Crossing an SGC-graded card to BGS involves submitting your card to Beckett Grading Services, which will remove it from the SGC holder and re-encapsulate it in a BGS holder if the card meets or exceeds your specified minimum grade. The process is straightforward but comes with important financial and timing considerations: you’ll pay a service fee regardless of whether your card successfully crosses over, and it can take anywhere from 2 to 3 days for premium service up to 45 business days for standard service, not including shipping time. For example, if you own a Zekrom card graded SGC 6, you could submit it to BGS and request a minimum grade of 6; if BGS determines the card meets or exceeds that standard, they’ll remove it from the SGC holder and place it in a BGS holder with fresh sub-grades for corners, centering, edges, and surface.
The appeal of crossing over cards lies in market preference and the desire for fresh grades. Some collectors prefer BGS holders for display or investment purposes, while others want to see if a card might receive a higher grade under different grading standards. However, the crossover process isn’t a guarantee that you’ll improve your card’s grade or achieve a higher value—it’s a service with fixed costs and variable outcomes.
Table of Contents
- Understanding the BGS Crossover Service for SGC Cards
- The Financial Cost and Turnaround Timeline
- What Happens During the Crossover Process
- Choosing the Right Service Level for Your Card
- Hidden Flaws and Re-Encapsulation Risks
- Sub-Grades and What They Tell You
- Should You Cross Over Your SGC Card?
- Conclusion
Understanding the BGS Crossover Service for SGC Cards
bgs officially accepts crossover submissions on items previously graded by other companies, including SGC. This service was created to accommodate collectors who want their cards re-evaluated or re-encapsulated under the BGS standard. When you submit an SGC card for crossover, you’re asking BGS to take the card out of its SGC holder, evaluate it against their grading standards, and if it meets your minimum grade requirement, place it in a BGS holder with their official sub-grades.
The critical detail is the minimum grade threshold. You’ll specify what grade you’re willing to accept—for instance, if you submit an SGC 6 Zekrom, you might request a minimum grade of 5 (meaning you’ll accept anything from 5 to 10) or a minimum of 6 (meaning you only want the card if BGS grades it 6 or higher). If BGS determines the card falls below your minimum, they’ll return it in the original SGC holder without charging you less—the full service fee still applies. This is an important financial consideration: you could pay $25 to $100 and receive your card back unchanged.
The Financial Cost and Turnaround Timeline
BGS offers three crossover service levels with different price points and speed. Standard service costs $25 per card with a 45 business day turnaround, making it the most economical option for collectors without time constraints. Express service costs $50 per card with a 15 business day turnaround, offering a middle ground for those who want faster results. Premium service costs $100 per card with a 2 to 3 day turnaround, designed for collectors who need quick results or are crossing over high-value cards where time is critical.
However, the stated turnaround times don’t include shipping. You’ll need to factor in 1 to 2 weeks of shipping time to BGS and another 1 to 2 weeks for your card to return to you. This means a “45 business day” standard service could realistically take 3 to 4 months total, while a “2 to 3 day” premium service might take 3 to 4 weeks when you account for both inbound and outbound shipping. If you’re crossing over a lower-grade card like an SGC 6, the $25 standard service is common, but even that represents a significant cost if the crossover doesn’t result in a higher grade or the card is returned in its original holder.
What Happens During the Crossover Process
When BGS receives your SGC card, their graders will remove it from the SGC holder and assess it as if it were a new submission. BGS will assign four sub-grades (Centering, Corners, Edges, and Surface) along with the overall grade, all included at no additional cost. This fresh evaluation sometimes results in a different grade than SGC assigned—occasionally higher, sometimes lower, and often the same. For a Zekrom card that’s already been graded SGC 6, the BGS evaluation might result in a 5, 6, or 7 depending on how the two companies’ grading standards align.
One risk that collectors don’t always anticipate is that the original SGC holder might have been hiding flaws. Once the card is removed from the holder, previously hidden damage to the back, edges, or surface might become visible. BGS has no liability for any flaws discovered during the crossover process, meaning you cannot file a claim if the card was damaged by the holder or if flaws are now apparent that weren’t visible before. This is particularly relevant for older SGC holders, which some collectors argue can sometimes mask imperfections. You’re taking on this risk when you submit the card.
