PSA entering comic and magazine grading has spurred the need for GoCollect to implement new ways to organize and display the broadening landscape. Having more data points shouldn't mean you have to click more to find it. We need to think in panoramic view now. We have an exciting path of development ahead of us to determine how best to present this new and evolving data source for you, while simultaneously allowing the market to make decisions on where the value lies.
We’ve started that process by building a very handy new Compare Tab that stacks up the most pertinent details from the three major comic book and magazine grading companies we track: CGC, CBCS, and now PSA. Inside the tab, you’ll find answers to the most pressing questions collectors have: How many sales are happening for each label? What is the census data? And, most importantly, what are these books selling for grade by grade — and what does that tell us about fair market value (FMV)?
When you click on the Compare Tab, you'll see a simple compilation of the information that means the most to you laid out on a single page for easy cross-comparisons.
Figure 1 shows the Compare Tab opened on Star Wars #1 (1977), with all three grading company labels defaulted to Universal/Certified/Standard. The example highlights the 9.0 grade, which now has sales data from CGC, CBCS, and PSA to display. As you can see, the numbers vary wildly. And that’s the point. This tool is designed to let collectors spot those differences and make informed choices.
Over time, this chart will continue to populate with additional sales data, becoming increasingly useful as more items are graded and sold on the secondary market. The eventual goal is to calculate FMV not just for CGC, but also for CBCS and PSA with the same depth and precision GoCollect is known for. Rest assured that these calculations are on the way.
Another eye-opening feature of this new Compare Tab is the ability to filter individually through all of the grading company labels, and choose which you would like to see compared against the others. For example, you could see how a CGC Restored label lines up against a CBCS Certified Blue, or CBCS Conserved label. Or the other way around. We can check how the values of Signature Labels vary by company. Ultimately, once the numbers begin to show for PSA you'll have all three to mix and match any way you please.
We already have one particularly interesting PSA-graded sale to show as an example: a PSA 4.5 Conserved copy of Incredible Hulk #181. PSA notes the conservation as “staples moved to back cover,” which makes for a perfect use case - allowing collectors to compare how restored or conserved copies trade relative to their blue-label counterparts across all grading companies.
What we're looking at here is a very insightful comparative analysis tool to track market acceptance and value trends. The introduction of PSA into the comic grading market may significantly impact collector behavior and market values. Closely monitoring early sales data will be crucial to understand:
- Initial market reception to PSA-graded comics
- Price premiums or discounts compared to CGC and CBCS
- Collector preference patterns by comic era, title, and significance
Consider this the first step towards building that understanding. Our Compare Tab is in a Beta stage with plenty of room to grow. In the future we look to build features that allow for comparison of high resolution images - think CGC 9.8 vs PSA 9.8 not just in terms of value, but actual condition based on applicable grading standards for each company.
Clarity for a Complex Market
The Compare Tab represents an important shift in how we aim to deliver information: from siloed data points to a panoramic view. Our long-term goal is to make this feature available across every collectible category we track, from comics and magazines to trading cards, video games, and beyond! This will allow you the ability to compare many other grading companies that exist in alternate fields of collecting.
More data shouldn't mean more clicks. As the market continues to grow and evolve, we’ll keep refining this tool until it becomes the easiest and most trusted way to see exactly where values stand. Across all grading companies, labels, and grades.
