else imo.

they have a deal on right now 10 cards for $120 CND

[StrongandFree86]

Never used KSA but MNT Grading is a newer Canadian company that I used a few times after getting free 30 day grading tickets. Overall a good experience with them but similar to KSA would be basically unknown to the U.S. market and probably wouldn't affect resale value much.
https://mntgrading.com/

[Melagoo]

Originally Posted by StrongandFree86

Never used KSA but MNT Grading is a newer Canadian company that I used a few times after getting free 30 day grading tickets. Overall a good experience with them but similar to KSA would be basically unknown to the U.S. market and probably wouldn't affect resale value much.
https://mntgrading.com/

first I've heard of these guys ... looks like a Brampton, ON based company ... Do you have any MNT graded cards I can see ...

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Melagoo

first I've heard of these guys ... looks like a Brampton, ON based company ... Do you have any MNT graded cards I can see ...

There's hundreds on eBay. They have nice looking slabs IMO and do subgrades as well.

[Melagoo]

Originally Posted by Inferno

There's hundreds on eBay. They have nice looking slabs IMO and do subgrades as well.

... Thank You ...

[vlad4040]

I've used KSA and they are tough on vintage cards. For hockey, you'd think they've seen lots of cards, so reputable in terms of knowing fakes/doctored.

I'd like to try MNT, but haven't seen any examples of older stuff graded on eBay.

Anyone else have experience with MNT?

[Topsun]

If you’re looking to get a card graded a 10 at MNT you’ve got a 1% chance...just check out their pop report...

[CanadianKid]

KSA is great, question to ask yourself...

Do I want added value or a graded card/slab for the collection at an affordable price.

I know lots of guys here who use them, no issues and proper grades.

[CardsComicsGuy]

Originally Posted by vlad4040

I've used KSA and they are tough on vintage cards. For hockey, you'd think they've seen lots of cards, so reputable in terms of knowing fakes/doctored.

I'd like to try MNT, but haven't seen any examples of older stuff graded on eBay.

Anyone else have experience with MNT?

MNT is excellent. I've sent about 250 cards to them after giving them a trial run. Their cases are superior to PSA, very similar to Beckett. They do have sub-grades. Turnaround time has been hampered from the pandemic. The grading is CONSISTENT and I have not disagreed with the grades I received in my trail run with them. This is very important!!! I will never use PSA or Beckett again. I know people say that the US market doesn't recognize it but they will eventually get more market share. It takes time. I believe they have been around for about 4 years total at this point but they are gaining traction recently due to the long delays with PSA and Beckett. More competition in the industry is better for the consumer. They need to remain consistent with grading and turnaround times. This will be the make or break for them to survive but they have all the right components at this point to be superior in so many ways. If they start falling behind on turnaround times and slip up on their product they will fail just as CGC trading card grading is failing.

[DoubleD]

People say it takes time for them to get a presence in the graded card world, they are wrong. KSA have been around more than 20 years and they still are not recognized. The vast majority of collectors is in the US and they are not interested in a Canadian card grading company. Years ago I bought a KSA9 1994 SP Alex Rodriguez rookie and a KSA9 1995 Bowman’s Best Vladimir Guerrero rookie. Cracked both and sent to PSA both came back as 8’s. I think they overgrade to get and keep customers. I would not waste my time and money with them.

[OPChockey]

Originally Posted by DoubleD

People say it takes time for them to get a presence in the graded card world, they are wrong. KSA have been around more than 20 years and they still are not recognized. The vast majority of collectors is in the US and they are not interested in a Canadian card grading company. Years ago I bought a KSA9 1994 SP Alex Rodriguez rookie and a KSA9 1995 Bowman’s Best Vladimir Guerrero rookie. Cracked both and sent to PSA both came back as 8’s. I think they overgrade to get and keep customers. I would not waste my time and money with them.

