Info about PRO grading?

[nat]

I've heard bad things about PRO grading; in particular, I've heard rumors that they grade trimmed cards. But how shady are these folks? Is there a risk that that PRO graded cards are counterfeit? Or will they at least actually authenticate the cards that they grade?

[bobbyw8469]

I would stay away unless you can steal the card. Then equate it to buying a lottery ticket. If you win, fine. Don't be disappointed it you lose though.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by nat

I've heard bad things about PRO grading; in particular, I've heard rumors that they grade trimmed cards. But how shady are these folks? Is there a risk that that PRO graded cards are counterfeit? Or will they at least actually authenticate the cards that they grade?

There can definitely be counterfeit cards in their holders with numerical grades.

ps... I should add, until a few years ago I would have said I had never seen a fake in their holders. But not so anymore.

[MooseDog]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

I would stay away unless you can steal the card. Then equate it to buying a lottery ticket. If you win, fine. Don't be disappointed it you lose though.

What he said...

I ended up with a Clemente RC PRO 7 in a collection I purchased, cracked it out submitted to PSA and it came back in a PSA 5 holder, which seemed about right to me. But I wouldn't want to try that very often.

[iwantitiwinit]

You get what you pay for, you should assume the worst when looking at a PRO graded card. Would anything else make any sense? There is only one answer for why someone would CHOSE to have something graded by PRO. Even in those instances where something has been graded by PRO, broken out of the holder and resubmitted to PSA or SGC and received a valid grade, I would have to say PSA or SGC made an error. Again the argument goes to the point that there is no reason whatsoever to send a card to PRO fro grading and thats because there is something known to the owner to be wrong with the card.

[nat]

Yeah, I assumed that you only get it graded from PRO if you're trying to get away with something. Now, I'm actually not all that concerned with buying a trimmed card, at least not since people bidding on PRO cards are going to bid as if it's trimmed (or worse). (And if they're bidding on it as if it's really got a high grade on it, then I'll avoid the auction.) But I really do care if it's genuine or a counterfeit.

If they do grade counterfeit cards, then I think I'll never bid on any PRO cards. In fact, if they will actually slab a counterfeit, it probably means that the probability that a PRO slabbed card is counterfeit is higher than the probability that a raw card is counterfeit (since you know ahead of time that someone selling a PRO card is trying to get away with something, and that could be what they're trying to get away with).

[steve B]

I'd say the stuff in these less well known slabs are a very mixed group. Early on some of them really made an effort at getting known and trying to gain a following. I don't recall which one, but one of my local card shops had a company come in and do grading in the shop as an event.

I have a Delong that was graded by Acu-Card. Very nice looking card, certainly real. Graded a 7. But also certainly trimmed as the edges are just too sharp.

The current local shop at one time had a box full of modern football graded cards, a mix of companies, probably 10 different. All very cheap, but no obvious problems although at $2 each I didn't look too closely.

If you can see the card in hand, there's probably some deals to be had. You just have to know what you're looking for with alterations/fakes.

Steve B