After grading w/ BGS for a couple of years now, I am definitely noticing the accuracy that you are mentioning. I've had some cards sent that I knew wouldn't get good grades, but they have sentimental value to me [and bgs slabs just slap]. But there are a lot of cards that I've graded that I would hope do really well. I actually graded a Sphere Mode [ghost rare] and it came back a 9.5 [currently the only 9.5 at bgs]. But I also only live like ~45mins from Beckett, so I love having the opportunity to just drop off and pick up what I feel like grading. But PSA an BGS will always be my companies to go to. Actually next month I have a bunch of vintage OCG Ulti's going to PSA. 👀 And they vary from super minty to MP. I can't wait for that one :) EDIT: I actually asked BGS a couple of years ago about their grading catalog! The response I got was "we simply don't grade enough of this card to log it". Yet, there's cards that are in other languages w/ 1 pop, AND I have a Korean Ra [from the Korean version of Rage Of Ra], that's a pop 1 and it's LOGGED! Like hello?? LMAO.
All grading companies are a sham. I have a bunch of slabs from PSA/BGS/CGC and I have a bunch of 10s and if there's one thing you can expect from ALL grading companies, not just BGS - inconsistency. Something I've always been advocating for is that all grading companies need to start including grader IDs, if not their actual names. So when you pull up the card ID, it'll also include a grader ID. Granted there are hundreds of graders per company, but still - some accountability would be nice.
Thats why I been on my BGS kick lately. Their grading has been very consistent, which is probably why less people use them. People rather see the inconsistent 10 grade on their slabs than an accurate one sometimes. I think another way of pushing for consistency is to include their grading reports.
I personally collect PSA. With that being said, I start with the grade and THEN I start with the card. You are correct, not all 10’s are created equal. Also buyer beware when you see a 10 but the seller does not show the back of the card. They’re usually jacked up.
I would love to have all my dbs cards graded, my problem is that I can't afford to grade my cards lol. Hell these days I can't even afford product to start with lmao.
The Green Secret DDM Dark Magician Girl maybe is judged by the spacing of the "Black Magician Girl" from top to bottom, but that means that they must have seen other examples where that spacing is perfect 50/50 top to bottom. I'm really curious about this as well because similar to you I was in Japan earlier this year in June and it was my mission to find a pristine Secret Green DDM DMG. I did find one too! I'll make a video about it before I sub it to BGS, but yeah interesting on the centering. I did pick up the blue and pink versions in near mint as well. Not going to sub those ones but I might try to measure the lettering on those to see if there is any significant difference.
Exactly why I dont grade cards (and the fact I cant afford it), I just buy raw cards that are minty and put them in one touch cases and they still look great on display
Beckett is pretty much a dice roll between a strong 9.5, Pristine, and Black Label. The opposite end of the grading scale has the same problem. What's realistically the difference between a 3,4, and 5? The reviews and them actually bumping cards seem to confirm that. You have a lot less ambiguity between a PSA 9 and a PSA 10 as the the margin of error is not as narrow, and consequently it's a lot less dependent on the subjectivity of the grader.
I love BGS, have grades hundreds with them, my fair share of black labels, but I have personally seen black labels that were visibly off center but more recently the last couple months BGS seems to have gotten extremely strict. I've graded hundreds of cards with BGS and recently been getting FLOODED with 9.5s that truly don't deserve it. Getting cards with 10 on centering that are visibly off center, and cards that are 50/50 down to the pixel getting 9/9.5s on centering. BGS is in a weird place at the moment
I have a Korean Secret Rare DMG, I been wantin to send her in to get graded, however; I'm torn if I want to send it to BGS or not, it would be nice to have a Black Label of her 😭
Graded a mikasa sp and fate Sakura sec and both came back 9.5. Both 2 10s and 9.5 subgrades for surface and edges but edges and surface look super clean literally pulled from packs a month ago and straight into sleeves. Want to get the card reviewed but kinda salt that it wasn’t graded correctly first time
Hey rhyme beautiful black label dark magician girl, not sure but the label could be mislabeled. it shows ph ur, which i assume it means pharaoh's ultra rare, but your card look like it is the pharaoh's secret rare version.
Love having graded and slabbed stuff. Like I'm more into comics but love seeing what you pick up and get back. Also shout out the miles and Peter graded joint back there love that cover
