the toughest thing for any new grading company is trying to convert entrenched collectors. I have a bunch of slabbed cards in my pc (mostly PSA) and that is one of the biggest reasons why I'll stick with PSA (the main reason being they are most trusted). I think most collectors prefer uniformity in their collections like I do, so starting new company is definitely an uphill battle. that being said, this is a great time to start a grading company with PSA and BGS currently not accepting most submissions. it's a brave move and I wish them luck!
This is the same kind of fear with starting any new company. What matters is marketing and persistence. Most companies are successful... when they work hard at what they do.
Completely agree with this statement. All of my graded cards are via PSA and I'm sure that's how it will stay both aesthetically and financially. I personally think the grading company market is saturated already. The more of these start ups keep popping up it may end up damaging the whole idea of grading. Either way I wish Ace grading the best of luck and I'll certainly try one or two cards with them 👍
Good take on the labels! Change is hard to tell if it's good or not, at first we hate it. If the Ace slabs surpass all the others and it starts to get a reputation for being top premium, I feel like we'll start to grow a liking to the labels connected to it and consider it premium too. I hope the best for Randy, I'm with you on the simple labels being classic and preferred in a collection. Maybe they can work out a middle ground so it doesn't feel like there's too much going on when you're looking through your cards. But I have a hunch the labels might be preferred for a new gen of collectors
Yeah I really don't think for the brand it was a great choice, I think something simpler and neat would have been better for value retention and recognition, however, as Randy has said a few times, he isn't doing this with value in mind to start with, it's for the collectors and it seems as though the more novelty side of it and custom labels is where he wanted it to go! I think that's fair enough and it gives them a direct place in the market with a clear outlook on it, I just think it will encourage people seeking value retention to wait for the PSA service levels to reopen!
The point of grading is to standardised the item. All grade 10s should look the same. With three different labels people buying the cards will have to hunt the secondary market for not just the grade but the label cutting demand for a card with each label to a third of the total.
Big a fan of Randolph and hope this goes well for him, but I really appreciate how well said this was and especially how you gave your honest opinion, this is why I’m subscribed to your channel! The labels threw me off a little bit as well tbh, I really dig that simple but classy/uniform look of PSA/Beckett slabs and even CGC, but we’ll see how it goes. The back of the slab would be perfect for the front, it reminds me of Beckett’s front.
I've been trying 'get graded' recently but think im gunna start using ace grading. agree thats theirs too much going on with the labels, i will be using the basic label
There are some full art cards that the color match would look pretty cool with. It’s a good option for many people, and being known in the community already helps their reputation. I wouldn’t send em the 1st edition wotc cards just yet but it’s an interesting idea for modern I think.
I've watched this vid of Randolph earlier and I love the guy and don't want to be negative but i don't particularly like the look. All the best to the company and his involvement in it and hope they grow and become very successful. Personally if I had much of a choice id rather try use PSA, BGS CGC and then maybe anything else. The one thing that's appealing for me is UK companies, its easier to get things sent there and back from South Africa than the states.
Yeah I felt the same! I wish them all the best but I think for now I will wait for the other companies pricing to come down / for them to open more services! Will be interesting to see how they get on once psa are caught back up and accepting slightly larger orders!
You make a very valid point about allowing a new business to come into the space and make a name for themselves, very exciting time for grading in the UK with Randolph being a big name, big shout out to your review as well, all valid points
I actually agree about the labels. The card inside should be the main focus although I can understand the appeal of a design that compliments the card. I do wish the front looked a little more like that back too! I've only ever graded with PSA but I'd definitely be up for use ACE if they prove to be reliable as it's not ideal having to send cards overseas for over a year at this point.
Great news & to have someone as enthusiastic and caring about cards as Randolph in charge you know things will be done right. Can't wait to use to get my 1st cards graded 🙂
It is a very positive part having someone so enthusiastic being the face of it and someone who is already trusted in the community, gives them a great base to start on!
Will be interesting to see how they get on! Don’t think the bigger cards will hold value but you have to start somewhere and build that rep! Wish them luck but I’m not a huge fan of the style of labels etc so probably won’t sub at the moment! I do agree actually that the back of the label is pretty neat! I think I will wait for psa and sub direct when they open back up unless I see something else they change and I like!
Really hoping they do well. Not the biggest fan of Randy's content but appreciate he's a lover of the hobby. GG were a bit of a car crash so a respected UK grader would be fantastic for everyone.
Great video Chloe, I agree with you. When I look at a slab I want to know what company it's from. Especially for a new company the brand needs to be the focus the cards won't have any graded value when theres 1000s of slab artworks. I would love to see the artwork used for exclusive events like the Logan Paul box break but keep it limited!!!
Randolph is just providing options as some people may love having a section of their fire type etc in similar colours. Your special cards will look special. If that's not for you then there's the standard label. Its appealing to all audiences rather than having a set way which is great service. It seems Ace grading is specifically aimed at people who want to keep their collection for life and make it special rather than the side where its just people grading and selling to turn a profit. Its all about them giving power to the owner of the card being able to choose how it looks. Having multiple options is never a bad thing for the consumer :)
Yeah I agree I think it’s more of a novelty aimed product with sentimental value to the owners! I like what they’re doing, I just don’t think it’s aimed at people looking to retain the value in their cards! Wish them the best of luck with it and will be watching where they go with it!
Hi, great video! Looking to get my first set of cards graded (UK), however not sure who to send it to. Who do you recommend? Getgraded, Pokegrade, MGC, PCA? I know its a tough question but just wanted some peoples opinion.
In the UK for someone who is currently open to submissions, I would send to Tree Frog or Goodbros, I have used Tree Frog more, and I think they have a really good service offered!
Their one of challenges is more related to the customer base. Most slab collectors are already into PSA, BGS or/and CGC. And they would like to continue collecting their future cards to be in the same sort of slab. That explain why other small companies in North America like MNT and etc are not able to expand like the big3.
I think there would be a large difference at the beginning! It would be at least a few years in my opinion before you could correlate any form of comparison! PSA will always be front runners for value, people will just like ace for its collectibility!
