Discussion/Feedback/Suggestions all things BGS/Beckett

[uminnesota]

Discussion/Feedback/Suggestions all things with Beckett Grading.

[The_Reverend]

BGS, being the only company of the big 4 with sub-grades, could do themselves a lot of good to improve their turnaround time. They have one of the most professional looking labels and although some hate them, I like the sealed plastic sleeve (waterproof). They would get so much business and their slab would escalate in value with a return to 10/10/10 or more realistic 15/15/15 promotion. They need to want to compete in the grading space, meaning improved technology, customer service and make a decision on their grading system and stick to it, even if it is the same one now.

[larry25]

Originally Posted by The_Reverend

BGS, being the only company of the big 4 with sub-grades, could do themselves a lot of good to improve their turnaround time. They have one of the most professional looking labels and although some hate them, I like the sealed plastic sleeve (waterproof). They would get so much business and their slab would escalate in value with a return to 10/10/10 or more realistic 15/15/15 promotion. They need to want to compete in the grading space, meaning improved technology, customer service and make a decision on their grading system and stick to it, even if it is the same one now.

I like their holder, too, but I collect a lot of vintage non-sports and misc. sports, etc., and that sealed plastic sleave is a total death sentence to almost all vintage soccer and the like that are printed on thinner card stock. They could be a major player in that scene, but almost every single one of my vintage soccer cards in a BGS holder is wavy because of that thing. It's a seriously easy fix, just a little sturdy plastic insert like PSA and SGC use, but this has been going on for years now, and they don't seem to care.

[varjakpaul]

Originally Posted by larry25

I like their holder, too, but I collect a lot of vintage non-sports and misc. sports, etc., and that sealed plastic sleave is a total death sentence to almost all vintage soccer and the like that are printed on thinner card stock. They could be a major player in that scene, but almost every single one of my vintage soccer cards in a BGS holder is wavy because of that thing. It's a seriously easy fix, just a little sturdy plastic insert like PSA and SGC use, but this has been going on for years now, and they don't seem to care.

Would love to see some examples of this issue - I've never noticed it before!

[KGD54]

I think Beckett does not want to be a major player in the grading game. They are 4th in grading volume according to Gem Rate. They are not competitive in turn around times and their pricing is not better than anyone elses. The standard turn around time is 10-20 days which is good but thats for $40 a card, meanwhile PSA value is also $40 and 20 days.
I would much rather pay $15 a card for SGC and get the cards back in two weeks compared to BGS bulk at $18 a card with 60+ business days. SGC has amazing customer service while I have not heard anything positive about BGS.
If BGS were able to compete with SGC I would certainly submit to BGS but they are not close to SGC in many categories or even CSG as well.

[rnocards]

Their customer service turnaround time is just not very good. I sent them a few questions to a potential order, but they never responded. It almost felt like they didn't want my business.

Their slabs are thicker than what I would like. I prefer PSA's thinner slabs. Even when I'm cracking BGS slabs for various reasons, I hate doing it, because it's much harder to crack.

I'm not aware of their latest security features, but I think it is much inferior to PSA's Lighthouse & Fusion ink tech security feature. I especially like it when I'm shinning blacklight on the PSA label, as one way to verify a label's authenticity. I just can't do that with BGS at this time.

There are probably a few other negative reasons, but there are also positive reasons. One such reason is the BGS interior sealed sleave, which I like, because it better protects a card and prevents it from moving inside the slab.

I also like the BGS subgrades, and the potential for a card to not only Gem Mint, but go beyond that, and possibly end up in the very rare status of a Pristine Black Label.

[KhalDrogo]

BGS does not read the boards and does not care about your feedback.

PSA actually does have a few employees who read here and will connect you with the right person to address your issue.

[anusinha]

BGS might as well be a front for some Mafia/Drug Cartel money laundering business, theyve done absolutely nothing on the grading cards front in years.

