So, I was at a local card store this evening in BC just outside of Vancouver BC. One I hadn’t had the chance to visit yet and had heard great things about. I was not disappointed! The store had an incredible selection of collectables. I’m talking walls upon walls of every kind of booster box in all types of cards ++++ it reminded me of the wand store in Harry Potter no joke. They also had a great selection of Pokemon singles. After chatting with the owner for a few minutes I told him that I buy, sell and Grade cards. He responded by saying he had a nice collection of Beckett 9.5’s and asked if I wanted to see them. Of course I said yes. So he brings them out and there are absolutely some great cards. I’d say about half of the first edition base set holos. (Not including Zard). He had little sticky note price tags on the back. I immediately noticed that they were priced at peak PSA 10 prices. (Which was disappointing in itself l). But what disappointed me the most was the fact that the these cards were NOT PSA 10 worthy by any means. Like I’m not kidding they were weak 9’s in my oppinion. Silvering on the front on a lot of them, and the allowance for whiting on the back was astounding. Now believe me when I say that I have nothing against BGS, but that being said, I will never EVER put BGS 9.5 and PSA 10 on the same level… I had always wondered, but just had never had a volume of PSA 9.5’s like that in my hands. I’m glad I for to experience that, and just thought I’d share! 
BGS is not reliable when it comes to Pokemon cards… I honestly don’t know why. They have a good rep when it comes to MTG and probably sports or other hobbies as well.
I have a card with 10 subgrades that are far from flawless… or 9.5 surface with a very noticeable scratch on the holo,etc… I would absolutely buy BGS, but I need to do a thorough examination, not something I do when I’m purchasing PSA graded cards. I have a quick glance at front and back, but no more.
Oh absolutely. I would buy Beckett as well. After all there is still Pokemon cards inside! If the prices were right I would have pulled the trigger on those cards. It just astonishes me how many people believe BGS is superior to PSA. I’ve now met a handful of shop owners that are under that impression. When I explain to them the reality, they react as if I’m lying to them in order to scam them or something lol. It’s crazy. BUT I will say. Most stores revolve around MTG, and most MTG collectors want BGS. It’s total opposite from Pokemon. .Then when someone comes in and said BGS is inferior in the Pokemon world, they just cannot accept it!!! That’s my piece!
That’s totally understandable then. There’s just a huge difference grading a holographic card than some high end MTG card or Sports,etc… They’re just doing it wrong when it comes to Pokemon. I truly think they’re missing out, it’s like they’re not even trying to compete with PSA.
Some of their 9s would struggle to get 7.5 with PSA.