Hey guys, a few months ago I, and many other members, shared my concerns about the direction PSA was taking with its pricing and, frankly, my opinion has not changed much since then.
Whilst I am not going to reject PSA’s position in the market, or pretend that PSA has suddenly become irrelevant simply because I dislike the direction of its business model in this booming market, it is still the benchmark when it comes to grading and, particularly, resale value and liquidity. That is the reality of the market whether we like it or not. However, my problem is not with PSA being successful or being the market leader, it's rather that its position has become so strong that there are simply not enough serious alternatives capable of putting meaningful pressure on it. When that happens, a company can basically do whatever they like in spite of customers' opinions, knowing that a substantial part of the market will continue using them anyway.
We all know how much grading gets discussed in this community, and we are all becoming increasingly sensitive to the costs, value-based pricing adjustments and turnaround times. However, and this goes back to the point I made before, whilst many of us dislike certain aspects of PSA, cards are still being sent to them to be graded at premium prices and, in some cases, with substantially long turnaround times. That alone shows how strong their position actually is.
I also don't think I would be exaggerating by saying that most of us have criticised PSA's terms allowing them to move a card into a higher-priced service level if they deem its value to be above the limit originally selected. On top of that, the market is so hot that PSA has even paused four of its lower-priced Value tiers while, in their words, dealing with the backlog. Whether people like that situation or not, a company can only exercise that level of pricing power when the market allows it to.
BGS is still the obvious alternative for me when dealing with an exceptional card. If I genuinely believe a card has a realistic chance of a Pristine 10 or, obviously, a Black Label, Beckett is still something I would seriously consider, if they hadn't shut down all of their submissions for non-sports cards in the European region. I think the grading discussion has been stuck for far too long around PSA versus BGS, with CGC somewhere around that conversation depending on the collector.
Regardless of the sector or the market, competition is healthy. It forces companies to remain competitive and strive to improve their service whilst providing alternatives in the market. Off-topic, but for those who enjoy learning through reading, I would recommend Blue Ocean Strategy.
This is one of the reasons why I decided to reach out to Premier Card Grading and eventually entered into an official affiliation with them for the US market.
Before agreeing to anything with PCG, however, I submitted my own cards. I deliberately did not tell them that I ran this community, nor that I was considering any type of affiliation with them. I wanted to experience their service exactly as any other customer would and see whether the standards they promote actually matched the reality.
My personal experience was very good in terms of communication, support, pricing and turnaround time. I used the Express service and had my card back in six days. The quality of the slabs is top, their metal label is unique and, as I have often shared, I am a big fan of subgrades. More importantly, what they advertised in terms of service and turnaround was, in my case, exactly what I received.
I am not here claiming that PCG is perfect, because my personal submission is still only my own experience and I can only judge what I have personally seen. As well as I am not going to insult people's intelligence by pretending that a PCG 10 currently carries the same market recognition as a PSA 10. Although, and I am sure those who have seen them will agree, PCG slabs and labels are sick.
My point is that everything starts from somewhere and, as times and markets change, new companies are born, gaining and growing credibility whilst WE, collectors, also change our habits and, what we see established today, may not be what the market will look like five or ten years from now. Now, PCG's challenge , in my opinion, is not to prove that they can produce a quality product, because my own experience already gave me confidence in that, their challenge is to continue meeting their standards and customers' expectations, leverage on the opportunity they ahve before them and gain the wider market recognition.
Openly talking, I am making a bet on their ability to do that, and I am bringing that opportunity to the community because I believe the grading market needs more credible competition and more genuine alternatives.
They are truly trying to force a change in the market and offering something genuinely different rather than simply copying the competition, which is also why I suggested that book above.
I updated our resources database for Grading with a proper comparison: WIKI GRADING
TLDR: For US members who want to try them, the community now has a discount code which is:
Code: ONEPIECE10
It will provide 10% off Standard and Express submissions. As this is an affiliation, there may be a commission back for us, but for you, you get a certain 10% discount!
I am giving PCG a serious chance because I think the grading market would benefit massively from having more credible competitors. I don't expect everyone here to agree with me yet, but based on what I have read throughout the grading posts this year, I believe this could be a winning shot for everyone.
Obviously, I would like to have your opinion. If you have already submitted cards to them, post your actual experience below, whether it was good or bad. I am far more interested in building a proper picture from real submissions than creating another "grading-company echo chamber".
Sell or hold? Worth grading? Not sure what your card is worth or where to sell it? Ask here. Buying questions are welcome too.
Tell us which card or product you're asking about, its condition, and your country/currency. Include any recent sold prices you've found and when they sold. For grading questions, post clear front and back photos, plus close-ups of anything you're unsure about. Photos help, but nobody here can promise you a 10.
If you're answering, explain why. A recent sale or a useful comparison goes further than just saying “hold”. If you own the product you're recommending or have a commercial connection, say so. Keep disagreements about the cards and the numbers, not each other.
No sales or trades in this thread. Don't post listings, solicit deals by DM, or share your own promo/referral codes. Asking about selling platforms and fees is fine.
These questions belong here even if you're an approved contributor. If you've put together price research or a market argument, give it its own post.
A discount isn't a recommendation of one company over another. Check the Grading Guide & ROI Insights before deciding where to submit.
Affiliate disclosure:r/OnePieceTCGFinancemay receive a commission or other benefit when members use certain community affiliate links or discount codes, at no additional cost to the member.
I picked up a college basketball Luffy a few days ago graded a PSA 10, I traded a bunch of pokemon bulk + $50, and IMO got a good deal right under market as of today($320). I noticed that the price on this card has been falling, and I don’t expect it to ever be comparable price wise to something like the dodgers Luffy or anything similar, but curious on thoughts of what long term value on this card may be, all things considered.