@@thatlabfrank yeah I understand but i would like to see him maybe switch out his valuable cards from psa to ace to see if he legitimately believe in it
My honest opinion on it: Ace Grading is gonna be adding cosmetic value, but not necessarily adding grading value to it in the short run. The grading value market is being dominated by PSA, CGC, BGS and to a certain extent, SGC. But, that being said, Randolph is bringing something new to the community and I applaud him for trying to create hype and demand using his influence. Who knows, collectors might just want to collect ACE 10s just for the unique slab design! Even I'm intrigued by what other unique slab designs will come out next. Let's hope they send you a slab for review xD
I will certainly be open to reviewing them! I like the idea, I just feel they won't capitalise on the whole market due to any collectors with value in mind not wanting to send there! Thats always going to be the hardest part to overcome with a start up though! We shall see what happens!
I think for value I agree PSA will always be up there, BGS for me from 8.5 silver label up to gold and black label look the best and most professional. Used a few in the UK getgraded and pokegrade beautiful slabs and labels simple but effective. MGC were the best in terms of communication and slabs bland. Think supporting all UK grading is a good thing but yeah I'm with you I would struggle with multiple labels.
Fully support them and hope they do well, think it’s good for the community! I just don’t think I will be sending my cards there as I do want the value retention!
I like the custom labels, it's not new on Ace, there's some in the US that do the same. My biggest problem is not having sub grade. My favorite so far is Becket. It's a good welcome to have grading companies in Europe though.
Agree with the whole label thing. The back looks a lot more stylish than any other grading company. The only complaint would be the colour match label, in my opinion it’s tacky but as stated it’s optional. The exclusive label idea however is cool, having the community be involved in the picking process should be awesome.
I agree their slabs look like a BGS copy. I wonder if the PSA contract stipulates that no Graded gem employee can appear on ACE grading socials until they cut all ties with PSA and that’s why Tom has gone first. I do think graded gem have shot themselves in the foot by roasting all other grading services before. ‘PSA has guaranteed value and guarantee the grade, they have longevity, prices are always higher and they are and will probably always be the market leader’ (Graded gem video, February 2021). They laughed at CGC and UK graders and only 5months later they open Ace Grading with pokerand, which doesn’t look good as they clearly don’t believe in their own product.
That video they put out was the worst thing they could have done, especially if they already had this on their mind, that was not a good move! I just think it hasn’t been handled overly well as a whole but excited for them and hope they can win people over! I think as even they said themselves, they’ll just never hold the value of psa!
@@thatlabfrank I agree, I think at that time this wasn’t in the pipeline so they were just being truthful, we all know PSA is going to be the top dog for the foreseeable future. PSA have made it clear that they want international hubs over the next few years and that vision along with them closing/raising prices probably just pushes these guys to go it alone. I don’t blame them for doing what’s right for their business and hope it works out well, but guess it shows why we should all have a bit of humility about ourselves and not to knock others. I think they will make a killing financially even if their service and grading isn’t good due to Randolph’s following. I think a lot more people collect due to poketubers (which is good) who may not necessarily be in the ‘hobby’ per se and things like Grading company, resell value and population reports may not be as important to them.
Yeah will be interesting to see how the others are announced into the company and their roles etc. I don't know why they have hidden it, it makes the situation a bit worse for everyone, just let people know, we're not going to be put off by their involvement!
@@PokiChloe I think it’s all legal. I heard Nat Turner say on a sports card podcast that one of PSA’s golden rules it to protect ‘brand integrity’ and so they never work with any other grading companies or affiliates to safeguard their reputation, I think it’s a specific term in the contract for prospective PSA dealers. Even though graded gem are no longer dealers, I imagine that ‘legal stuff’ they referred to in their video was all about PSA saying graded gem have to stick to the same rules until all submissions are back and sorted and in return they will grade all their cards for submitters, as not grading them will make both companies look bad. Once their finals submissions are sorted graded gem and the team are free to do whatever they like. So right now if Connor is seen returning PSA slabs on one channel and then hyping ace grading on another, PSA will take him to court for a multimillion pound law suit. I think the staff who have recently left have probably all picked up roles at ACE to bypass this , which is why I imagine Tom will be first to make an appearance. I imagine once all PSA returns are back to graded gem submitters, I can see Connor closing graded gem for good and taking everyone over to ACE. The graded gem boys are a smart bunch and don’t want to get sued. Graded gem would offer ACE grading more integrity than Randolph imo, as most of us submit through them or have done at some point, so their lack of appearance must be legal and this is my theory 😂.
I wish them all the luck. Its very difficult to break into an established market where the big players have been the go to for many years now. Lots of grading companies popping up all over the shop too so lots of competitors in the lower end of the grading market. I think PSA and BGS etc will continue to maintain dominance in the higher tier of graded pokemon cards. For all your 'junk' stuff i.e. bulk of modern and less than near mint then yeah absolutely. I've got a few cards I'd love to send in which I know would be a waste of time sending at PSAs $200 express level currently.
Personally, as a new-ish collector, I’d love to give ace a try. It’s a uk company and I’d do it just for the love of Randolph really. Yeah I’m smiping and idc
Absolutely give it a go!! Don't let some of my opinions / input put you off whatsoever if you like what they're doing! That's not what I am trying to do :) I am just giving my opinions, I wish them all the best and I probably will also submit some cards to understand their process slabs and service!
So excited for it and find it far more interesting then CGC.... and besides PSA and BGS which are out of reach for most cards.. this AGS is now on my radar as a viable option outside of PSA BGS....i to wish it was a standard plain label for every card.... but like the gold 10 idea... but for now I would hope and wish that all of graded gem transfers over and they didn’t have a falling Out... I am down to submit ASAP and a hope the US 🇺🇸 division opens up ASAP !!!!!
It’s a great option for the uk for a reliable grading service for hobbyists, it just isn’t a viable option for anyone looking for retaining value! I wish them all the best though and think they’ve got a great foundation to work from!
A lot of nit picking in this video, an a lot of personal preference, a company doesn’t care about your personal preference, Ace grading is giving you 3 options to have a personal preference to your slab 💪🏽 They will do just fine, it will start off as a hobbyist Grading, but when the fan base grows and the more people start to use the company, they will do just fine I believe. Il definitely be trying them out 😎
I think the colormatch/ace/standard label model is going to be a disaster for collectors. Maybe I have OCD but when I collect a set of cards I would want the labels in that set to match. Basically creates a scenario where only 1/3 of the graded copies of a card would fit into a collection if the label is important.
