PSA-A Cautionary Tale!

[MBMiller25]

I will scan it when I get a few minutes and post it, but I think the 7 is an overreaction, it looks like a 8 to me.

[ullmandds]

Conor...while I kinda, somewhat agree with what your sayin'...PSA "created" this whole "game" and now people are coming to them with fistfuls of cash...wanting to "play"...and PSA is telling them to go suck an egg...great business model!!!

[MBMiller25]

Fair question Conor, it's certainly about the money regarding the value of my cards. When I said it wasn't about the money, that was more in regards to reimbursing me for the card based on what I paid. At that point the money didn't mean anything to me, I wanted the card. That's a beautiful card, and at that point I just wanted that card back.

[WhenItWasAHobby]

Originally Posted by MBMiller25

I was subsequently immediately banned from the CU Message Boards, I had a second submission that was logged with PSA, unlogged and sent back to me RAW. I was informed that I can no longer do business with PSA in any capacity.

Matt,

Welcome to the PSA "persona non grata" club and please wear your banishment as a badge of honor.

[conor912]

Originally Posted by MBMiller25

Fair question Conor, it's certainly about the money regarding the value of my cards. When I said it wasn't about the money, that was more in regards to reimbursing me for the card based on what I paid. At that point the money didn't mean anything to me, I wanted the card. That's a beautiful card, and at that point I just wanted that card back.

Fair enough, Matt, but my point was, if you're not looking to sell the card, why even send it in looking for an "upgrade" in the first place? Would you have liked it more if it was a 9? This is the part of the slabby mindset that I'm still trying to understand.

[MattyC]

MBM, horrible story, bro. Feel for you. Not surprised PSA handled it that way. As a collector, I am all about SGC and BGS where possible these days.

I agree with the post above, in that I would never send in or walk in a card, whether for a cracked review or even a cross, unless I was about to sell it. Even then, the risk of damaging it always gets to me.

End of the day, we know what we have as collectors, and we don't need some grader or company or sticker to tell us. Especially when they change their own minds so often. Even when it comes to value, the collective eyes of collectors will always determine the price. We've seen some 2s sell for more than some 3s, etc. All about eye appeal; screw the grades!

[DerekMichael]

Originally Posted by MattyC

MBM, horrible story, bro. Feel for you. Not surprised PSA handled it that way. As a collector, I am all about SGC and BGS where possible these days.

I agree with the post above, in that I would never send in or walk in a card, whether for a cracked review or even a cross, unless I was about to sell it. Even then, the risk of damaging it always gets to me.

End of the day, we know what we have as collectors, and we don't need some grader or company or sticker to tell us. Especially when they change their own minds so often. Even when it comes to value, the collective eyes of collectors will always determine the price. We've seen some 2s sell for more than some 3s, etc. All about eye appeal; screw the grades!

this should be in the card collecting bible

[steve B]

Basing the compensation for a problem on what I paid would get me pretty mad. Mostly because a lot of what I might get graded was bought in the 80's.

The difference in value between the original grade and the grade after the damage would be better, maybe with a bit extra if it's a particularly tough card.

It all makes me glad I never wanted to pay the cover charge to use them.

Steve B

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by MattyC

MBM, horrible story, bro. Feel for you. Not surprised PSA handled it that way. As a collector, I am all about SGC and BGS where possible these days.

I agree with the post above, in that I would never send in or walk in a card, whether for a cracked review or even a cross, unless I was about to sell it. Even then, the risk of damaging it always gets to me.

End of the day, we know what we have as collectors, and we don't need some grader or company or sticker to tell us. Especially when they change their own minds so often. Even when it comes to value, the collective eyes of collectors will always determine the price. We've seen some 2s sell for more than some 3s, etc. All about eye appeal; screw the grades!

Matt- You're glad about SGC and BGS when it comes to collecting....One small question....Resale value??

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by CMIZ5290

Matt- You're glad about SGC and BGS when it comes to collecting....One small question....Resale value??