This^^.
I really tried to give KSA a chance, and bought more than a dozen low cost Gem mint or near Gem Mint cards, mostly 10s. When I inspect them closely, I see flaws such as a small surface crease, or soft corners with touches. I had one that I cracked and noticed a stain on it - a gem mint KSA 10 with a smudge or stain on the front left edge on the white border. Such an eyesore that couldn't be seen in the scan from the original seller. That left a bad taste and I don't buy them anymore. To be fair, I find both PSA and KSA are way too lenient on centering. Once your up at 9.5 or 10, or even a 9, there should be very little slanting or skewered misalignment for a card. I won't touch KSA unless the price is rock bottom or on par with raw equivalents.
I don't go slumming with KSA.

[vlad4040]

I got cards graded by KSA about 15-16 years ago, and found them to be very strict. Best I got on modern cards were 9s. And my vintage stuff was 6-7s.

Not disputing what is being said here. Just what my experience was. Looking at KSA graded cards on eBay currently, I see 9s that aren't that centered.

[htn315]

Originally Posted by vlad4040

I got cards graded by KSA about 15-16 years ago, and found them to be very strict. Best I got on modern cards were 9s. And my vintage stuff was 6-7s.

Not disputing what is being said here. Just what my experience was. Looking at KSA graded cards on eBay currently, I see 9s that aren't that centered.

It's like every other company, you get a strict grader you get low grades, you get an easy grader you get high grades but everything in a KSA slab sells for a grade less or worse then the PSA slab so everybody that's trying to save $10-20 on the front end is just losing hundreds on the back end when they try to sell, so grading with KSA or MNT is just a waste of money until they get the same recognition as PSA or BGS which will likely never happen.

[Kfoj]

Would you trust buying a vintage card with a KSA slab on it as it being authentic?

[zeus22]

Originally Posted by Kfoj

Would you trust buying a vintage card with a KSA slab on it as it being authentic?

Authentic? Sure.
Trimmed or altered in some way? Very possible

[i4gotmyid]

Originally Posted by zeus22

Authentic? Sure.
Trimmed or altered in some way? Very possible

Authentic/Trimmed/Altered to who?

I sent in three KSA cracks from 1976-1979 (not sure how vintage you want to go) and they came back graded from PSA

I had two BGS cracks that came back Minsize and Evidence of Trim by PSA (will probably resend when its cheap enough), so its not like one brand is better or worse

People act like there is some absolute truth to grading when there really isnt, its just one person's opinion on one particular day.

But I will say, I'm not sure I would buy a card online if you are looking to crack out and resub no matter the brand. There are too many variables that do not show up in a picture.

Also as far as overgrading, there was a story going around that one of KSA's branches did grades cards easier, but that was supposedly corrected once it was found out.

[wrosy313]

Headed up to the Toronto Expo this weekend and was curious about anyone’s experience crossing over KSA 79 Gretzky cards. They seem to have graded more than a few, and the copies I have seen on eBay appear to be comparable to PSA / BGS, but haven’t ever tried to cross one over.


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[vincecarder]

Originally Posted by wrosy313

Headed up to the Toronto Expo this weekend and was curious about anyone’s experience crossing over KSA 79 Gretzky cards. They seem to have graded more than a few, and the copies I have seen on eBay appear to be comparable to PSA / BGS, but haven’t ever tried to cross one over.
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PSA is grading onsite at expo, crack the card out of the KSA holder before submitting. KSA is very hit & miss with crossovers with high % coming back 2-4 grades lower than original grade. More of the bigger dealers use KSA for their reject PSA cards.

[wrosy313]

Originally Posted by vincecarder

PSA is grading onsite at expo, crack the card out of the KSA holder before submitting. KSA is very hit & miss with crossovers with high % coming back 2-4 grades lower than original grade. More of the bigger dealers use KSA for their reject PSA cards.

That’s an interesting perspective.

I spoke to about 10 dealers about it and there were more than a few stories that people shared (positive and negative). The prevailing story was “it depends” - and there was an ownership change a few years back and the newer slabs are more consistent than the older slabs.

FWIW, just based upon the quantity that they grade (1979 Gretzky), I felt comfortable buying one (on eBay not the show); feel like I got a great deal especially after seeing prices at the Expo.




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[RufussCkingston]

Would like to think it wouldn't get less than a PSA 7

[wrosy313]

Originally Posted by RufussCkingston

Would like to think it wouldn't get less than a PSA 7

Yeah, that would be great. Seeing in person will be the true test.


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