Would the Hobby welcome a new TPG Co.that was high tech?

conor912 · #1 08-24-2013, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve B

The cost will need to be higher.

It all comes down to, "what can you reasonably expect someone to pay to get a card slabbed?." PSA has already priced themselves out of the market for a lot of collectors (including me, if I was into slabbing) at $17/card. Granted, there are bulk discounts, blah blah blah, but you get my point.

T205 GB · #2 08-24-2013, 01:42 PM

I know the cost is gonna be high for a majority of the software and the scanner to be built properly. I have been looking into this for a while now. I want to be able to provide a reasonable service at a reasonable fee that will give the hobby some peace of mind in what they are buying. Embossing the "flip" eliminates counterfeiting for that case. The cert number will be linked to large high res scans for viewing with the identifiers. The cases are going to be made of lexan which is a truly tough plastic and is hard to crack and scratch. The case will be put together in a different manner also virtually eliminating cards being cracked out without us doing it.

Every card made has its own identifying marks. Even the new shiny stuff. The program is designed to find all these marks and flaws. People who cross over cards will get the accurate grade for the card. Some guys will not be happy but I think overall fair and accurate grading will prevail. I am not looking to make my return back in the first few yrs by gouging the hobby in fees. The business plan is to take time and be accurate. I'm not gonna grade a $1000000 card any faster than a $10 card. Some may not like this but I don't think it's fair to the normal collector that they have to wait longer because someone else has a ton of money. As the company grows there will probably be a service that allows faster grading and people that soley handle that while the other people concentrate on the regular submissions. Labeling of errors and such shouldn't cost $75+. Maybe a few extra buck for the line would be fine but not that much. I don't want to take advantage of the hobby but make it a safer place. If any of you know me you know I have quite a passion for the hobby and am not afraid to call BS. Sometimes I'm wrong but sometimes I'm not. I want my kids to enjoy this and their kids to do the same for as long a there are cards available.

steve B · #3 08-24-2013, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conor912

It all comes down to, "what can you reasonably expect someone to pay to get a card slabbed?." PSA has already priced themselves out of the market for a lot of collectors (including me, if I was into slabbing) at $17/card. Granted, there are bulk discounts, blah blah blah, but you get my point.

I think Andrew is on to something. His post about service levels etc. I think is the right way to go about it. The stamp authentication place is $20 for some stuff, $27 or a percentage of the catalog value with a max fee of $625. NO discounts that I'm aware of except APS, one of the other major expertizing services is cheaper for members. (And the membership is inexpensive.) If the item is inexpensive enough that that expense is too much then it shouldn't be sent in.

I have a bunch that should be sent in, but I do my own examining, and I've become confident in getting it right. (Aside from a couple types of paper that give me difficulty) maybe someday if I decide to consign them I'll get it done.
I have sent in some cards, and it's actually sort of fun, in a way as exciting as buying them all over again.

Not rushing the authentication and grading is a big thing too. The stamp places are typically 30 days for Philatelic foundation, 45-90 for APEX, and PSE is 30-40 days. Some special items take longer. The longest I've heard of is around 5 years, and the results were published as a book.
But then, the subjects had been controversial since 1922.

http://www.thestampcollector.net/grinnell.html

And yes, they were found in a trunk in grandpas attic, and the judge in 1922 found that story nearly unbelievable

Some things dont really ever change.....

I still doubt that every example of any particular card has unique identifiers from any other, but I figure that's ok.

I'm hoping Andrew makes it work and makes it successful. It'll be a lot of hard work, but even if all that happens is that the bar is raised for everyone and the hobby grows up a bit it will be worth it.

Steve B

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