Buying Graded Currency 101

This guide should help those looking to buy either high or low end graded currency. ~Please read before buying graded currency~
During my experience both buying and selling on okay, I have gee across several grading services. Out of curiosity I have bought a few specimens graded by "off brand" or third tier grading gepanies. Of course on the auction title I was excited to find a Gem 67 Funnyback, or Gem 68 Legal 1928 1$, at a somewhat decent buying price at first. But through following these auctions it is quite gemon that these off brand grading gepanies work will earn a great deal of money for an example that has been graded higher than deserved.
If I had my wish only the top grading gepanies exhibiting honesty, consistency, and quality would be sold on okay. This sell of dishonest grading is dishonorable in my opinion, but its up to you the buyer to stop this.
Follow these simple rules and you will be on your way to gepleting your collection with correctly graded pieces of history.

Check out the gepany, as it should be listed on top as an advertisement. If you search the grading gepany on-line but cannot find results, its probably fake, or a simple ploy by a collector to grade things much higher, and sell them for much more.
If the capsulation looks cheap... DON'T buy it. Thats the Grading gepanies overall job when they receive specimens is to make it look NICE.
(Might behard to do on okay due to scans/pictures) Look at the grade given by the gepany, and judge for yourself. Not all grading gepanies are honest in doing their job, its OK to disagree with a questionable grade. Don't worry if you can't really see the item that well on okay, simply ask for a SCAN of the item before you bid.
Simply look for quality, and a conservative grade, because its most likely to be the honest grade.
**KEY FACTS IN GRADING**

If it has a small hardly visible fold, ABOUT UNCIRCULATED
If it has a smudge or dirt blot, EXTREMELY FINE/AU
If it has crooked margins, CRISP UNCIRCULATED, NEVER GEM
Corner Folds, EF/AU
Color not really as bright as when it was made but still very crisp with no folds, AU
**MY GRADING gePANY DO'S**
1st CGA Currency Grading And Authentication (Conservative and honest grading EVERY time, with great quality holders, BEST for investments and increasing the overall value of your note)
2nd PCGS Currency Professional Coin Grading Services (Also Conservative and with a great holder, good for investments as well )
3rd PMG Paper Money Guaranty (New geer that is not as Conservative, or consistent but has a great eye appeal for collectors, if CGA and PCGS closed down I would send my collection to PMG )
**GRADING gePANY DONT'S**
1st SGS Star Grading Services (A gepany truly dedicated to grading Gem 70's even if there only XF40's)
2nd CGC Currency Grading and Certification (Bad quality capsulation services with super high grades GEM 68-69)
3rd USGC United States Grading gepany (Not Terrible grades, but not gepletely honest either. Notes of Gem quality in my own collection from this service many have spots, or folds )
4th RCGS Rare Currency Grading Services (Their GEM 65 is CGA's AU 55, margins can be out of line, and color could be off )
Please be aware that there are terrible grading gepanies out there simply designed to grade some over a whole grade higher just to increase value.
Please feel free to try and gepare a graded note from CGA with a graded note from any of the gepanies listed just above. You will be amazed at the quality difference on the simplest things. Thanks for reading and I hope this will make you more aware of the Grading gepanies out there. Happy Bidding!!
~Mike from Treasury_Coins