[vonhayes]

How to fix Beckett (2024 edition) :

1. No extra charges! $15 for regular subgrades w/ or w/o auto grade.
2. Keep the font size consistent on labels
3. Run a fun grading promotion ONCE.
4. Make all Beckett online price guides free OR do a SMALL ($50) yearly membership for grading discounts and get access to the guide.
5. Instruct graders to chill out when grading 90s hockey cards.
6. Make BGS grading available on COMC
7. Adapt a more transparent and competitive shipping fee schedule (see CGC website)
8. Bulk discounts for 25+ card orders directly through company

Sadly, it’s hard to argue with the posters above who suggest Beckett just doesn’t want to be a top grading company anymore. At least they seem to be taking VHS tapes seriously. Can’t wait to get my Howard the Duck Clear Cut Special Anniversary Edition slabbed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

BGS does not read the boards and does not care about your feedback.

PSA actually does have a few employees who read here and will connect you with the right person to address your issue.

Maybe some of these PSA employees reading could lend a hand on the phones with customer support.

[Cards and 401K]

Is Card review worth it? May drop a couple cards off in a person b/c they are 30 minutes away. Hopefully someone acquires them. The lawsuits last few years have not helped either…


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rnocards]

If BGS can be acquired by CGC, that would be good for the market. We would have 3 solid grader options... PSA, SGC, and now the bigger CGC.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

Maybe some of these PSA employees reading could lend a hand on the phones with customer support.

I think that’s how all great companies are run. Take the employees doing the jobs that only they can do, and have them do the job anyone can do.

[Baraka]

Grading times and grading strictness are their weaknesses to me.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

I think that’s how all great companies are run. Take the employees doing the jobs that only they can do, and have them do the job anyone can do.

Like monitoring message boards?

[jplarson]

Pro: I like the slabs, flips, inner sleeve, subgrades, and generally decent standards. I also appreciate the lack of up charging as I don't sell cards I get graded. The registry is fine but they really don't do anything to promote or innovate with it. I have the sense that if they hadn't worked to get it out when they did, it wouldn't have been something they would have ever released.

Con: I don't like the pricing, turnaround times, and lack of transparency in the process from arrival to shipping. They give the impression of running based on name recognition alone (which isn't growing) and don't put in any extra effort in new development or engagement.

They sent out a survey last year and as far as I can tell nothing tangible has changed unless somehow the majority of people were fine with the status quo. I'm actively grading with both PSA and BGS but BGS would have had 100% of my business if they were actively in reducing the items on my Con list.

[6celtics33]

Originally Posted by Baraka

Grading times and grading strictness are their weaknesses to me.

Do you think they are too strict or not enough?

[Baraka]

Originally Posted by 6celtics33

Do you think they are too strict or not enough?

Too strict.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

Like monitoring message boards?

There are PSA employees here who have been members long before they became PSA employees.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

There are PSA employees here who have been members long before they became PSA employees.

That's good to know. Who have they helped on this forum?

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

That's good to know. Who have they helped on this forum?

Yours truly, at minimum. It was probably my sig that got it done.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

Yours truly, at minimum. It was probably my sig that got it done.

[bsavidge83]

I think they need to realize they are no longer competing with PSA. They used to of course, but not anymore. They are competing with SGC, who is blowing them out of the water on turnaround time. They need to figure out TAT, eat some humble pie, and offer $12 grading for one month TAT. Right the ship. Then maybe they can get away with $20/$25 dollars for 14 day service. I still think their brand name has value but it is eroding every single day.

On a side note I think they should lose the silver flip on 9 and below. Just stick with one color. It further degrades their 9s, and from a business standpoint ordering two flips instead of 1 has to be more costly and time consuming.

[rnocards]

gemrate.com shows how far Beckett has fallen.

They don't seem to be any longer a competition threat. PSA is in a class of its own. SGC and CGC are competing with each other to see who will come out as the dominant #2.

Beckett is in last place, and practically irrelevant at this time. They need to do something to right that ship.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by rnocards

gemrate.com shows how far Beckett has fallen.

They don't seem to be any longer a competition threat. PSA is in a class of its own. SGC and CGC are competing with each other to see who will come out as the dominant #2.

Beckett is in last place, and practically irrelevant at this time. They need to do something to right that ship.

Really best to break it down into TCG and sports.

TCG - PSA clear #1. CGC a respectable #2. BGS and SGC irrelevant.
Sports - PSA clear #1. SGC a respectable #2. BGS and CGC irrelevant.

BGS should just pack up shop. What have they done the last four years? Change the font on their label? Anything else?

SGC should stop grading TCG and CGC stop grading sports.