AGS (Automated Grading Systems): Complete Guide

In trading cards, “AGS” most commonly refers to AGS (Automated Grading Systems), a trading-card grading company using “RoboGrading” / AI-driven grading and operating on agscard.com / info.agscard.com (AGS, AGS: FAQ, AGS: Grading Standards).

Other meanings of “AGS” exist (for example, Advanced Grading Specialists appears in collector discussions as another expansion of the acronym), but the company behind agscard.com is the most relevant match for a trading-card grading page (AGS, Collectors.com forum thread).

Quick facts

Fact	Details
Official name + official website	AGS (Automated Grading Systems) — official sites: agscard.com and documentation hub info.agscard.com (AGS, AGS Grading hub)
Founded (year) + founders (if known)	Founded year: Unknown (not clearly stated on official pages reviewed). Founder/CEO: Alex Aleksandrovski (AGS: Our Team)
Headquarters + operating countries	HQ: Unknown (no official HQ statement found in reviewed pages). US-focused brand; AGS states it accepts international submissions (“international collectors can ship to AGS”). AGS also lists a walk-in grading location in Miami, FL (Collectors Club address) (AGS: FAQ, AGS: Contact)
Ownership / parent company (if any)	Unknown from primary sources. AGS states Master P is an investor and on the board of directors (official claim), and this was also covered in third-party reporting (AGS Grading hub, The Source, Elite Fourum thread)
What they grade (sports, TCG, non-sports, memorabilia)	Trading cards including Pokémon/TCG and sports cards (AGS marketing headline). AGS FAQ schema states AGS grades Pokémon and sports cards and grades both modern and vintage cards (AGS, AGS: FAQ)
Grading scale + top grade label	10-point system with a documented top grade “AGS 10 Legendary” definition and centering tolerance (50/50 to 55/45) (AGS: Grading Standards)
Subgrades (Y/N) + how many categories	Yes. AGS states the final grade is determined by eight subgrades: four front + four back (centering, edges, corners, surface). FAQ confirms subgrades exist and uses these categories (AGS: Grading Standards, AGS: FAQ)
Pop report (Y/N) + link	Yes — AGS POP Report at agscard.com/pop (described as “A record of all cards Robograded by AGS”) (AGS POP Report)
Registry (Y/N) + link	Unknown (no official registry page found on reviewed sources) (AGS, AGS Grading hub)
Certification verification / lookup (Y/N) + link	Partial / report-based. AGS emphasizes a “digital fingerprint + scan report” per card, and “instant access to your detailed report via the QR code on your slab.” Public report examples are linked from the Grading Standards page (Robograding feed views) (AGS: FAQ, AGS Grading hub, Example report (Robograding feed))
Notable differentiator	Tech-first grading with published methodology, eight subgrades (front/back), and report-first UX via scans + QR access (AGS: Grading Standards, AGS Grading hub)

Where AGS fits in the grading market

AGS is positioned as a tech-first alternative to traditional graders. AGS’s official pitch is that grading is “with science” and that their RoboGrading system is consistent and repeatable, with a published standards/methodology page and “100% Transparent Grading Report” access via QR code (AGS: Grading Standards, AGS Grading hub).

In practical market terms, buyer recognition is still the biggest gap versus PSA/BGS/SGC/CGC. A collector blog review that uses both PSA and AGS explicitly frames PSA as “owning the market” even while praising AGS pricing and transparency (Kevin Skaggs: AGS review). Collectors.com forum discussion also reinforces “stick to the big four” and describes PSA crossovers from AGS 10s coming back as PSA 9/8 in one user’s experience (Collectors.com forum thread).

If you can sell to buyers who care about the report and are comfortable with a smaller-brand slab, AGS can work as a “show the evidence” grading option. If you need the fastest resale with the least explanation, default-market behavior still trends toward PSA (see PSA’s own positioning and broader hobby behavior; compare: PSA services, plus the community sources above for AGS-specific resale friction).