I think that this will be great if you look at what they are doing they are like hga grading for sports cards hga grading has all these cool slabs and the prices are pretty close to psa prices like Round 90 percent psa which is great hga also has the open and close submission mechanism they are really good so I am hoping that they will be the same
If we still wanted to use PSA when all the services open up what would be the best way to do it. Chloe...any thoughts on you becoming the next up and coming "middle person" as you're already known and trusted in the community?? 🤩
Good question! I would love to be that trusted / recognized in the community but i'm not quite at that level yet, and PSA haven't contacted me haha! I will sub for people who want to, when I send mine that wouldn't be a problem, email me :)
@@PokiChloe Maybe you could reach out to PSA at some point ? And mention that people in the UK still wish to use their services. I for one will be looking to submit when they open up the more affordable options and would much prefer to use a middle man from the UK. I was all set to use GradedGem just before things went a bit crazy. You could put that question out to your followers and see what their thoughts are 😊 bet you'll be surprised...its very clear you're dedicated to the hobby and not just here today and gone tomorrow. Avenue's sometimes open up when you least expect them 🧐
@@PokiChloe hi Chloe ive been looking to send off my first ever sub and I'd ideally love to use PSA, could I go through you if possible? (I'm UK). Got a few questions as well if that's alright
Ace grading is for hobbyists who want to have the choice of colours and extraness, I'm all in on the cheap prices for a good grading service with quality cases
I think with my more valuable cards I will stick to PSA. However some of the more modern stuff I was planning on sending to CGC but will switch to Ace Grading. I do like their slabs and their pricing.
@@PokiChloe I will Chloe! Plus I think modern full arts/rainbow cards will look nice with their colour match label service! For vintage though I don't think it would suit well.
They don’t have to put sub grades on the label they could be in the card metadata online but they should expose them. Agree on the labels - should go with base label for everything. ACE label does look cool and would be a neat take on BGS black label - so only offered on cards with 10s across all subcategories.
Yeah I think especially as they are grading against the 4 categories, it would have been better to make them visible, even as you say/suggest, it was only on the online database. I think that's a good idea!
He said that Ace Grading is for the collectors, the value is determined by the second hand market and they are not thinking about that. Personally feel that is the best way, if people want to make money from grading they can go to PSA, for the collectors they have Ace where they will get a high quality product.
the custom labels are good for a non-collector who just wants a few cards graded. I only have 1 card I want graded and only because it has personal significance to me. I doubt neo genesis Yanma can get a custom label though. I don't care for colour match.
Seeing how badly they managed the influx of cards in to them during GG, no reason to think they'll be able to deal with the demand for ACE grading now PSA is unaffordable for most. Hopefully they've learnt their lessons....2 companies going out of business in the same year would be unfortunate.
No I think that ace will be like hga grading hga slabs hold really good value vs psa slab value hga are like 90 percent psa and hga just started a couple months ago I am guessing that there slabs will hold value you will start liking there slabs once they have gotten back returns but by then it will be super hard to get in submissions it will be like cgc and hga once there cards had gotten back (for hga once the submission where open they would have thousands of people waiting to get in and they only had like 2k avaliable per week so you had to try allot) and with cgc you have to wait almost a year to get returns back just saying try to get in while it's still new worst case scenario you loose a couple hundred and you Crack your slabs and send your cards some where else
PSA , BGS look “boring” as they’re an authentication service… I like it as they look official and this is why we grade right ?. I completely agree the labels should be reversed but good luck to them… not for me in their current format. Also Randy went on about world beating, revolutionary, unique and game changing … lots of buzz words but essentially it’s the same as any of these new start ups. I don’t know what’s different here apart from these guys being big personalities in the community - though GG haven’t done themselves many favours recently I think that’s probably why we haven’t heard from them officially on this. Also Capacity management shouldn’t be applauded it should be what any responsible service provider offers by default. I wonder if their socials go quiet when they get busy as well. Nicely put summary though … 👍
Yeah very good points! It will be interesting to see how they manage it as they go, and yes I agree apart from the personalities behind it, it does come across as very similar to some other companies out there. As they said, I think their security features are great, but are they actually needed at this point when the value of the cards won't be held? I feel they could have put more into other bits instead at this point, and worked on security should they succeed in holding card value. The GG point I think is one of the main sticking points for me too, Randy kept saying Ace is about transparency and for the community but they're avoiding all conversation about the owners of the company, that's not overly transparent!! But we will see how they grow!!
@@PokiChloe he actually said GG aren’t affiliated to Ace Grading in his Q&A though everyone knows the owners of GG are listed as directors on companies house website for Ace Grading…. Then he went through a whole spiel of whether he will get his own cards graded or not with them. I don’t want to hate he puts out decent content - I think they should address the elephant in the room. I do believe his hearts in the right place though but I get a sense, at times, he is not honest.
@@PokiChloe will be interesting now PSA are close to getting back to normal service levels soon - I’ve even had cards back I sent this year and have decent updates on last years standard submissions …
Their labels are too colorful yet their text an description is just bland. Better than cgc but psa just gets the job done clearly to the point. Becket has a nice logo but as you said if she put their logo on the front without doing so much I think it would be enough.
@@PokiChloe I think it’s a good thing. While I do live in the US once I see how well or not this company does I’m more than willing to send in a sub when they got worldwide. Always been a fan of randolph’s if he’s backing this I trust it without a doubt.
'colour match' just sounds messy as hell to me 🙄 Multiple colours with multiple types of labels? When starting a brand new company competing against a company who have been in the game the longest along with having the highest reputation and value, you should probably try and start out with building an instantly recognisable lsbel/branding, all in the same consistent colourway! Think they have announced the project a little too early before ironing out some pretty major decisions... Might just be my opinion though 😏
@@MrAlexy90 You are wrong getgraded is the largest grading company in the uk. Ebay sales have been going up and on bigger hitter cards like vintage you can compare with psa.
