I’ve submitted nearly 3,000 cards to PSA, CGC, and Beckett over the years. I’ve tracked every submission, every grade, every sale. This isn’t theory—it’s what I’ve learned running a one-man operation selling tens of thousands of cards on eBay.
Here’s the real breakdown of when each grading service makes sense for your money.
Quick Comparison Table
| Service | Base Fee | Bulk Tier | Turnaround | Scale | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | $25-$200 | $18/card (50+) | 45-65 days | 1-10 | Pokémon, Sports, Maximum resale |
| CGC | $15-$150 | $12/card (50+) | 30-45 days | 1-10 | Modern TCG, Budget submissions |
| Beckett (BGS) | $20-$250 | $16/card (50+) | 60-90 days | 1-10 + subgrades | Black label chase, Premium vintage |
When to Choose PSA
The Market Reality
After selling thousands of graded cards, here’s the truth: PSA commands the highest premiums. Period. A PSA 10 Charizard VMAX sells for 20-40% more than the same card in a CGC 10 holder. For vintage sports cards, the gap is even wider—sometimes 50%+.
The “PSA 10” label has become shorthand for “top grade” among casual collectors. When I list a PSA 10 on eBay, it sells faster and for more money than CGC or BGS equivalents. That’s not opinion—that’s thousands of transactions of data.
The Downsides I’ve Experienced
PSA isn’t perfect. Here’s what’s frustrated me over nearly 3,000 submissions:
- Declared value upcharges: Cards over $500 trigger automatic fee increases. I’ve learned to batch my submissions strategically.
- Turnaround variance: They say 45-65 days, but I’ve waited 90+ during busy periods.
- Grading inconsistency: I’ve had identical cards from the same pack get different grades. It happens.
- No subgrades: Sometimes I want to know WHY a card got a 9 instead of a 10.
When to Choose CGC
The Budget Play That Works
CGC became my go-to for modern cards under $100 raw value. Their bulk pricing ($12-15/card) makes the math work on cards where PSA’s fees would eat my margins.
For Sword & Shield era Pokémon and newer, CGC has gained serious market acceptance. I’ve tracked my sales: CGC 10s now sell for 85-90% of PSA 10 prices on modern chase cards. That gap has closed significantly since I started using them in 2022.
Where CGC Falls Short
Vintage is where CGC loses. My CGC 9 Base Set holos consistently sell for 25-30% less than PSA 9s. For anything pre-2015, I still send to PSA despite the higher cost.
When to Choose Beckett (BGS)
The Black Label Chase
I send cards to Beckett when I’m confident I have a Black Label candidate—perfect centering, flawless surface, immaculate corners and edges. A BGS Black Label 10 can sell for 2-3x a PSA 10 on the right card.
The subgrades are valuable too. When I’m selling a high-value card, buyers appreciate seeing the breakdown: Centering 10, Corners 10, Edges 10, Surface 10. It builds trust.
When I Skip Beckett
For anything that’s not a Black Label candidate, Beckett’s longer turnaround (60-90 days) and higher costs don’t make sense. My capital sits tied up too long.
Real ROI From My Submissions
Modern Pokémon Example
From my last 100 modern Pokémon submissions:
| Service | 10 Rate | Avg Profit/Card | Time to Sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 42% | $47 | 12 days |
| CGC | 45% | $38 | 18 days |
PSA’s higher profit per card and faster sales justify the extra cost for cards over $75 raw value.
Vintage Sports Example
For my vintage baseball submissions (1950s-1980s):
| Grade | PSA Premium vs Raw | CGC Premium vs Raw |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | +85% | +55% |
| 8 | +150% | +95% |
| 9 | +350% | +200% |
For vintage, PSA is worth the premium every time.
My Submission Strategy
How I Decide Where to Send
After 3,000 submissions, here’s my decision tree:
- Is it vintage (pre-2015)? → PSA, always
- Is it worth $100+ raw? → PSA
- Is it a Black Label candidate? → Beckett
- Modern card under $75 raw? → CGC for the cost savings
- Bulk modern submissions (50+)? → CGC bulk tier
Batching Saves Money
I batch my submissions by declared value tier. This prevents a $600 card from triggering upcharges on my entire submission of $50-100 cards. Submit them separately.
The Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To)
- Sending everything to PSA early on: I wasted money grading $30 modern cards. The fees ate my profits.
- Not tracking my data: I started spreadsheet tracking after my first 500 submissions. Wish I’d done it from card #1.
- Ignoring CGC: I was a PSA loyalist for too long. CGC makes sense for certain cards.
- Chasing Black Labels: I sent too many “almost perfect” cards to Beckett hoping for Black Labels. Most came back 9.5s. Be realistic.
Prep and Packaging
After this many submissions, my prep process is dialed in:
- Perfect fit sleeves (KMC or Dragon Shield)
- Card Saver 1s (PSA and BGS require these—they’ll reject toploaders)
- Team bags for groups of 10
- Microfiber cloth for fingerprints
See my complete grading supplies guide for exactly what I use.
FAQs From My Experience
Should I crossover CGC to PSA?
I’ve done this about 50 times. Success rate is maybe 60%—PSA sometimes grades lower than CGC did. Only crossover if you’re confident AND the PSA premium justifies the cost.
Are subgrades worth paying extra for?
For cards over $500, yes. Buyers at that level want transparency. For a $50 card? Skip it.
What about SGC for sports?
SGC has grown on me for modern sports cards. Their tuxedo slabs look sharp, turnaround is fast, and prices are 85-90% of PSA. Worth considering for modern rookies.
Bottom Line
After nearly 3,000 submissions and tens of thousands of eBay sales, here’s my honest take:
- PSA: Worth the premium for vintage and high-value cards. The liquidity and brand recognition are unmatched.
- CGC: My go-to for modern cards under $75 raw. The math works.
- Beckett: Only for Black Label candidates. Otherwise, the wait isn’t worth it.
Choose based on math, not loyalty. Track your submissions. Learn what works for YOUR inventory.
📥 Download my Grading & Shipping Checklist (PDF)
Related Guides
- Grading Supplies Guide – Exactly what I use
- Is Grading Worth It? – ROI breakdown by card type
- Complete Beginner’s Guide – Full overview
- Storage & Workflow – How I organize 10k+ cards