What would happen if TPG went out of business?

[T205 GB]

Cards will sell based on their qualities and not their cases. I would make an analogy about women but I think it would end badly either way

[Al C.risafulli]

I think as long as there is an internet, there will be a place for grading companies and authentication companies, despite whatever flaws in the business models that may exist.

It is too easy to use lighting and photoshop to sweeten a scan of a raw card, and it's too easy for an unscrupulous seller to use "I don't have a scanner" as an excuse for taking a weak-looking picture of a card and throwing it on eBay. I think we've probably all fallen victim to buying an ungraded card online that arrived at our door looking different from the scan/photo we saw online.

As long as there's a reputable holder around that card, I can make a reasonable assumption that A) the card is authentic, and B) the condition of the card is going to be reasonably close to the grade it's been assigned.

The lure of having access to an entire universe of cards via the internet is far greater than what, to me, is a small downside when dealing with grading companies, IMO.

I'm a big fan of grading - not because I can't identify an authentic card or grade it myself, but because it makes it easier to buy. I also prefer the uniform way they display, and I'm a klutz, so it helps with protection.

-Al

[BearBailey]

There would be half as many posts on this board!!!

[Deertick]

We would do as we did in the old days. Give it a grade and argue about it. Trade stories on how far one dealer has his head up his butt. Trust some dealers and not others. Go to great shows and meet the dealers behind the adverts.

I started selling on prodigy. No scanners, accurate descriptions, no 'feedback system'. Oh, and also no scams or complaints.(That I was aware of). I think I sold over a hundred individual cards on there before ebay came out.

[cobblove]

[jcmtiger]

What the Hxxx is TPG? Is this all the grading companies. I'm probably missing something.

Joe

[freakhappy]

Originally Posted by jcmtiger

What the Hxxx is TPG? Is this all the grading companies. I'm probably missing something.

Joe

Third Party Grading

[alanu]

To some degree, TPG's are like casinos are to sports betting, they identify point shaving etc. Without Vegas there would be more point shaving etc, and without TPG, the counterfeiters and card doctors would flourish.

And I'm not suggesting that TPG's are anywhere close to perfect, but they do help regulate the market.

[kmac32]

With my collection, nothing would happen as I don't have them graded for valuee. My E121 set in graded to preserve the cards and for the way they display. If grading increases the value of the card, fine. However, that is not the main goal.