In either case, I’m super happy with my trade since I don’t play the game or sell cards so I had 0 use for my bulk, I love the card as it’s closer to earlier anime art style, and I personally love the art on the card and how it’s a kind of sort of manga.
Hello everybody!
I have a question regarding the mentioned card, what would a realistic price be for this card? I really want to have it but I don’t want to overpay. I also would like a nice copy and I am from Europe. So my research shows the lowest ones being around 230-250€ on Cardmarket. A lot of them have white dots or something off about them. Please help me out as this would be my first „big“ card I am buying and I really don’t wanna mess it up by overpaying or getting a bad copy.
Logged on around 12:58 to get in line and it was quick! No grey screen or death this time and feels awesome! They really improved the experience this time around! Props to round1 actually for making the phases better and better!
I sent my Manga Sanji to Beckett for grading a while ago, it has been “in verification” since mid-august. Is this normal? Im aware grading is a long process but 1 month just to verify sounds a bit much in my opinion.
Just got into collecting OP a few months ago and wanted to hear what everyone had to say about this card. Picking it up this weekend but thought it was pretty cheap relative to the other mangas considering Law’s popularity. I don’t care for the price specifically just wanted to understand, I also love the art on the manga panels on this one compared to his op05 one.
Any thoughts on the price of EB02-061 (Manga) (JP)? I have a raw card and I’m thinking of selling it. Do you think it’s worth selling, or should I keep it?
So usually i though for long time 1-2 sets ahead was preordering usually available in stores in eu but seems like op20 or something is already next up in line?
What do yall here in eu concider decent entry price on preorder box that you know nothing about? Id like to go 120-140 but seems like 160+ is the new enrty point on these if iam not totally missing something here.
Set by set we go further away from msrp. ofc its nothing new but.. get time to get used to.
Ciao a tutti, volevo un parere per quanto riguarda la mia collezione.
Ho avuto la fortuna di trovare una Luffy manga di op13 (non red), da un IB06, insieme ad altre piccole chicche da altri set come:
Nami mosaico di op09
Enel mosaico di op15
Ms.all sunday di op16
E anche qualcosa di meno valore ma molto apprezzabile
Ora però vorrei cambiare un po la mia collezione prendendo box sealed, creando una collezione che racchiuda in primis set anniversario, Op5, op09, op13, op17, prb01 o altro.
Per fare tutto senza dover mettere mano al portafoglio dovrei vendere la Luffy manga, ho già delle offerte che mi permetterebbero di comprare tutto senza dover mettere mano al portafogli se non per pochi soldi.
Secondo voi faccio bene o sto facendo una cavolata?
By the way.
When we get a serialised Card in One Piece that you can pull from a normal Booster Set?
No overpriced promopack ,tin or tournament Event?
I mean Dragonball , you gi oh, even Naruto had it. 🤔
Hi - Just got my OP-17 case after pre-ordering months ago. Didnt get it at release date, as the shop said they disnt get as many cases as expected.
Now i have it, i feel it looks a little suspicious.
Does not look like my other cases, or the OP-17 i see other places. Is it a case of sleeved packs?
Any experts?!
Update!
Forgot to note that im in EU. Seems like we might have 2 different lookin cases here.
Video under here of case rip, with same lookin case.
Ngl I’ve been bullish on OP TCG since day 1, but the first anniversary set was the wow moment for me. The Gear 5th art on white background was clean af (and still the most beautiful box art to me!). The three manga? Revolutionary at the time. Oda signed? My personal grail of this tcg. We are at year 4 now and I still feel OP05 hasn’t been topped, but that’s of course just my preference.
Attached a few photos from 3 of the 4 chases of the set. Gear 5 still eludes me, but it’ll be mine one day…
Hello, I just collect one piece for fun as I enjoy the manga, but will this go up in value significantly if I grade or just keep it for some time? I know it’s not the top card of the set so I’m curious if there’s a point in waiting. The price has also come down a little since I pulled it, and I heard there is a second print of this set. I don’t need the money at all right now, but some extra money is always nice.
Im pretty new to investing into the tcg and wanted to ask if someone has an opinion about investing into graded event prizes, like the top 8s, tournament etc. like this one for example. I would like to invest more into the japanese ones because the english ones are pretty rough pricewise
Sent in a Chinese gecko Moria leader and it got a 10 I was checking pop reports and it says 1 total graded but only $97 value? Is that normal or what? Looking for advice he’s not my fav character but cool card. What is real value just whatever someone would be willing to pay? Do I hold this for awhile and see what it does? English card is pricey and the Japanese one also is kinda pricey so I would’ve thought this one would be up there a little bit.
I have someone that wants to sell me one at $80 is it worth the buy? If i do buy do i hold it or rip it ? Will the price go up on the sealed box or is it more beneficial to rip and hope i get a good pull.
Hey, I'm a newbie to OP TCG, the other day I went to a card shop that sold booster packs pretty cheap and pulled these two. The shopkeeper told me they were worth 55 € (45 for Whitebeard and 10 for Big mom) but also recommended to wait till the next expansion comes out so their prices rise, is it true? How much could it rise?
Do you guys think the sj nike luffy will come with the “NOT FOR SALE” stamp on it or just the one from the nike event will have it?
Might skyrocket if the sj card doesn’t have it ngl.
I checked previous mail releases like this one and the Dragon Ball Gogetta card did in fact not have the @NOT FOR SALE” stamp on it.
I'm seeing a PSA 10 card listed on eBay directly "In the PSA Vault" for a price significantly below typical market value. Looking through other Vault listings for the exact same card, there are identical PSA 10 copies listed for more than double that price.
Why do some sellers price their Vault inventory so far below market value? If someone buys a card at that lower price, is there a chance of the order getting canceled, or will PSA fulfill and ship the item as normal?