Yeah, I don't think they should have advertised it like that though! Don't see why they couldn't have just used a gem mint card haha! I think it comes across a bit rushed etc by not showing off the product as it would be sold, regardless of it being a prototype!
It sounds like ''how can we make fast cash'' I will never let people grade my card if they can't tell me why it got that grade it got! Like wtf? I don't care about the slabs! The only thing good about ace grading is the shipping time! Person who invests in Pokemon cards should never send there cards to Ace grading. I would never purchase a f custom slab jesusss
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts! They have already made some changes to font / colour, so will be interesting to see if they implement pre grades at some point too!
For me, stick the QR code, the company logo and the card grade/info on the front Website and funky sticker on the back Stay with clean bold colours. Take the weird cringe colour match back to the bin of bad ideas. Dats just me.
These look like homemade/fake slabs. And a grading company in UK? Ever since brexit, isn't the market really small? If I had to choose between sending to USA (PSA) or UK (some random company), the choice is obvious, since there isn't a difference anymore. Plus if they're counting on 2020 levels of customers, then they are going to be really dissapointed in the coming year(s), when people stop caring about Pokemon for some time again.
I'm waiting for now to send to PSA when they open the next level of submission, but will give these guys a go for some of my lower end / sentimental cards :)
@@PokiChloe Yeah, I wish them (and any other company that tries to do it right) luck, but I think this is an uphill battle and a possible victory is not on the horizon anytime soon. PSA is king for Pokemon and if people grade because of the monetary value increase to flip the cards, PSA is by far the best option. And as a collector, I want to continue collecting PSA cases. Besides, if PSA opens up a location in EU, then it will be essentially over, unless there will be a huge price difference (like $50/card PSA, $10/card . Only way I would switch is if some other company had better looking labels + provided subgrades + provided detailed scans, closest one being Beckett and if PSA just refused to improve at all.
the toughest thing for any new grading company is trying to convert entrenched collectors. I have a bunch of slabbed cards in my pc (mostly PSA) and that is one of the biggest reasons why I'll stick with PSA (the main reason being they are most trusted). I think most collectors prefer uniformity in their collections like I do, so starting new company is definitely an uphill battle. that being said, this is a great time to start a grading company with PSA and BGS currently not accepting most submissions. it's a brave move and I wish them luck!
Yeah everyone has to start somewhere! Looking forward to seeing more from them
This is the same kind of fear with starting any new company. What matters is marketing and persistence. Most companies are successful... when they work hard at what they do.
@@PokiChloe
Completely agree with this statement. All of my graded cards are via PSA and I'm sure that's how it will stay both aesthetically and financially. I personally think the grading company market is saturated already. The more of these start ups keep popping up it may end up damaging the whole idea of grading. Either way I wish Ace grading the best of luck and I'll certainly try one or two cards with them 👍
You are not bland and boring, your channel is great and so are you, keep up the great work! :)
Thanks!! I am trying to put some good content out there, it's not always for everyone but I appreciate the kind words!!
Good take on the labels! Change is hard to tell if it's good or not, at first we hate it. If the Ace slabs surpass all the others and it starts to get a reputation for being top premium, I feel like we'll start to grow a liking to the labels connected to it and consider it premium too. I hope the best for Randy, I'm with you on the simple labels being classic and preferred in a collection. Maybe they can work out a middle ground so it doesn't feel like there's too much going on when you're looking through your cards. But I have a hunch the labels might be preferred for a new gen of collectors
The label is a huge part of the graders brand, having multiple different labels is just bad for their own brand awareness
Yeah I really don't think for the brand it was a great choice, I think something simpler and neat would have been better for value retention and recognition, however, as Randy has said a few times, he isn't doing this with value in mind to start with, it's for the collectors and it seems as though the more novelty side of it and custom labels is where he wanted it to go! I think that's fair enough and it gives them a direct place in the market with a clear outlook on it, I just think it will encourage people seeking value retention to wait for the PSA service levels to reopen!
The point of grading is to standardised the item. All grade 10s should look the same. With three different labels people buying the cards will have to hunt the secondary market for not just the grade but the label cutting demand for a card with each label to a third of the total.
Big a fan of Randolph and hope this goes well for him, but I really appreciate how well said this was and especially how you gave your honest opinion, this is why I’m subscribed to your channel! The labels threw me off a little bit as well tbh, I really dig that simple but classy/uniform look of PSA/Beckett slabs and even CGC, but we’ll see how it goes. The back of the slab would be perfect for the front, it reminds me of Beckett’s front.
Thanks for the comment I really appreciate it :)
I've been trying 'get graded' recently but think im gunna start using ace grading. agree thats theirs too much going on with the labels, i will be using the basic label
Let me know how you get on!!
There are some full art cards that the color match would look pretty cool with. It’s a good option for many people, and being known in the community already helps their reputation. I wouldn’t send em the 1st edition wotc cards just yet but it’s an interesting idea for modern I think.
I agree with this! I think great for the hobby, just not the value retention side for more expensive cards!
Yeah the value retention puts me off sending most my cards but I would be open to send some lesser valued cards!
I've watched this vid of Randolph earlier and I love the guy and don't want to be negative but i don't particularly like the look. All the best to the company and his involvement in it and hope they grow and become very successful. Personally if I had much of a choice id rather try use PSA, BGS CGC and then maybe anything else. The one thing that's appealing for me is UK companies, its easier to get things sent there and back from South Africa than the states.
Yeah I felt the same! I wish them all the best but I think for now I will wait for the other companies pricing to come down / for them to open more services! Will be interesting to see how they get on once psa are caught back up and accepting slightly larger orders!
Yes i agree as well, I prefer the PSA label but then again it takes me a while to accept change!
You make a very valid point about allowing a new business to come into the space and make a name for themselves, very exciting time for grading in the UK with Randolph being a big name, big shout out to your review as well, all valid points
Thanks so much, I appreciate your comments :)
I actually agree about the labels. The card inside should be the main focus although I can understand the appeal of a design that compliments the card. I do wish the front looked a little more like that back too! I've only ever graded with PSA but I'd definitely be up for use ACE if they prove to be reliable as it's not ideal having to send cards overseas for over a year at this point.