There are a lot of other factors to consider when choosing a TPG other than resale value such as integrity, consistency, turnaround times, customer service (how they handle problems), etc.

If resale value was the most important thing, wouldn't we all be driving the same kind of car?

[MattyC]

Hey Kevin,

Hope all is good. My feelings on that aspect are kind of buried in my earlier post; but in a bit more detail here-- if I were to sell a given BGS or SGC card in
the current TPG landscape, my first move would be to try and let the card speak for itself, find a buyer of the card over holder, and see if it can fetch my desired price ballpark regardless of its holder. I've found that, depending ENTIRELY on the card, the holder can really be moot. If I couldn't find the right buyer, I would then entertain reviews or crossovers.

There is no doubt that the crystal meth known as the PSA Registry has led so many more cards to land in PSA holders. Granted, many of those cards are not high-value pieces, but rather modern commons. Either way, this popularity is priced in to the PSA brand. When it comes time to sell a card, which I rarely do, if the card could not perform like I hoped after a long while, I'd be okay crossing it. But it would have to languish a while before I subjected it to cracking.

And again, all depends if we are talking about a Frederick Foto Ruth or a 1981 Topps common.

Ultimately I am really not a seller, so operate on the buy/collecting side. As such, I see no reason to pay a higher price because of a premium caused by an online game in which I'm not a participant. Not at all a knock on Registry collectors, to each his own. But as a buyer, one can get an often superior card in a more attractive holder for less than its PSA counterpart. To keep in a collection forever, that's a no-brainer.

I try to find the best example of a card I want in my price range, regardless of holder. If ever I have to sell, then if I can break even or make a few bucks, I'm cool. Even a small loss I find acceptable. The amount I could concievably get by cracking, reviewing, or crossing would have to be really large to justify the risk and cost. But again I'm not a professional seller seeking maximum profit. If I ever had to sell off my cards at this point, I'd probably be in a real bad spot in life and happy to just break even. Would take a major disaster for me to sell my cards-- they provide such tremendous joy and escape from any stress!

[Cardboard Junkie]

Jeesh! Sounds like J O handled it in a piss poor way. Dave.

[h2oya311]

I originally thought this was going to be a "feel good" story....after all the attention Joe paid to your "free" submission. Aside from the banishment from the boards and suspension from PSA membership, what else should he have been expected to do???

I half expected this to end w/ them putting your now NM card back into a PSA 8.5 holder to make things better!!

Certainly the response to you was poor, but put yourself in his shoes. He got $0 from you, spent lots of his time (at least more than a commoner), and now he needs to cut you a big check to make you whole. Not a good day for him. The threat of lawyers now getting involved would be the icing on the cake if I were him!

Matt, I would hate to be in your position too and would likely have responded in a similar fashion!!

FWIW, I have never submitted anything to PSA and don't know anyone who works there.

[npa589]

The "free" submission isn't all that free. First, it is essentially what you're paying for with your Collector's Club membership ($130 or $190), and one does have to pay for shipping there and back. The way they are advertising it is that it is just like any other submission, and is a "Thank you" to the consumer for signing up for direct grading privileges.

Oh, and Derek: beautiful Helmar stamps...heck of a collection there! I especially enjoy that Evers was the cover photo

Originally Posted by h2oya311

I originally thought this was going to be a "feel good" story....after all the attention Joe paid to your "free" submission. Aside from the banishment from the boards and suspension from PSA membership, what else should he have been expected to do???

I half expected this to end w/ them putting your now NM card back into a PSA 8.5 holder to make things better!!

Certainly the response to you was poor, but put yourself in his shoes. He got $0 from you, spent lots of his time (at least more than a commoner), and now he needs to cut you a big check to make you whole. Not a good day for him. The threat of lawyers now getting involved would be the icing on the cake if I were him!

Matt, I would hate to be in your position too and would likely have responded in a similar fashion!!

FWIW, I have never submitted anything to PSA and don't know anyone who works there.