Services offered

Card grading tiers (official pricing)

AGS publishes a tiered per-card pricing menu with stated turnaround times (business days) and included insurance per tier (AGS: Pricing):

Tier (as shown)	Price	Stated TAT	Included insurance	Notes
Standard (Up to 29 cards)	$15/card	20 business days	Up to $100	Includes “Certified Accurate Grade” + “Detailed Grade Breakdown” + slab (AGS: Pricing)
Bulk (30+ cards)	$12/card	20 business days	Up to $100	Bulk requirement explicitly stated (AGS: Pricing)
Expedited	$20/card	10 business days	Up to $200	(AGS: Pricing)
Express	$30/card	5 business days	Up to $500	(AGS: Pricing)
Super Express	$50/card	2–3 business days	Up to $2,000	(AGS: Pricing)
Same-day	$75/card	1 business day	Up to $2,000	(AGS: Pricing)
Same-day (higher value)	$100/card	same-day	Up to $5,000	(AGS: Pricing)
Same-day (top)	$200/card	same-day	Up to $10,000	(AGS: Pricing)

Authentication-only / crossover / reholder / regrade

Unknown from publicly accessible official pages reviewed. If you need crossover/reholder mechanics (minimum grade, whether they crack holders, etc.), confirm in the submission portal UX and/or with AGS support (AGS submission start, AGS: Contact).

Add-ons (reports, scans, app)

AGS positions the grading report/scans as included: “Enjoy 8 subgrades, high-resolution scans, and instant access to your detailed report via the QR code on your slab!” (AGS Grading hub). AGS also promotes its mobile app in official links: iOS app, Android app (AGS Grading hub).

Grading scale and standards (deep dive)

The scale (and what the label is claiming)

AGS publishes a detailed standards page describing how it calculates grades and how it defines specific grade levels (including “AGS 10 Legendary,” “AGS 10,” and “AGS 9”) (AGS: Grading Standards).

Key published mechanics:

Eight subgrades drive the final grade: “four for the front and four for the back” across Centering / Edges / Corners / Surface (AGS: Grading Standards).
Defect caps: the overall grade is capped relative to the lowest overall subgrade (“cannot exceed 1 point above the lowest overall subgrade”), with an explicit example (AGS: Grading Standards).
Qualifiers: AGS documents qualifiers such as “OC (Off-Center)” when centering subgrade falls below a threshold (AGS: Grading Standards).

Centering / corners / edges / surface: what AGS publishes

AGS explicitly states its evaluation hinges on subgrades like centering, edges, corners, and surface and describes how subgrades are computed and combined (AGS: Grading Standards). AGS FAQ confirms it provides subgrades and names these same categories (AGS: FAQ).

Human vs hybrid vs tech-first: what AGS claims

AGS describes its process as using “proprietary RoboGrading AI,” combining imaging, laser scanning, and AI, and also includes sections titled “The Human Element” and “Our Commitment to Consistency” within the standards document (AGS: Grading Standards).

How to interpret the label (concrete example)

Example: “AGS 10 Legendary” on a modern Pokémon card.

What the grade is claiming: AGS states an “AGS 10 Legendary card epitomizes perfection,” that “all eight subgrades on front and back receive a 10,” and it includes a centering tolerance “50/50 to 55/45” (AGS: Grading Standards).
What to do as a buyer: scan the slab QR code to open the report, then confirm subgrades, scans, and the “digital fingerprint + scan report” record match the slab you’re buying (AGS Grading hub, AGS: FAQ). If you need an example of what a public report looks like, AGS links report pages directly from its standards page (Example report (Robograding feed)).

Slab, label, and security features

Holder materials and sealing

Material: AGS states its slabs are made from “High-clarity polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) engineered for optical transparency” (AGS: FAQ).
Sealing: AGS states slabs use “tamper-evident ultrasonic seals” (AGS: FAQ).

Anti-counterfeit and fraud prevention signals

AGS’s official fraud-prevention description is report/data-driven: “By storing a digital fingerprint + scan report for every card” (AGS: FAQ). This makes the report/scan part of your “slab trust” checklist, not just the plastic.

Label/version changes over time

Unknown (no official label-history timeline was found on reviewed pages) (AGS, AGS: FAQ).

Verification and data tools

Cert / report lookup workflow (step-by-step)

AGS’s public documentation emphasizes report access rather than a PSA-style “cert number” database page:

Find the QR code on the slab and scan it to open the report (“instant access to your detailed report via the QR code on your slab”) (AGS Grading hub).
Review the report: verify the eight subgrades (front/back), scans, and defect annotations/heatmap concepts described in AGS standards (AGS: Grading Standards).
Match the slab to the report: AGS says it stores a “digital fingerprint + scan report for every card,” which is its fraud-prevention claim (AGS: FAQ).

