Let's Go! CGC Cards Now Accepting Submissions

It's go time! CGC Cards™ is now accepting submissions of virtually all TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards, following the combination of CGC Trading Cards® and CSG®. Collectors will enjoy more affordable prices, the ability to submit without purchasing a membership, an industry-standard Gem Mint 10 grading scale and other great benefits.

CGC Cards leverages the strength of the renowned Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) brand, which was established in 2000 and has become the undisputed leader in pop culture collectibles grading, with more than 10 million collectibles certified. CGC and its affiliates have graded more than 75 million collectibles since 1987 and include the world’s largest grading services for coins, paper money, comic books and stamps. CGC Cards builds upon this legacy of success.

“The changes we’re making with CGC Cards will benefit collectors and dealers by making our expert and impartial services more accessible, more affordable and more rewarding,” says Steven R. Eichenbaum, CEO of the Certified Collectibles Group® (CCG®), of which CGC is part. “We are committed to providing the highest levels of service to the card market for decades to come.”

The first round of many collector-friendly updates

The benefits of CGC Cards are many: no paid membership required to submit, affordable prices, a market-friendly Gem Mint 10 grading scale and an upgraded label. There’s also more to come, including a single, streamlined online submission form. Read on for more details on the benefits effective now. For FAQs about the changes, go here.

New CGC Cards services and fees, effective July 11, 2023

That’s right, collectors no longer need to have a paid membership to submit cards for grading! All it takes is a free account that can be set up in seconds. Meanwhile, paid members enjoy even lower grading fees. Associate and Premium members get 10% off grading fees and Elite members get 20% off grading fees, along with other exclusive benefits. Memberships with grading discounts start at just $25 per year.

Done reading and ready to submit? Go here.

For collectors and dealers who would like to reholder cards certified by CGC Trading Cards and CSG with the new CGC Cards label, CGC Cards has lowered its reholder fee to just $5 until September 30, 2023, for cards valued under $10,000. Plus, any cards with a grade of Gem Mint 9.5 automatically convert to the CGC Cards Gem Mint 10 grade!

And there's more: CGC Cards is eliminating the fees for thick holders, high-resolution imaging and error cards, as well as the $5 handling fee. For all of CGC Cards services and fees, go here.

Gem Mint 10 Grading Scale

It has become clear that the hobby has moved towards a grading scale where a Gem Mint equates to a 10 on a 10-point grading scale. In fact, 79% of card collectors and dealers equate Gem Mint to a 10 according to a recent survey conducted by a third party on behalf of CCG.

CGC Cards uses 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 exactly equivalent to Gem Mint 10 under the updated grading scale, and are 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, is no longer being assigned. However, it is still supported by all of CGC Cards’ online tools. Moreover, all cards graded by CGC Trading Cards and CSG continue to be covered by CGC Cards’ comprehensive guarantee of authenticity and grade, the strongest guarantee in the industry.

Sub-Grades are no longer offered. While Sub-Grades have a small group of loyal fans, over time they have become far less popular with submitters. In recent months, fewer than 5% of submissions included a request for Sub-Grades. CGC Cards looks forward to providing collectors and dealers with other, more innovative ways to learn how and why their cards received the grades that they did.

Sleek, upgraded label coupled with the industry’s best holder

Every graded card is encapsulated in the superior CGC Cards holder. It offers exceptional display, crystal-clear optics and numerous security features, and few who see it in hand dispute that it is the industry’s best. Coupled with the sleek new CGC Cards label, the spotlight is where it should be — on the cards. Without distracting colors or design elements, 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.

With the label upgrade, CGC Cards is also thrilled to introduce the ultra-special CGC Cards Pristine 10 label — a lux, gold label worthy of the chase grade. The response from collectors and dealers to the first images of the CGC Cards Pristine 10 label has been incredible, and now some very lucky collectors finally have the chance to get their own.

Plus, more to look forward to

In the coming months, CGCcards.com will have just one online submission form for all TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards graded by CGC Cards. In the meantime, there is a submission form for TCGs and non-sports cards and a submission form for sports cards at CGCcards.com, but CGC Cards is eliminating the $5 handling fee, and submitters can also save money by sending all cards in one box.

Importantly, TCGs are continuing to be graded by TCG experts under the leadership of Vice President Matt Quinn; sports cards are continuing to be graded by sports card experts under the leadership of Vice President Andy Broome; and non-sports cards are graded by experts who specialize in those series. All graders who previously worked under CGC Trading Cards and CSG now work under CGC Cards.

Submit today!