Thanks for sharing! It will be interesting to see how they grow!!
Do you think certain ace labels will hold a premium over others? Like ace label vs color matched label or standard label.
Maybe by however much extra they cost, ie the £2 / £5 but I don't think any more than that no!
Great news & to have someone as enthusiastic and caring about cards as Randolph in charge you know things will be done right. Can't wait to use to get my 1st cards graded 🙂
It is a very positive part having someone so enthusiastic being the face of it and someone who is already trusted in the community, gives them a great base to start on!
Let me know how you get on!
Looking forward to trying them out 🙂 I don't think it will be long before they are 1 of the top Pokemon Grading companys tbh.
Will be interesting to see how they get on! Don’t think the bigger cards will hold value but you have to start somewhere and build that rep! Wish them luck but I’m not a huge fan of the style of labels etc so probably won’t sub at the moment! I do agree actually that the back of the label is pretty neat! I think I will wait for psa and sub direct when they open back up unless I see something else they change and I like!
Yes looking forward to seeing what's to come!
Really hoping they do well. Not the biggest fan of Randy's content but appreciate he's a lover of the hobby. GG were a bit of a car crash so a respected UK grader would be fantastic for everyone.
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts, I really appreciate it!
Great video Chloe, I agree with you. When I look at a slab I want to know what company it's from. Especially for a new company the brand needs to be the focus the cards won't have any graded value when theres 1000s of slab artworks. I would love to see the artwork used for exclusive events like the Logan Paul box break but keep it limited!!!
Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing more information being released!
Randolph is just providing options as some people may love having a section of their fire type etc in similar colours. Your special cards will look special. If that's not for you then there's the standard label. Its appealing to all audiences rather than having a set way which is great service. It seems Ace grading is specifically aimed at people who want to keep their collection for life and make it special rather than the side where its just people grading and selling to turn a profit. Its all about them giving power to the owner of the card being able to choose how it looks. Having multiple options is never a bad thing for the consumer :)
Yeah I agree I think it’s more of a novelty aimed product with sentimental value to the owners! I like what they’re doing, I just don’t think it’s aimed at people looking to retain the value in their cards! Wish them the best of luck with it and will be watching where they go with it!
Yes I think having options is also a good thing!
Can you submit a single card or does it have to be in bulk
I think you can submit any number of cards from 1 to 60!
Hi, great video! Looking to get my first set of cards graded (UK), however not sure who to send it to. Who do you recommend?
Getgraded, Pokegrade, MGC, PCA? I know its a tough question but just wanted some peoples opinion.
In the UK for someone who is currently open to submissions, I would send to Tree Frog or Goodbros, I have used Tree Frog more, and I think they have a really good service offered!
@@PokiChloe Brilliant, cheers for the feedback. Will give them a look now.
Their one of challenges is more related to the customer base. Most slab collectors are already into PSA, BGS or/and CGC. And they would like to continue collecting their future cards to be in the same sort of slab. That explain why other small companies in North America like MNT and etc are not able to expand like the big3.
Yeah I think that's the biggest challenge indeed!!
I'm not sure on the labels as well. I prefer the more professional standard ones. Will be interesting to see how they develop though.
I think the standard ones interest me most, I’m really not too sure on the custom ones!!
Exactly. Simple is sometimes better
Yeah I much prefer a plain professional looking style!
I think its awesome but i would need to see the price comparison between a 10 ace and a 10 psa
I think there would be a large difference at the beginning! It would be at least a few years in my opinion before you could correlate any form of comparison! PSA will always be front runners for value, people will just like ace for its collectibility!
I don't think they will be comparable for at least a few years! But we will have to wait and see!
@@thatlabfrank yeah I understand but i would like to see him maybe switch out his valuable cards from psa to ace to see if he legitimately believe in it
@@jcproductions433 yeah I don’t think he’s going to do that hahaha I would love to see it too though! 😅
My honest opinion on it: Ace Grading is gonna be adding cosmetic value, but not necessarily adding grading value to it in the short run. The grading value market is being dominated by PSA, CGC, BGS and to a certain extent, SGC. But, that being said, Randolph is bringing something new to the community and I applaud him for trying to create hype and demand using his influence. Who knows, collectors might just want to collect ACE 10s just for the unique slab design! Even I'm intrigued by what other unique slab designs will come out next. Let's hope they send you a slab for review xD
I will certainly be open to reviewing them! I like the idea, I just feel they won't capitalise on the whole market due to any collectors with value in mind not wanting to send there! Thats always going to be the hardest part to overcome with a start up though! We shall see what happens!
Why does that fates collide umbreon slab say 2019 x) reminds me of the GetGraded 'butterfry'
Oh crikey, hadn’t seen that 😅😅
Oh wow just noticed that!!
I think for value I agree PSA will always be up there, BGS for me from 8.5 silver label up to gold and black label look the best and most professional. Used a few in the UK getgraded and pokegrade beautiful slabs and labels simple but effective. MGC were the best in terms of communication and slabs bland.
Think supporting all UK grading is a good thing but yeah I'm with you I would struggle with multiple labels.
Fully support them and hope they do well, think it’s good for the community! I just don’t think I will be sending my cards there as I do want the value retention!
I really don't think the multiple label types is a great idea but I hope they do well and its great for the UK having a big name in the scene!
I like the custom labels, it's not new on Ace, there's some in the US that do the same.
My biggest problem is not having sub grade.
My favorite so far is Becket.
It's a good welcome to have grading companies in Europe though.
I think they should have put the sub grades on! I like Beckett slabs a lot! Good luck to them though!
Yeah I like Beckett also! Will be interesting to see how it picks up!
@@PokiChloe yes, I hope they do well.
Fates Collide wasn't a 2019 set
Haha I just noticed this!!
Agree with the whole label thing. The back looks a lot more stylish than any other grading company. The only complaint would be the colour match label, in my opinion it’s tacky but as stated it’s optional. The exclusive label idea however is cool, having the community be involved in the picking process should be awesome.
I really think the back is slick and neat! I really like it!
