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CCG merging grading companies to create new card-grading service
The Certified Collectibles Group is combining its top two card-grading companies into a new entity to create one of the hobby’s largest grading services.
In July, CCG will combine CGC Trading Cards and Certified Sports Guaranty (CSG) into CGC Cards, which will include grading for virtually all TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards, while also featuring a number of collector-friendly upgrades, including non-member submissions, a Gem Mint 10 grade and a sleek new label.
CGC Cards plans to build on the legacy of the Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) brand, which was established in 2000 and has become the one of the leaders in pop culture collectibles grading, with more than 10 million collectibles certified. The CCG companies, which have graded more than 75 million collectibles since 1987, also include the world’s largest grading services for coins, paper money and stamps.
According to CCG, the merger combines the best aspects of both companies, including world-class expertise, advanced technology and one of the industry’s best holders, while addressing many of the most-requested enhancements from the collecting community.
“The card market needs strong competition because competition makes us better, and that's good for collectors and dealers,” says Steven R. Eichenbaum, CEO of CCG. “CGC Cards will win by providing best-in-class grading services with fast turnaround times, affordable prices and strong prices realized.”
CGC Cards will not require paid membership fees, providing free accounts, though a higher-level paid account offers lower grading fees and other exclusive benefits. Paid memberships start at $25 per year.
Other benefits of the merger include:
• A simplified submission process with one online submission form for all TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards graded by CGC Cards. In the meantime, CGC Cards will waive the $5 handling fee for sports card submissions so card submitters are no longer required to pay the fee twice. Submitters are encouraged to send in all cards in one box.
TCGs will continue to be graded by TCG experts, while sports cards will continue to be graded by sports card experts under the leadership of Vice President Andy Broome; and non-sports cards will continue to be graded by experts who specialize in those series. All graders who currently work under CGC Trading Cards and CSG will now work under CGC Cards.
• Affordable prices. New CGC Cards services and fees will be announced soon with “simple, transparent and affordable pricing.”
• Gem Mint 10 Grading Scale. CGC Cards will use an industry-standard 10-point grading scale topped by a Gem Mint 10 and, for the best of the best, a Pristine 10. Cards previously graded Gem Mint 9.5 are equivalent to Gem Mint 10 under the updated grading scale and will soon be reflected in the CGC Cards Certification Verification, Population Report and Registry resources under the Gem Mint 10 grade without any action needing to be taken by collectors and dealers.
The Perfect 10 grade, which was seldom used, will no longer be assigned but will be supported by all of CGC’s online tools. All cards graded by CGC and CSG will continue to be covered by CGC Cards’ guarantee of authenticity and grade.
Sub-grades also will no longer be offered. CGC Cards plans to provide collectors and dealers with other, more innovative ways to learn how and why cards received the grades they did.
• Upgraded label, holder. Every card graded by CGC Cards will be encapsulated in the same holder used by CGC Trading Cards and CSG, while CGC Cards is introducing a sleek new label that puts the spotlight on the cards. The label provides a detailed description of the card, along with its grade, its unique CGC certification number and a QR code to facilitate quick verification. The label upgrade will also include a special, gold CGC Cards Pristine 10 for the highest grade.
CGC Cards will begin accepting submissions in mid-July. An announcement will be made on the date that the official change takes place and all card submissions received on or after that date will be certified with the new CGC Cards grading scale and label. To have a current submission to CGC Trading Cards or CSG held for CGC Cards, please contact CGC Cards Customer Service at Service@CGCcards.com or 1-855-GRADE10 (855-472-3310).
The first show for the new CGC Cards will be the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, July 26-30.
CGC Cards will continue to support cards that were previously graded by CGC Trading Cards and CSG. All cards — including those graded by CGC Trading Cards and CSG — will soon be searchable in the Verify CGC Cards Certification tool, viewable in the CGC Cards Population Report and eligible for the CGC Cards Registry. (Cards previously graded Gem Mint 9.5 will automatically be updated online to appear as Gem Mint 10.)
For collectors and dealers who would like to re-holder cards certified by CGC Trading Cards and CSG with the new CGC Cards label, CGC Cards will lower its re-holder fee to just $5 through Sept. 30, 2023 for cards valued under $10,000.
For more information and frequently asked questions, go to cgccards.com.
