I received notice from SGC that my grades are done. All cards submitted I first ran through Chat GPT to see how the AI grades stack against the real thing. Pictured are 5 “highlights” from a 15 card submission.

All other cards not pictured were exactly as AI graded or within .5 of the AI grade.

The AI grades first given for the pictured cards:

Joe Burrow - 9.0

Dart Green Disco - 9.0

Waldschmidt: 10/9.0

Griffey: 9.0 -9.5

Acuna: 9.0 - 9.5

As you can see, some were better. Some worse and the Acuna waaaaay off. I’m thinking Chat GPT may struggle with the black borders. Gonna crack the Acuna and take the $15 loss on that experiment. Overall though, Chat GPT seems like a good tool, but not a guarantee.

✍ The Collector’s Crossroads
by Brews & Breaks

If you’re wondering why PSA charges more while still grading like it’s 1999, you’re not alone. Competitors are rolling out AI, machine learning, and full transparency. Meanwhile, PSA still treats a loupe and a flashlight like cutting-edge tech.

The Hobby’s Tech Divide

• Arena Club: Computer vision + AI scan every inch of a card. Three human graders double-check it, then you get a QR-linked digital report that actually explains the grade.

• TAG: Uses photometric stereoscopic imaging (try saying that three times) to catch flaws invisible to the naked eye. Their 1–1000 scale gets translated into a standard 1–10 with a detailed breakdown.

• CGC: Uses AI for centering and measurements, then forensic tools (UV, infrared) to catch counterfeits and alterations before human graders lock in the final score.
  
  

PSA? “Carl thinks this corner looks sharp.”

Why PSA’s Tech Stagnation Hurts the Hobby

1. Inconsistency – One grader calls it a 9, another calls it a 10. AI-backed systems remove that “coin flip” grading.

2. Transparency – Arena Club and TAG provide digital reports; PSA just gives you a number.

3. Trust – If collectors can’t see why a grade was given, they lose faith in the process.

4. Market Manipulation – Without transparency, gem rates and pop control become tools, not data.
   
   

What Collectors Actually Want

• AI + Human Teamwork – Machines to scan surfaces and measure, humans to apply nuance.

• Digital Receipts – QR codes with breakdowns of corners, edges, centering, surface.

• Consistency – A PSA 9 in New Jersey should be the same as a PSA 9 in California.

• Accountability – If companies want to charge premium prices, they need premium tech.
  
  

The Final Sip

Arena Club, TAG, and CGC aren’t perfect, but they’re at least innovating. PSA is still king, but kings who stop adapting eventually get overthrown. Raising fees without raising standards isn’t “leadership,” it’s laziness!

Until grading catches up to the tools already being used, PSA’s biggest flaw won’t be its backlog, it’ll be its blind spot.

Until next time, keep sippin’ and rippin’. ☕🔥

#SportsCards #CardGrading #ArenaClub #TAGGrading #CGC #PSA #SportsCardHobby #BrewsAndBreaks #TheCollectorsCrossroads

I spent about a year writing various FAQ / help guides for members of Facebook groups I run. I wrote so many that I decided to start a web site to share them all (and more).

The web site is vintage sports card specific but most of these topics are general and apply to all card collecting or even just collecting in general: safe buying and selling online, packing and shipping, grading and condition, valuation, counterfeits, display, insurance, and more. I hope someone gets some use out of something here:

https://cardhoundvintage.com/vintage-101/