Choosing the Right Service Level for Your Card
The decision between standard, express, and premium service should depend on the card’s value and your goals. For an SGC 6 Zekrom, which is a moderately graded card, most collectors choose the $25 standard service unless they have a specific deadline. The standard service makes financial sense because you’re not paying a premium to quickly re-house a card that’s already a mid-grade. If, however, you owned an SGC 6 Zekrom that you believed might grade higher under BGS standards and you wanted to list it quickly, the express service at $50 might be justified.
The premium $100 service is typically reserved for high-value cards or time-sensitive situations. If you’re crossing over a rare or valuable Zekrom variant that could significantly increase in value with a BGS 7, and you need the card back within a few weeks, the premium service becomes more defensible. But for standard-market cards at mid-grades, the slower, cheaper options are the norm. Keep in mind that no service level offers a quality guarantee—BGS might grade your card the same or lower regardless of how much you pay for speed.
Hidden Flaws and Re-Encapsulation Risks
One significant concern with crossover services is the potential for hidden damage. The original SGC holder encapsulates the card in a way that might obscure flaws on the back or edges that only become apparent once the card is removed. BGS’ policy states they have no liability for flaws discovered during removal and re-encapsulation, which means you cannot dispute the grade or file a claim if damage occurs during the process or if previously hidden issues emerge. For an SGC 6, this risk is somewhat lower than for higher-grade cards, since SGC 6 suggests the card already has visible wear.
However, it’s still possible that concentrated damage on one side of the card was less obvious in the SGC holder. Additionally, the physical act of removing a card from one holder and placing it in another introduces a small risk of mishap. While BGS is experienced at this process, accidents can happen. Before submitting any card for crossover, examine it carefully under good lighting and consider whether you’re comfortable with the small chance that flaws might be discovered or that handling during re-encapsulation could introduce new issues.
Sub-Grades and What They Tell You
BGS provides sub-grades for Centering, Corners, Edges, and Surface on all crossover submissions at no additional cost. These sub-grades give you more granular insight into your card’s condition than SGC’s overall grade alone. An SGC 6 Zekrom might have strong corners but weak centering, or excellent surface quality but worn edges—the sub-grades will reveal this breakdown.
This additional information can be useful if you’re trying to understand exactly where your card’s weaknesses are or if you’re considering whether to re-grade it with another company in the future. However, sub-grades don’t change the overall market value of a mid-grade card in most cases. An SGC 6 Zekrom will still be an SGC 6 Zekrom in terms of comparable pricing, even if the BGS version has stronger sub-grades in certain areas. The sub-grades are valuable for collectors who want detailed condition information and for those who might use that information to guide preservation efforts or future collecting decisions.
Should You Cross Over Your SGC Card?
The decision to cross over an SGC card depends on your personal goals and the specific card’s market dynamics. If you prefer BGS holders for aesthetic or collection reasons, a crossover makes sense if you’re willing to accept the cost and timeline. If you’re hoping a higher grade will significantly increase the card’s value, the math gets harder—most mid-grade cards like SGC 6 examples won’t jump multiple grades through crossover, and you’ll have paid $25 to $100 for the privilege of finding that out.
Looking forward, the crossover market will likely remain stable as long as collector preference for certain grading companies persists. BGS and SGC both maintain strong reputations, so crossing between them is a matter of personal preference rather than a necessity. For cards you plan to hold long-term, the choice between SGC and BGS largely comes down to which holder you prefer to display and which grading standard you trust more.
Conclusion
Crossing an SGC 6 Zekrom to BGS is a straightforward process that costs between $25 and $100 and takes 2 to 6 weeks including shipping. BGS will remove your card from its SGC holder and place it in a BGS holder if the card meets your specified minimum grade, or return it unchanged if it doesn’t. The service fee applies regardless of the outcome, and you assume the risk of any flaws discovered during the removal and re-encapsulation process.
Before submitting your card, consider whether the cost is justified by your goals. If you want a BGS holder for display purposes or prefer BGS grading standards, the crossover is worth it. If you’re hoping for a significant grade increase or major value bump, manage your expectations—most mid-grade cards cross over at the same or very similar grades. Start with the standard $25 service unless you have a specific deadline, carefully inspect your card beforehand, and understand that BGS has no liability for flaws that emerge during the process.