I agree their slabs look like a BGS copy. I wonder if the PSA contract stipulates that no Graded gem employee can appear on ACE grading socials until they cut all ties with PSA and that’s why Tom has gone first. I do think graded gem have shot themselves in the foot by roasting all other grading services before. ‘PSA has guaranteed value and guarantee the grade, they have longevity, prices are always higher and they are and will probably always be the market leader’ (Graded gem video, February 2021). They laughed at CGC and UK graders and only 5months later they open Ace Grading with pokerand, which doesn’t look good as they clearly don’t believe in their own product.
That video they put out was the worst thing they could have done, especially if they already had this on their mind, that was not a good move! I just think it hasn’t been handled overly well as a whole but excited for them and hope they can win people over! I think as even they said themselves, they’ll just never hold the value of psa!
@@thatlabfrank I agree, I think at that time this wasn’t in the pipeline so they were just being truthful, we all know PSA is going to be the top dog for the foreseeable future. PSA have made it clear that they want international hubs over the next few years and that vision along with them closing/raising prices probably just pushes these guys to go it alone. I don’t blame them for doing what’s right for their business and hope it works out well, but guess it shows why we should all have a bit of humility about ourselves and not to knock others. I think they will make a killing financially even if their service and grading isn’t good due to Randolph’s following. I think a lot more people collect due to poketubers (which is good) who may not necessarily be in the ‘hobby’ per se and things like Grading company, resell value and population reports may not be as important to them.
@@stevejohnson560 Steve talks lots of sense, I like Steve! Very well put across opinion 👍🏻
Yeah will be interesting to see how the others are announced into the company and their roles etc. I don't know why they have hidden it, it makes the situation a bit worse for everyone, just let people know, we're not going to be put off by their involvement!
@@PokiChloe I think it’s all legal. I heard Nat Turner say on a sports card podcast that one of PSA’s golden rules it to protect ‘brand integrity’ and so they never work with any other grading companies or affiliates to safeguard their reputation, I think it’s a specific term in the contract for prospective PSA dealers. Even though graded gem are no longer dealers, I imagine that ‘legal stuff’ they referred to in their video was all about PSA saying graded gem have to stick to the same rules until all submissions are back and sorted and in return they will grade all their cards for submitters, as not grading them will make both companies look bad. Once their finals submissions are sorted graded gem and the team are free to do whatever they like. So right now if Connor is seen returning PSA slabs on one channel and then hyping ace grading on another, PSA will take him to court for a multimillion pound law suit. I think the staff who have recently left have probably all picked up roles at ACE to bypass this , which is why I imagine Tom will be first to make an appearance. I imagine once all PSA returns are back to graded gem submitters, I can see Connor closing graded gem for good and taking everyone over to ACE. The graded gem boys are a smart bunch and don’t want to get sued. Graded gem would offer ACE grading more integrity than Randolph imo, as most of us submit through them or have done at some point, so their lack of appearance must be legal and this is my theory 😂.
I wish them all the luck. Its very difficult to break into an established market where the big players have been the go to for many years now.
Lots of grading companies popping up all over the shop too so lots of competitors in the lower end of the grading market.
I think PSA and BGS etc will continue to maintain dominance in the higher tier of graded pokemon cards.
For all your 'junk' stuff i.e. bulk of modern and less than near mint then yeah absolutely.
I've got a few cards I'd love to send in which I know would be a waste of time sending at PSAs $200 express level currently.
Yeah it's a difficult time at the moment with PSA being so expensive! I will be waiting for a lot of mine for the next service levels to open!
This is me, all my cards are damaged and I just want them protected so they don't get damaged further
Personally, as a new-ish collector, I’d love to give ace a try. It’s a uk company and I’d do it just for the love of Randolph really. Yeah I’m smiping and idc
Absolutely give it a go!! Don't let some of my opinions / input put you off whatsoever if you like what they're doing! That's not what I am trying to do :) I am just giving my opinions, I wish them all the best and I probably will also submit some cards to understand their process slabs and service!
So excited for it and find it far more interesting then CGC.... and besides PSA and BGS which are out of reach for most cards.. this AGS is now on my radar as a viable option outside of PSA BGS....i to wish it was a standard plain label for every card.... but like the gold 10 idea... but for now I would hope and wish that all of graded gem transfers over and they didn’t have a falling Out... I am down to submit ASAP and a hope the US 🇺🇸 division opens up ASAP !!!!!
It’s a great option for the uk for a reliable grading service for hobbyists, it just isn’t a viable option for anyone looking for retaining value! I wish them all the best though and think they’ve got a great foundation to work from!
Will be interesting to see how they grow!
A lot of nit picking in this video, an a lot of personal preference, a company doesn’t care about your personal preference, Ace grading is giving you 3 options to have a personal preference to your slab 💪🏽
They will do just fine, it will start off as a hobbyist Grading, but when the fan base grows and the more people start to use the company, they will do just fine I believe.
Il definitely be trying them out 😎
Thanks for sharing!
@@PokiChloe you still get a sub from me, I love a good review vid 😉
i agree with you. i would prefer to have a cleaner basic plate
Yeah I think a lot of people share the opinion! Thanks for watching :)
I think the colormatch/ace/standard label model is going to be a disaster for collectors. Maybe I have OCD but when I collect a set of cards I would want the labels in that set to match. Basically creates a scenario where only 1/3 of the graded copies of a card would fit into a collection if the label is important.
Yeah I think a lot of people are in the same mindset!
I like the clear slab, not many Uk companies use them. Also, the Good Bros slabs have gold, silver & bronze for each grade up to 10.
Yeah the clear is a good new take for a UK company!
Yellow font on white background for their ace grading logo is a huge error, let’s hope they change this
We will see what happens!! Thanks for sharing :)
I think that this will be great if you look at what they are doing they are like hga grading for sports cards hga grading has all these cool slabs and the prices are pretty close to psa prices like Round 90 percent psa which is great hga also has the open and close submission mechanism they are really good so I am hoping that they will be the same
We shall see how it goes as they grow, I think it will be far from PSA value at the start!
Completely agree that the back looks better than the front label. The black label would steal some thunder from BGS
Yeah I think its a bit neater / professional looking!
