Originally Posted by topcat61 (Post 2417985)

The Federal Trade Commission would or could study to see if there's a potential impact on consumers through a formula they use to determine monopolization. Personally, I think the data is there to warrant an investigation by the FTC. According to the Gemerate numbers, PSA\Collector's Universe has 78% of the grading market while SGC has 10%. You can file an inquiry with the FTC at ant time but the problem the hobby may run into is getting the FTC to understand how this affects consumers. I don't think Lina Khan is a collector of Sports cards but the FTC has investigated the hobby's inner-workings on 3 seperate occasions.

Originally Posted by Snowman (Post 2417928)

Ya, hard to know what his mindset is. I do remember watching a video from a few years back though where he was being interviewed and asked about all the doctored cards selling through PWCC. He seemed to respond as though he thought there was nothing wrong with improving cards and that he thought as long as it passed grading, then it didn't matter. I suspect if he believed it was wrong, deep down, that his answers would have been different. Perhaps more dodgy or just outright denying any allegations. I also remember listening to the interview and finding myself in agreement with much of what he said (though not everything, of course).

Originally Posted by parkplace33 (Post 2417813)

Speaking of Brent, where is he these days? With another company? I haven't heard his name in a hot minute.

Originally Posted by calvindog (Post 2418086)

Big mail day!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6477cc98_c.jpg

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth (Post 2418046)

I cannot imagine any universe in which he had convinced himself trimming was OK.

Originally Posted by Snowman (Post 2418113)

Evan Mathis seems to genuinely believe that trimming an oversized card down to the proper industry standard size is simply correcting a factory flaw and completely acceptable, or perhaps even preferred.

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth (Post 2418044)

As I posted on either this or the other thread, the increase in the HHI index (sum of the squares of market shares) certainly suggests a significant increase in market concentration in an already highly concentrated market. But being below reporting thresholds, and involving discretionary spending on sportscards, not sure the government would care.

Originally Posted by bnorth (Post 2418087)

Lets see the cards.:)

Originally Posted by calvindog (Post 2418120)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b7c1324b_z.jpg[/url]