Public examples (to understand the output): AGS links to Robograding feed report pages from its standards page (Example report (Robograding feed)).

Pop report (and limitations)

AGS’s POP Report is hosted at agscard.com/pop and is described as “A record of all cards Robograded by AGS” (AGS POP Report). Limitations like update cadence, completeness for obscure sets, and whether corrections happen retroactively are Unknown (not documented in the POP UI text captured here) (AGS POP Report).

Registry mechanics

Unknown (no official registry product page found) (AGS, AGS Grading hub).

Grader notes / reports

AGS focuses on a report-style output: “8 subgrades, high-resolution scans” and standards that discuss annotations/defect classifications and explain how defects are weighted by size/depth/location (AGS Grading hub, AGS: Grading Standards).

Pricing and turnaround (how it works, not just numbers)

AGS’s pricing is unusually “menu-like”: price is tied directly to stated turnaround (business days) and included insurance per tier (AGS: Pricing).

Important mechanics collectors should internalize:

Speed is the product: tiers go from 20 business days down to same-day, with explicit price steps (AGS: Pricing).
Insurance is tier-bundled: AGS lists “Up to $X Insurance” per tier; treat “insurance” as a policy detail to confirm before submitting high value (especially because inbound shipping is your responsibility) (AGS: Pricing, AGS: FAQ).
Return shipping: AGS states return shipments are “shipped safely with tracking” and that “optional coverage” is available for return shipments (AGS: FAQ).

User-reported reality (based on accessible sources):

A collector blog review claims a value-driven decision: pricing and transparency are why they chose AGS for some cards, while still treating PSA as the resale benchmark (Kevin Skaggs: AGS review).

Submission experience

Step-by-step overview (official + practical)

Start a submission in the AGS portal (AGS submission start).
Package cards using AGS’s stated packing checklist (AGS: FAQ).
If you’re outside the US: AGS explicitly says international collectors can ship to AGS (AGS: FAQ).

Packaging rules (official)

AGS’s packing guidance includes:

“Use penny sleeves, card savers, cardboard reinforcement, and bubble wrap.” (AGS: FAQ)
“Brand-new penny sleeves are recommended.” (AGS: FAQ)
“Sleeve → saver → cardboard → bubble mailer → box.” (AGS: FAQ)
Toploaders: AGS says yes, but “card savers are safer for shipping.” (AGS: FAQ)

Resale liquidity: what happens on the secondary market

Liquidity is the biggest practical question for any non-PSA/BGS/SGC/CGC slab.

Observed buyer objections (from accessible community sources):

“Stick to the big four.” Some collectors explicitly advise avoiding smaller graders for core collecting/liquidity reasons (Collectors.com forum thread).
Crossover skepticism. One Collectors.com user describes buying AGS 10 cards and crossing to PSA, getting PSA 9/8 outcomes (their anecdote, not a study) (Collectors.com forum thread).
“PSA still owns the market.” A blogger who uses both PSA and AGS frames PSA as the resale standard even while praising AGS’s transparency and pricing (Kevin Skaggs: AGS review).

Seller playbook that reduces friction (based on AGS’s own tools and claims):

Lead with the report: AGS is intentionally report-first (QR → report) and claims a “digital fingerprint + scan report” for every card (AGS Grading hub, AGS: FAQ).
Use the published standards to explain why a given subgrade mattered and to preempt “AI can’t grade surface” debates (AGS: Grading Standards).

Public opinion: Reddit, X, and hobby communities

Balanced synthesis below is based on sources we could directly access at verification time.

Access limitation (important)

Reddit content pages are blocked from this environment (“You’ve been blocked by network security”), so Reddit themes are Unverified here beyond the existence of the threads (links provided) (example block page: Reddit thread (blocked)).
X is accessible, but X post content is JS-rendered and could not be reliably extracted for text analysis in this environment. X links are provided for manual review (AGS X profile).