If we still wanted to use PSA when all the services open up what would be the best way to do it. Chloe...any thoughts on you becoming the next up and coming "middle person" as you're already known and trusted in the community?? 🤩
Good question! I would love to be that trusted / recognized in the community but i'm not quite at that level yet, and PSA haven't contacted me haha! I will sub for people who want to, when I send mine that wouldn't be a problem, email me :)
@@PokiChloe Maybe you could reach out to PSA at some point ? And mention that people in the UK still wish to use their services. I for one will be looking to submit when they open up the more affordable options and would much prefer to use a middle man from the UK. I was all set to use GradedGem just before things went a bit crazy. You could put that question out to your followers and see what their thoughts are 😊 bet you'll be surprised...its very clear you're dedicated to the hobby and not just here today and gone tomorrow. Avenue's sometimes open up when you least expect them 🧐
@@PokiChloe hi Chloe ive been looking to send off my first ever sub and I'd ideally love to use PSA, could I go through you if possible? (I'm UK). Got a few questions as well if that's alright
@@kentucky_brew3678 Hey! Sure, send me an email :) info@pokichloe.com
@@PokiChloe thanks Chloe I'll send one over tomorrow 😁
These look sick and cleaner without the brand on front imo
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts, I really appreciate it!
Can’t help but think this guy is wanting to completely take over the Pokemon scene! What’s next, his own version of Pokemon centres to rival the NHS
Thanks for watching and commenting!!
Tbh I like the idea but generally psa and bgs really hold more value it’s hard for cgc sgc to hold the same weight .
PSA and BGS (10 and black label) will always hold value well, certainly compared to the likes of UK companies at the moment!
They will always hold more value, it will be interesting to see if these slabs hold anything near the value!
I agree I like the back where it says a that should be on the front
Yeah I really like the backs!!
@@PokiChloe great job Chloe
Ace grading is for hobbyists who want to have the choice of colours and extraness, I'm all in on the cheap prices for a good grading service with quality cases
Thanks for watching! I agree, I think that's where they've taken it currently!
I think with my more valuable cards I will stick to PSA. However some of the more modern stuff I was planning on sending to CGC but will switch to Ace Grading. I do like their slabs and their pricing.
I agree! Value retention to PSA and anything you like and just want to display to Ace!! Let us know how it goes!
@@PokiChloe I will Chloe! Plus I think modern full arts/rainbow cards will look nice with their colour match label service! For vintage though I don't think it would suit well.
Great video. I think this "cosmetic" labelling is just a way to lure more people. Saw this already few weeks back with a new US-based company.
Yeah a few people have mentioned the US company!! Thanks for watching! :D
They don’t have to put sub grades on the label they could be in the card metadata online but they should expose them.
Agree on the labels - should go with base label for everything. ACE label does look cool and would be a neat take on BGS black label - so only offered on cards with 10s across all subcategories.
Yeah I think especially as they are grading against the 4 categories, it would have been better to make them visible, even as you say/suggest, it was only on the online database. I think that's a good idea!
Well, I'm in US so highly doubt it will help me... :/
Not at the moment no!
Randolph - "I've just pulled a card that is worth £1,000 as a PSA10, and £250 as an ACE 10" :)
I fear this may be all too accurate! Great for pure hobbyists, but if you want value retention whilst collecting I’m not sure it’s the way forward!
He said that Ace Grading is for the collectors, the value is determined by the second hand market and they are not thinking about that. Personally feel that is the best way, if people want to make money from grading they can go to PSA, for the collectors they have Ace where they will get a high quality product.
Cool to see but it reminds me a lot of HGA and Revolution Card Grading. Hope it works out, Rudolph is awesome!
I hope so too!Had a lot of similar comments to this! HGA is being mentioned a lot!
@@PokiChloe Yeah wasn't sure if HGA has business outside of the US but they were the first grading company I saw with the custom labels
Can I see the moltres and raichu 1st eds PSA 10s I sold you last year 😋
I will have to have a look! haha : D
I love the colored ones... they look so neat.
Thanks for watching and sharing!!
the custom labels are good for a non-collector who just wants a few cards graded. I only have 1 card I want graded and only because it has personal significance to me. I doubt neo genesis Yanma can get a custom label though.
I don't care for colour match.
Thanks for watching and leaving your thoughts!!
For me:
Label: Tree Frog> BGS> PCA> ACE> Bro
Case: BGS> Bro> PCA> ACE> Tree Frog
You need to feel some CGC slabs. They feel so satisfying.
@@Tenekai LOL, I would love to.
Currently, I have PSA and Getgraded only XD but I am willing to try others !
Seeing how badly they managed the influx of cards in to them during GG, no reason to think they'll be able to deal with the demand for ACE grading now PSA is unaffordable for most. Hopefully they've learnt their lessons....2 companies going out of business in the same year would be unfortunate.
Will be interesting to see how they manage it! Randy said they have a dedicated team so maybe this will be smoother!
No I think that ace will be like hga grading hga slabs hold really good value vs psa slab value hga are like 90 percent psa and hga just started a couple months ago I am guessing that there slabs will hold value you will start liking there slabs once they have gotten back returns but by then it will be super hard to get in submissions it will be like cgc and hga once there cards had gotten back (for hga once the submission where open they would have thousands of people waiting to get in and they only had like 2k avaliable per week so you had to try allot) and with cgc you have to wait almost a year to get returns back just saying try to get in while it's still new worst case scenario you loose a couple hundred and you Crack your slabs and send your cards some where else
And I Would highly doubt that the card would not be at least worth the grading fee plus the price of the card raw
Thanks for the input!
PSA , BGS look “boring” as they’re an authentication service… I like it as they look official and this is why we grade right ?. I completely agree the labels should be reversed but good luck to them… not for me in their current format. Also Randy went on about world beating, revolutionary, unique and game changing … lots of buzz words but essentially it’s the same as any of these new start ups. I don’t know what’s different here apart from these guys being big personalities in the community - though GG haven’t done themselves many favours recently I think that’s probably why we haven’t heard from them officially on this. Also Capacity management shouldn’t be applauded it should be what any responsible service provider offers by default. I wonder if their socials go quiet when they get busy as well. Nicely put summary though … 👍
Yeah very good points! It will be interesting to see how they manage it as they go, and yes I agree apart from the personalities behind it, it does come across as very similar to some other companies out there. As they said, I think their security features are great, but are they actually needed at this point when the value of the cards won't be held? I feel they could have put more into other bits instead at this point, and worked on security should they succeed in holding card value. The GG point I think is one of the main sticking points for me too, Randy kept saying Ace is about transparency and for the community but they're avoiding all conversation about the owners of the company, that's not overly transparent!! But we will see how they grow!!