Submit today and experience the new CGC Cards! For more on how to submit, go here, and to get started, simply create an account. If you already have an account, go to the easy-to-use online submission form. Questions? Contact CGC Cards Customer Service at [email protected] 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, and it’s going to be big, with on-site grading, games, giveaways, box breaks and more! Stay tuned to CGCcards.com and our social channels @CGCcards for more information about special promotions.

FAQs

How do I submit to CGC Cards?

The CGC Cards online submission form will soon include all cards that are eligible for grading, but for now, fill out the online submission form for TCGs and non-sports cards and/or the online submission form for sports cards, and send your submission in one box to CGC Cards, with all packing slips.

A paid membership is no longer required to submit. You just need to set up a free account, which takes no time at all. Meanwhile, paid members pay lower grading fees and get other exclusive benefits, all for just $25 per year. For more information about how to submit, go here. To join, go here.

Why is the company changing its name to CGC Cards?

The name CGC Cards represents that virtually all TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards are accepted by CGC Cards. In addition, the CGC brand is known the world over as the leader in pop culture collectibles certification. Immediately recognized by collectors and dealers, CGC signifies best-in-class grading services and strong prices realized.

What cards does CGC Cards grade?

CGC Cards grades virtually all TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards, sized 2-5/8" x 3-3/4" (6.6cm x 9.5cm) or smaller. Cards may be up to 7.25mm thick. All non-sports cards are now eligible for grading, including many series that were not accepted previously, such as Garbage Pail Kids, Mars Attacks, Wacky Packages, Star Trek and many more, from 1879 to today!

What do I do with my cards that were previously graded by CGC Trading Cards or CSG?

CGC Cards supports cards that were previously graded by CGC Trading Cards and CSG, and they continue to be backed by the comprehensive CGC Cards Guarantee of authenticity and grade. With the merger of the companies, 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 are automatically updated online to appear as Gem Mint 10.

For collectors and dealers who would like to reholder cards certified by CGC Trading Cards or CSG with the new CGC Cards label, CGC Cards has lowered its reholder fee to just $5 until September 30, 2023, for cards valued under $10,000.

To qualify for the discounted reholder fee, the submission form must be completed on CGCcards.com by September 30, 2023, and delivered to CGC Cards by October 20, 2023. All submission forms completed October 1, 2023, and later, and all packages delivered October 21, 2023, and later, will receive the regular reholder rates ($10 for ReHolder and $30 for High Value ReHolder).

What happened to the Perfect 10 grade?

The Perfect 10 grade, which was seldom used, is no longer being assigned. In both surveys and focus groups, the majority of respondents stated that three 10 grades (Perfect 10, Pristine 10 and Gem Mint 10) would be too many. After careful consideration, CGC Cards decided to make the top grade Pristine 10 over Perfect 10 because a significantly greater number of Pristine 10 cards have been certified compared to Perfect 10 cards.

The Perfect 10 grade is still supported by all of CGC Cards’ online tools. Moreover, all cards graded by CGC Trading Cards and CSG continue to be covered by CGC Cards’ comprehensive guarantee of authenticity and grade, the strongest guarantee in the industry.

Should I get my cards graded Perfect 10 reholdered?

Cards graded Perfect 10 will be reholdered to Pristine 10. CGC Cards recommends that submitters not reholder Perfect 10s.

What do I do with my Gem Mint 9.5s?

Cards graded Gem Mint 9.5 are equivalent to cards graded Gem Mint 10. You can keep your Gem Mint 9.5s, and they will be considered Gem Mint 10s in Verify CGC Cards Certification, the CGC Cards Population Report and the CGC Cards Registry.

If you would like to reholder your Gem Mint 9.5s to Gem Mint 10, you can take advantage of our reholder special (just $5 per reholder for cards valued under $10,000) through September 30, 2023.

What happened to Sub-Grades?

While CGC Cards recognizes that Sub-Grades have a loyal following among a small group of collectors, CGC Cards believes eliminating Sub-Grades is the right move for the hobby for a couple of key reasons:

1. The hobby needs one industry-standard grading scale. It does not make sense that a Gem Mint 9.5 at one grading service equates to a Gem Mint 10 at another grading service. This creates confusion and makes it more difficult for new collectors to enter the market. It has become clear that the hobby has moved towards a Gem Mint 10 grading scale and away from Sub-Grades. Three of the four major grading services now use very similar grading scales. Of course, there is still an opportunity for some nuance, but having dramatic differences in the grading scales used by different grading services is bad for the hobby.

