SGC Mea Culpa

[parkplace33]

Interesting post from SGC today:

On Tuesday 1/30/24, SGC posted a 2003-04 Lebron James Exquisite Rookie Patch Auto that was recently graded a Mint 9 with a 10 auto. Shortly after posting the card, information was presented to our team alleging that the patch embedded in the card had been altered. Our team immediately began investigating and confirmed that an alteration had taken place. We acted swiftly and contacted the appropriate parties to address the situation. A satisfactory resolution was reached with the submitter of the card, and the card now resides in an Authentic Altered holder that is pictured here.

We take issues like this one extremely seriously, and take full ownership of this unacceptable error. We recognize the impact that SGC has on the trading card community, and we do not take the trust that you put in us lightly.

You all know us well enough by now to understand how much we love our supporters and the hobby as a whole. We take immense pride in what we do and no one appreciates the responsibility of safeguarding the hobby more than we do. While this will be a difficult one for our team to move past, we take solace in the fact that this card has now been assessed accurately, and will no longer mislead the collecting community.

[Casey2296]

Solid statement, I would like to see more examples of these types of decisions from all TPGs. Props to SGC.

[scooter729]

I don't know enough about issues like this, but if you have a rare valuable signed LeBron rookie card like this, why would you alter the patch?

Is there a certain type of patch that is more valuable than a different patch? Just trying to understand why this would be altered? Help out a guy stuck in the tobacco era!

[CardPadre]

Originally Posted by scooter729

I don't know enough about issues like this, but if you have a rare valuable signed LeBron rookie card like this, why would you alter the patch?

Is there a certain type of patch that is more valuable than a different patch? Just trying to understand why this would be altered? Help out a guy stuck in the tobacco era!

I think it had a single color black patch originally. Having a multi-color patch is more $$$

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by scooter729

I don't know enough about issues like this, but if you have a rare valuable signed LeBron rookie card like this, why would you alter the patch?

Is there a certain type of patch that is more valuable than a different patch? Just trying to understand why this would be altered? Help out a guy stuck in the tobacco era!

Have no idea on this card. For patches in general. People will change out a simple one color patch for one with multiple colors. The cool multi color patch will sell for more than a simple one color patch.

[Johnny630]

If I were SGC and I received this card honestly myself, I would never admit this about my company, but I would have to take this into account. I know in my heart that this card will sell for a fraction in a high grade, as compared to what it would sell for in a high grade with PSA or Beckett. Honestly, that’s what I feel they needed to say to themselves before grading this to scrutinize the hell out of it because modern Cards, like this do not sell well at all in SGC holders.

I do applaud SGC for coming public with this and making it right with the customer.

[Peter_Spaeth]

There are millions of altered cards in TPG slabs. Occasionally owning up to one mistake is a drop in an ocean.

[vthobby]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

There are millions of altered cards in TPG slabs. Occasionally owning up to one mistake is a drop in an ocean.

TPG = PSA

[ClementeFanOh]

Johnny630- you've completely missed the point. The point is that SGC was
NOT interested in "how well the card would sell" in their holder. Instead,
they were properly interested in atoning for a mistake. I am amazed by
people who continually moan about grading companies and their urge to
one up one another, who then make comments like yours in a public forum.
I gave up on PSA long ago, but SGC comparatively seems to have the best
interest of their consumers in mind on a more consistent basis. Rather than
point to one example of SGC giving a grade you don't like, how about a
coherent explanation of what they are supposed to do, that would somehow
satisfy you? Or is that dreaming an impossible dream? Geesh.

Trent King

[Gorditadogg]

Originally Posted by CardPadre

I think it had a single color black patch originally. Having a multi-color patch is more $$$

If the patch was switched out, how can they still call the card authentic? How would SGC know where the replacement patch came from? Was it swapped for a different LeBron jersey patch?

Even if they confirmed that's the case, it seems to me it's now a zombie card. I am surprised they graded it.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

[butchie_t]

It is a bit puzzling to me that the card went through all the hoops initially and got the initial grades. Then they are notified of some malfeasance and they do a mulligan and find the alterations. If it was obvious the second review, why was it not just as obvious during the first evaluation?

How come that did not get caught in the first place?

Asking for a friend.


Butch Turner....

[CardPadre]

Originally Posted by butchie_t

It is a bit puzzling to me that the card went through all the hoops initially and got the initial grades. Then they are notified of some malfeasance and they do a mulligan and find the alterations. If it was obvious the second review, why was it not just as obvious during the first evaluation?

How come that did not get caught in the first place?

Asking for a friend.


Butch Turner....

I think they were presented with photographic evidence that this exact card had a different patch previously. So wasn’t that they reinspected it and found shenanigans. I don’t know how people are swapping patches without leaving damage or evidence, but apparently it is incredibly common.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by vthobby

TPG = PSA

LOL, but no, it's true of the others too.

[robw1959]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

LOL, but no, it's true of the others too.

But in all fairness to a much lesser extent, I think.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by robw1959

But in all fairness to a much lesser extent, I think.

PSA has graded countless more cards, so of course.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

PSA has graded countless more cards, so of course.

True, I am also sure they have a way higher percentage of "bad" grades than the others from my personal experience.

[Exhibitman]

My takeaway is that shiny cards suck.