The Heart of the Hobby Deserves Better

For decades, card grading has been a cornerstone of the hobby — a way to preserve, protect, and assign value to the collectibles people love. But too often, that process has been clouded by human subjectivity. A card’s grade can change based on who's looking at it, the lighting in the room, or even the grader’s mood.

Collectors don’t ask for perfection. They ask for fairness. They want grading that’s consistent and transparent, not the kind that leaves them wondering, “What if I sent it in again?”

That’s why the conversation is shifting.

Modern technology now allows grading to be done with incredible precision. Every corner, surface, and flaw can be scanned down to fractions of a millimeter. Artificial intelligence (AI) removes human bias, fatigue, and guesswork — delivering truly objective results.

This isn’t about replacing tradition. It’s about protecting the integrity of the hobby. These cards represent more than just value — they’re personal stories, childhood memories, and passion projects. They deserve to be treated with the same honesty and care that collectors pour into preserving them.

So to every grading company out there: remember what the hobby is built on — trust. Not just slabs and scores, but the people behind the cards. If you can honor that, you’ll be honoring every collector who’s ever ripped a pack, made a trade, or hunted for a dream card.

And that’s exactly why AGS exists — to protect the hobby’s integrity through grading that’s consistent, transparent, and true.