@@PokiChloe he actually said GG aren’t affiliated to Ace Grading in his Q&A though everyone knows the owners of GG are listed as directors on companies house website for Ace Grading…. Then he went through a whole spiel of whether he will get his own cards graded or not with them. I don’t want to hate he puts out decent content - I think they should address the elephant in the room. I do believe his hearts in the right place though but I get a sense, at times, he is not honest.
@@PokiChloe will be interesting now PSA are close to getting back to normal service levels soon - I’ve even had cards back I sent this year and have decent updates on last years standard submissions …
I’ve just used pokegrade and I’m waiting for them to get back to me
Let us know how you find it!!
very good well in depth video.
Much appreciated!
Their labels are too colorful yet their text an description is just bland. Better than cgc but psa just gets the job done clearly to the point. Becket has a nice logo but as you said if she put their logo on the front without doing so much I think it would be enough.
Thanks for watching and sharing your opinion, it's good to collate and see what everyone thoughts are!
No wonder they stopped working with PSA! Lol nice. Can’t wait.
Indeed! It seems this has had something to do with it!
@@PokiChloe I think it’s a good thing. While I do live in the US once I see how well or not this company does I’m more than willing to send in a sub when they got worldwide. Always been a fan of randolph’s if he’s backing this I trust it without a doubt.
Check out this company: Pkmngrade
Their slabs provide much better protection and also you can hang them on a fridge (kinda cool)
I will have a look, although I'm not sure my kitchen needs my graded cards, they're already all over my living room!
'colour match' just sounds messy as hell to me 🙄
Multiple colours with multiple types of labels?
When starting a brand new company competing against a company who have been in the game the longest along with having the highest reputation and value, you should probably try and start out with building an instantly recognisable lsbel/branding, all in the same consistent colourway!
Think they have announced the project a little too early before ironing out some pretty major decisions... Might just be my opinion though 😏
This is a similar opinion to a lot of people! Thanks for watching and sharing!
Chloe you are beautiful and so is your channel great job keep the great work
Thanks
Kind of looks like a new company similar here in the US
I'm not familiar with it!
Getgraded is by far the best grading company in the Uk the quality of the slab can compare to beckett!
I thought Get Graded were the same slabs as PSA, similar to all the other UK companies coming through?
Absolutely not lol, the cards are worth More raw than in slabs with getgraded
@@MrAlexy90 You are wrong getgraded is the largest grading company in the uk. Ebay sales have been going up and on bigger hitter cards like vintage you can compare with psa.
I have 60 cards (max submission) ready to ship to my brother who lives in the UK... Et cetera, et cetera....
Let us know how it goes!!
Second! Nice Video! 👍
Thanks for watching!
i dont hate the labels but i think the color match labels really need some work. for trying to be colorful they really seem bland
They i'm not a huge fan, interesting to see if they will release different variations down the line!
i don't think that card is a legitimate 10 as its got a code of 999999? so is just prototype version lol
Yeah, I don't think they should have advertised it like that though! Don't see why they couldn't have just used a gem mint card haha! I think it comes across a bit rushed etc by not showing off the product as it would be sold, regardless of it being a prototype!
@@PokiChloe yea I agree as its sloppy advertising lol but I've made bigger mistakes in my life, so who am I to judge haha
It sounds like ''how can we make fast cash'' I will never let people grade my card if they can't tell me why it got that grade it got! Like wtf? I don't care about the slabs! The only thing good about ace grading is the shipping time! Person who invests in Pokemon cards should never send there cards to Ace grading. I would never purchase a f custom slab jesusss
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts! They have already made some changes to font / colour, so will be interesting to see if they implement pre grades at some point too!
The slabs look shite let's be honest, they look childish
Thanks for watching and sharing!
For me, stick the QR code, the company logo and the card grade/info on the front
Website and funky sticker on the back
Stay with clean bold colours.
Take the weird cringe colour match back to the bin of bad ideas.
Dats just me.
Yeah I agree with this!
These look like homemade/fake slabs. And a grading company in UK? Ever since brexit, isn't the market really small? If I had to choose between sending to USA (PSA) or UK (some random company), the choice is obvious, since there isn't a difference anymore. Plus if they're counting on 2020 levels of customers, then they are going to be really dissapointed in the coming year(s), when people stop caring about Pokemon for some time again.
I'm waiting for now to send to PSA when they open the next level of submission, but will give these guys a go for some of my lower end / sentimental cards :)
@@PokiChloe Yeah, I wish them (and any other company that tries to do it right) luck, but I think this is an uphill battle and a possible victory is not on the horizon anytime soon. PSA is king for Pokemon and if people grade because of the monetary value increase to flip the cards, PSA is by far the best option. And as a collector, I want to continue collecting PSA cases. Besides, if PSA opens up a location in EU, then it will be essentially over, unless there will be a huge price difference (like $50/card PSA, $10/card . Only way I would switch is if some other company had better looking labels + provided subgrades + provided detailed scans, closest one being Beckett and if PSA just refused to improve at all.
Choices are bad choice. Grading should be uniform and boring so card stands out
I agree, I do like the more simplistic / sleek look to show off the card!
HGA
I'm not familiar with it!
@@PokiChloe pretty sure it's a newer USA in the United States grading company
@@PokiChloe I'm not a giant fan of them but they do a very nice cases
10:25 U- G A Y grading company haha sorry. . just made me laugh!
haha oops!
I'd grade you a 10
Shame, I thought I would have been worthy of a black label
@@PokiChloe You didn't hear? They created a platinum label just for you lil miss! 😉
Yeah get your gem mint card swapped for a randolph mint. No thanks don't trust other collectors
Yeah a lot of people will be hesitant!
Beautiful British blonde
Thanks