2. By June 2023, fewer than 5% of CGC Trading Cards submissions included a request for Sub-Grades. Some Sub-Grades fans have asked whether that reduced interest in Sub-Grades was really the result of the price point ($15), so here is some more information. CGC Trading Cards raised its Sub-Grades fee to $15 in July 2022 to help cover rising costs in general and the additional time required to individually designate four additional grades. In the two months prior to this announcement, approximately 15.8% of new submissions included a request for Sub-Grades. In the two months after this announcement, approximately 11.7% of new submissions included a request for Sub-Grades. While it is not surprising that there would be a drop in demand with a price increase, even before the price increase, demand for Sub-Grades was relatively low (at 15.8% of total), and even after the price increase, demand for Sub-Grades did not decrease by a meaningful amount (4.1% of total).

Of course, if Sub-Grades were free, there would probably have been more demand, but that’s not practical given the additional time (and therefore cost) involved.

The reality is that demand for Sub-Grades had decreased nearly every month in a row — with or without a price increase — for the last 18 months. Perhaps many collectors and dealers found it difficult to reconcile so many possible combinations of the overall grade and Sub-Grades. It is difficult for people to value and collect/inventory so many different permutations of grades. Additionally, the market was clearly moving towards a simpler grading scale centered around a Gem Mint 10.

CGC Cards believes that education and transparency are vitally important, but Sub-Grades are only one way to provide collectors and dealers with more information about why their card received the grade that it did. CGC Cards is committed to providing the hobby with the highest levels of accuracy, consistency, transparency and education, and looks forward to providing more innovative ways for collectors to learn about card grading.

Please note that cards with Sub-Grades will not have Sub-Grades if they are reholdered. CGC Cards encourages submitters to consider carefully whether it makes sense to reholder cards that previously received Sub-Grades.

Can I still get the original CGC Trading Cards or CSG labels?

With the official merger of CGC Trading Cards and CSG, the original CGC Trading Cards and CSG labels are no longer being offered. Cards previously graded by CGC Trading Cards and CSG cannot be reholdered with CGC Trading Cards or CSG labels. They must be reholdered with the CGC Cards label.

What if I submitted an order before July 11 and requested the original labels?

If your order was entered online before July 10 and you requested the original labels either on the packing slip or through CGC Cards Customer Service, you are still eligible for the original labels as long as the package is received by Friday, July 21, 2023. Any submissions entered online July 11 and later will receive the new label. All packages received July 22, 2023, and later will receive the new label.

Should I get my cards that had a Qualified (green) label or a Signature Series (yellow) label reholdered?

CGC Cards is not able to reholder cards that previously were encapsulated with a Qualified (green) label or a Signature Series (yellow) label. If CGC Cards receives any of these cards, they will be returned to the submitters in their existing holders.

Can I submit TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards as a mixed bulk submission?

Soon, CGCcards.com will have just one online submission form for all TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards. When the form is merged, you will be able to submit a mixed bulk order that includes all cards graded by CGC Cards. Until then, there is still a submission form for TCGs and non-sports cards and a submission form for sports cards. For TCGs and non-sports cards, you can submit a mix of different types/games, with a 25-card minimum. For sports cards, you can submit a mix of sports card types, with a 25-card minimum.

What is happening to the population reports?

Right now, there is a CGC Cards Population Report for TCGs and non-sports cards alongside a CGC Cards Population Report for sports cards. We expect that in mid-September the population reports will be combined so that card counts for TCGs, sports cards and non-sports card will all be viewable in one CGC Cards Population Report. Card counts in the CGC Cards Population Report will reflect the updated CGC Cards Grading Scale.

What is happening to the registries?

The CGC Cards Registry is expected to be available July 12, 2023, at 12 p.m. EDT.

Right now, there is a CGC Cards Registry for TCGs and non-sports cards alongside a CGC Cards Registry for sports cards. We expect that in mid-September the registries will be combined so that TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards are all able to be added to one CGC Cards Registry. The points awarded in the CGC Cards Registry will reflect the updated CGC Cards Grading Scale.

With the consolidation of the cards registries, CGC Cards has updated the scoring system. The update provides a more comprehensive model that aligns with the goal of fostering fair competition, while also recognizing distinct differences among the card types based on their varied attributes. CGC Cards believes this will provide a better experience for collectors participating in the CGC Cards Registry and open the door for new ways to compete.

Due to the scoring system update, some registry participants’ scores will change, most likely with an increase in points. But as always, scoring is not the singular deciding factor when it comes to the registry awards. The CGC Cards Registry team of experts has hundreds of years of combined experience in collectibles and takes into consideration many factors when choosing winning sets each year.

Will sports cards be accepted for submission internationally?

We expect for our London and Munich offices to start accepting sports cards by September 2023. In the meantime, our London and Munich offices continue to accept TCGs and non-sports cards. CGC Cards also continues to explore additional international expansion opportunities.