In the wake of SGC being acquired by PSA parent company Collectors, which was announced at the end of February 2024, SGC President Peter Steinberg talked up the new relationship as a way to “continue to improve SGC’s products and services that collectors have come to love.” But no specific immediate changes were announced.
So, let’s brainstorm! What changes, enhancements, improvements, or innovations would you like to see at SGC, sooner than later?
Drop your ideas in the comments and I will forward to SGC. I’m sure they will appreciate this unauthorized survey and our collective unsolicited opinions!
Then we can revisit this thread in 6 months and see if any of our ideas come to life.
I have a zillion ideas and if you are an SGC customer I’m sure you do too. Here are just a few of my wish-list items, in no particular order.
1. A Set Registry
This is the innovation that SGC vintage loyalists have been asking for for years, and it is past time to get over this hump. Just get it done already. One big offshoot of this would lead to . . .
2. Back to Basics
SGC’s wheelhouse is vintage, period. It is the only area where SGC actually competes with PSA. A set registry would bring hundreds of thousands of vintage cards through the door–eliminating the need to chase Pokemon business, which I think is a losing battle anyway.
3. More Customer Service Help
I don’t know about you, but all of my customer service questions are answered (usually swiftly!) by ONE GUY. Thanks, Brent. But I assume that customer service would be improved with more help up front. If SGC wants to grow, customer service is key–if someone’s first experience with the brand is a negative one, they aren’t likely to return. Which leads me to my final suggestion of the day . . .
4. A Real-Time Return Clock
SGC likes to talk about transparency. But any current customer knows that the current advertised “Standard 5-10 day” service is currently more like 15-20 days. That’s still speedy, but again, it’s 3-4x the short end of the estimate. As a new customer especially, would be a source of frustration. It would not be at all difficult to update the site once per day or even per week to state that “cards shipping today arrived at SGC on xx date.”
SGC Current Advertised Turn Time
I have so many more ideas . . . SGC needs a better app with price guide functions, etc. . . . but I would be happy to see these 4 implemented sooner than later.
It’s Your Turn!
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I’m on board with all of these. PSA just announced some slab enhancements this week–better acrylic, more UV protection, etc. I’ve always thought it odd that graders don’t talk up or disclose UV protection etc. If the idea is to preserve, then they should take that seriously. I bet it’s a liability thing–all acrylic has protection to some degree but they don’t want to tout protection and then get hit with lawsuits for light damage. They could also experiment with something other than black for the inserts–clear / frosted would be cool.
1) Put grader notes online. There is absolutely no reason someone shouldn’t know why their card got the grade it did. I dont think publishing the graders notes would be that big of a lift.
2) Get back to the 5-10 day turnaround time. Taking a month right now.
3) Registry
Autograph authentication for In person signed cards. So we can have them slabbed SGC
REGISTRY!!!
As I love the look of the black tux I’m wondering if there were option other then black. I don’t and will not collect 71 topps graded sgc. Imo looks absolutely horrible. Maybe even just a clear or semi transparent.
Instead of gold label for pristine, maybe a gold or white plastic casing instead of the traditional black. I think that would look sweet
Bring back third row descriptions!
Totally agree about the 71 Topps baseball cards looking terrible with the black tux unless you have a pristine card. I also regret having my Jordan Scoring Kings card graded by SGC because even my 7 has enough edge wear that it sticks out.
Also would like grader notes. I had a card grade 3 lower than I expected. Why? I’ll give one grade for my own inexperience and optimistic expectation, but what about the other two?
Timewise they were pretty good recently. They had my most recent order 10 business days. Can’t count shipping time against them.