Recurring positive themes (from accessible sources)

Transparency-first: report/scans/subgrades are the selling point (also echoed by independent reviewers) (AGS Grading hub, AGS: Grading Standards, Kevin Skaggs: AGS review).
Price + speed: low entry pricing and explicit TAT tiers are viewed as attractive for many submissions (AGS: Pricing, Kevin Skaggs: AGS review).
Consistency story: the AI repeatability narrative resonates with some collectors (whether it translates to market trust is separate) (AGS: Grading Standards, Kevin Skaggs: AGS review).

Recurring negative themes (from accessible sources)

Market acceptance / resale friction: collectors often still defer to PSA/BGS/SGC/CGC for recognition and resale (Collectors.com forum thread, Kevin Skaggs: AGS review).
Skepticism about AI claims (“accuracy” messaging and handling nuanced damage) appears in community discussion (Elite Fourum thread).
Crossover disappointment anecdotes (AGS 10 → PSA 9/8) fuel “don’t pay PSA prices for non-PSA slabs” thinking (Collectors.com forum thread).

Most common misconceptions

“AI grading means no subjectivity risk.” AGS publishes a methodology, but the market still decides whether it trusts the process; community discussion shows skepticism and debate (AGS: Grading Standards, Elite Fourum thread).
“The POP report guarantees liquidity.” A POP report is a data tool, not an acceptance guarantee; AGS POP report is a record of Robograded cards, but liquidity depends on buyer demand (AGS POP Report).

Controversies, trust signals, and red flags

What was searched (in accessible sources):

Official standards claims and fraud-prevention mechanisms (primary sources).
Investor/board announcements and third-party reporting.
Community skepticism and “too good to be true” reactions.

Trust signals:

Published grading standards, including explicit subgrade mechanics, defect caps, qualifiers, and model explanations (AGS: Grading Standards).
Report-first verification story: “digital fingerprint + scan report” for every card, plus QR access claim (AGS: FAQ, AGS Grading hub).
POP report tool with category browsing (AGS POP Report).

Red flags / risk factors:

“Market trust” is still contested in community discussion; there are explicit skeptic reactions to marketing claims and doubts about how AI handles nuanced defects (Elite Fourum thread).
Liquidity may require more buyer education and/or discounting compared to PSA-default markets (community anecdotes) (Collectors.com forum thread, Kevin Skaggs: AGS review).

Who should use AGS (and who shouldn’t)

Use AGS if:

You want scans + subgrades + published methodology to back up a grade, and you plan to share that evidence when you sell (AGS: Grading Standards, AGS Grading hub).
You’re grading lower-to-mid value modern where fees matter and you’re okay with smaller-brand resale behavior (AGS: Pricing, Kevin Skaggs: AGS review).

Avoid AGS if:

You want the broadest buyer recognition and fastest resale with the least explanation (often PSA-led in many niches) (PSA: Trading Card Grading, Collectors.com forum thread).
You’re grading a card where slab brand is most of the value story and a discount would erase the upside (community reports) (Kevin Skaggs: AGS review).

Alternatives to consider:

PSA for maximum market acceptance/liquidity (PSA: Trading Card Grading).
BGS for subgrades with long-standing recognition (Beckett Grading).
SGC for a major-alternative slab in many sports/vintage circles (SGC).
CGC Cards for a large multi-category grader with detailed published scale docs and ecosystem tooling (CGC Cards).

Comparison snapshot

Company	Market trust	Resale liquidity	Pricing posture	Turnaround posture	Transparency	Slab security	Best for
AGS	Emerging	Low-to-medium	Aggressive/value	Fast (explicit tiers)	Very high (reports + subgrades + published methodology)	High (PMMA + ultrasonic seal + report fingerprint claim)	Report-first grading, price-sensitive submissions
PSA	Very high	Very high	Premium/value-tiered	Tier-dependent	High (standards + tools; limited notes by tier)	High (documented security features)	Broadest resale acceptance
BGS	High	High (segment-dependent)	Premium	Tier-dependent	Medium-high (subgrades)	High	Subgrade-driven pricing and trophy labels
SGC	High (sports/vintage-leaning)	Medium-high	Often simpler/value leaning	Often positioned as fast	Medium	Medium	Vintage/sports buyer pools
CGC Cards	High (TCG-leaning)	Medium	Competitive-to-premium	Working-day estimates	High (published scale)	High (documented label security)	TCG workflows + published scale detail

Rationale sources: AGS transparency/security/price claims (AGS: Pricing, AGS: FAQ, AGS: Grading Standards), AGS POP tooling (AGS POP Report), and comparative official materials for major graders (PSA, BGS, SGC, CGC Cards). Market/liquidity skepticism is grounded in accessible community sources (Collectors.com forum thread, Kevin Skaggs: AGS review, Elite Fourum thread).

FAQs

Is AGS legit?

AGS operates a public grading site, publishes grading standards, offers a POP report tool, and publishes a terms page under “AGS Inc.” (AGS, AGS: Grading Standards, AGS POP Report, AGS Terms).

How do I verify an AGS slab?

AGS emphasizes verification via the digital report: scan the slab QR code to access the report and match subgrades/scans to the slab, leveraging the “digital fingerprint + scan report” claim (AGS Grading hub, AGS: FAQ).

Does AGS have a POP report?

Yes — agscard.com/pop (AGS POP Report).

Does AGS have a registry?

Unknown (no official registry product page found in reviewed sources) (AGS, AGS Grading hub).

Does AGS provide subgrades?

Yes — categories include “centering, corners, edges, and surface,” and AGS standards state eight subgrades (four front + four back) determine the final grade (AGS: FAQ, AGS: Grading Standards).

What does “AGS 10 Legendary” mean?

AGS states an “AGS 10 Legendary card epitomizes perfection,” with all eight subgrades at 10 and perfect centering specified as 50/50 to 55/45 (AGS: Grading Standards).

Is AGS grading fully automated?

AGS’s FAQ schema and standards pages present grading as AI/machine-driven, and their standards describe RoboGrading AI combining imaging, laser scanning, and AI (AGS: FAQ, AGS: Grading Standards).

What are AGS slabs made of?

High-clarity polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) (AGS: FAQ).

Are AGS slabs tamper-evident?

AGS states slabs use “tamper-evident ultrasonic seals” (AGS: FAQ).

How much does AGS grading cost?

AGS publishes pricing by turnaround tier on its official pricing page (AGS: Pricing).

What is AGS turnaround time?

AGS lists turnaround times per tier (20 business days down to same-day) on its official pricing page (AGS: Pricing).

Does AGS accept international submissions?

Yes — “international collectors can ship to AGS” (AGS: FAQ).

How should I package cards for AGS?

AGS’s official FAQ packaging guidance includes penny sleeves + card savers + cardboard + bubble wrap, and a recommended chain: “Sleeve → saver → cardboard → bubble mailer → box.” (AGS: FAQ).

Does AGS insure return shipping?

AGS states “optional coverage available” for return shipments and that return shipments are shipped with tracking (AGS: FAQ).

Will AGS add value vs PSA?

Often not in PSA-default markets, based on accessible community commentary: one reviewer uses AGS for pricing/transparency but still frames PSA as owning resale demand; collectors also recommend sticking to established graders (anecdotal, not a quantitative study) (Kevin Skaggs: AGS review, Collectors.com forum thread).

Sources

Official

Reputable hobby/news

Community sentiment (Reddit/X/forums)

Directories/reference lists

None used for key claims (directories were used only for discovery; key facts are cited from official pages, accessible forums, and third-party reporting above).

Score explanations (with sources)

Market acceptance (5/10): accessible community discussion and reviewers repeatedly frame PSA as the resale anchor and recommend “big four” graders, suggesting AGS requires more buyer education and may trade at discounts (Collectors.com forum thread, Kevin Skaggs: AGS review).
Transparency (9/10): AGS publishes grading standards with model explanations and defect/qualifier rules, plus report-first access with scans and eight subgrades (AGS: Grading Standards, AGS Grading hub, AGS: FAQ).
Value for money (8/10): pricing starts low with clear turnaround tiers and includes insurance amounts by tier; packaging/shipping guidance is explicit (AGS: Pricing, AGS: FAQ).
Resale liquidity (4/10): accessible community sources include “stick to the big four” advice and crossover anecdotes that imply AGS grades may not convert to PSA-equivalent value easily (anecdotal but consistent with “PSA owns the market” framing) (Collectors.com forum thread, Kevin Skaggs: AGS review).