Does PSA give favoritism to certain dealers/customers?

[jayshum]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

I've always thought there could be merit in the common complaint that they don't do a great job at what they do, i.e., inexperienced, overworked graders and the like. I don't think KFC makes very good fried chicken, either, but they're still the biggest, right? But I do have a hard time seeing what would be the advantage, especially of PSA, the proverbial 800-lb gorilla in the hobby, in overgrading even for the biggest clients. Seems to me they would just have too much to lose if that was ever proven to be the case, which I don't think has happened yet, has it? And with the volume they handle, I don't know how they could make that kind of bias work without gumming up the process and creating even more delays in an organization that is already constantly "in the weeds," as we say in the bar business when you just can't keep up. I'd like to have more than hearsay to go by for such a serious accusation.

Maybe it is part of the reason for the delays they have in processing submissions?

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by jayshum

Maybe it is part of the reason for the delays they have in processing submissions?

Maybe, but I just don't see how that kind of interference in the process would work, for one thing, and what PSA would have to gain by it, for another. Everybody uses them now, as it is, why would they take a chance on that kind of widespread fraud that would damage their reputation or worse?

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Everybody uses them now, as it is, why would they take a chance on that kind of widespread fraud that would damage their reputation or worse?

Plenty around here who are SGC diehards and refuse to send a penny to PSA, notwithstanding they are both owned by the same parent company.

And some of this behavior might have been more prevalent in the past, rather than ongoing today.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Maybe, but I just don't see how that kind of interference in the process would work, for one thing, and what PSA would have to gain by it, for another. Everybody uses them now, as it is, why would they take a chance on that kind of widespread fraud that would damage their reputation or worse?

Buy 100 PSA 10s from 4SC. Resubmit them raw. See how many 10s you get. It won't be more than a handful.

Read the Blowout threads about the staggering number of altered cards graded for certain substantial dealers.

I have known, for better or worse, dealers willing to tell me things and there is no doubt at all that who submits, or asks for a review, matters. You can choose to believe what you want or demand any standard of proof, but this is how it works.

PSA grew on the backs of dealers and auction houses, not individual collectors. There was every motive in the world to make those people happy.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Buy 100 PSA 10s from 4SC. Resubmit them raw. See how many 10s you get. It won't be more than a handful.

Totally get this. Do you think the results would be different for PSA 10s from 4SC versus PSA 10s from some randos off the street?

I could be wrong (it's happened before), but it seems like the results would be similar, which is more an indictment of the consistency in the grading process, rather than a clear and obvious indication that 4SC is getting preferential treatment.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by raulus

Totally get this. Do you think the results would be different for PSA 10s from 4SC versus PSA 10s from some randos off the street?

I could be wrong (it's happened before), but it seems like the results would be similar, which is more an indictment of the consistency in the grading process, rather than a clear and obvious indication that 4SC is getting preferential treatment.

The better question is, if you and 4SC submitted the same 100 raw cards, would the results differ? And don't mean to single them out, there are similarly situated sellers. Have you ever looked at their listings and recreated the subs? Do that and tell me what you think. I am not saying the cards don't deserve it, but as we all know the difference between a 9 and a 10 can be arbitrary.

If you were a business dependent on submissions, would you not make sure your biggest most important customers were happy? Of course you would.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

The better question is, if you and 4SC submitted the same 100 raw cards, would the results differ? And don't mean to single them out, there are similarly situated sellers. Have you ever looked at their listings and recreated the subs? Do that and tell me what you think. I am not saying the cards don't deserve it, but as we all know the difference between a 9 and a 10 can be arbitrary.

If you were a business dependent on submissions, would you not make sure your biggest most important customers were happy? Of course you would.

Fair enough!

Now I just need to get the 4SC guys to sign up for this study.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by raulus

Fair enough!

Now I just need to get the 4SC guys to sign up for this study.

Better yet, get them to submit your cards for you.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Buy 100 PSA 10s from 4SC. Resubmit them raw. See how many 10s you get. It won't be more than a handful. Read the Blowout threads about the staggering number of altered cards graded for certain substantial dealers. I have known, for better or worse, dealers willing to tell me things and there is no doubt at all that who submits, or asks for a review, matters. You can choose to believe what you want or demand any standard of proof, but this is how it works. PSA grew on the backs of dealers and auction houses, not individual collectors. There was every motive in the world to make those people happy.

I guess, except for the fact that all of this is fraud, pure and simple. Have you contacted the FBI and Operation Bullpen? I hope so, and I hope the perps go to jail to set an example arid rid the hobby of this kind of illegal behavior forever.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

I guess, except for the fact that all of this is fraud, pure and simple. Have you contacted the FBI and Operation Bullpen? I hope so, and I hope the perps go to jail to set an example arid rid the hobby of this kind of illegal behavior forever.

Don't know where you've been my friend, but there was a years long investigation by the FBI. It was discussed on this forum ad nauseum.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Don't know where you've been my friend, but there was a years long investigation by the FBI. It was discussed on this forum ad nauseum.

It seemed like decades long...

Hank my friend, are you going to be at the National this year?
.

[HOF_Forever]

Dumb question (perhaps): is 4SC referring to 4 Sharp Corners? If so, I thought they were just a consignor of cards that are already graded. Do they offer bulk grading too?

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Leon

It seemed like decades long...
Hank my friend, are you going to be at the National this year?
.

Pretty serious allegations with little to back them up, seems to me. What do you think? As for the National, as the song goes, I don't get around much any more, sorry to say. Just embarked on my 80th year, bring it to D.C., Baltimore, or Philly, though, and I'm there in a heartbeat. You going?

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Don't know where you've been my friend, but there was a years long investigation by the FBI. It was discussed on this forum ad nauseum.

LOL! Well someone earlier on this thread had no idea that the T206 Wagner 8 was trimmed. Not sure if that means two people here are not dialed in 24/7 to the hobby or if they are not paying attention.

[mannequin1]

The worst possible scenario would be someone who's real tight with at least 1 of the graders, who then gives their vintage cards 8's, 9's or even a 10 knowing they're overgrading, for a cut of the profits.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Don't know where you've been my friend, but there was a years long investigation by the FBI. It was discussed on this forum ad nauseum.

I'm well aware of Operation Bullpen, that's why I mentioned it. But I must have missed the part where they looked into card grading and possible fraud between the TPGs and dealers and AHs. What was the result, did they find everything you're talking about and did people go to jail for it?

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

PSA grew on the backs of dealers and auction houses, not individual collectors. There was every motive in the world to make those people happy.

There are some logical problems with this, mostly that there are probably fifteen AHs and fifty dealers who submit thousands of cards annually for their auctions or sales. Since all of them do the same volume of business with the TPGs as the others, more or less, why would any of them get preference over the others? And since they all watch each other's auctions like hawks, it would be a very short time before the "losers" in this competition to corrupt the TPGs were complaining vociferously about their status, or lack thereof, in this game, or even worse, switching TPGs or going to the authorities with their complaints. And you only talk about the AHs and dealers, what about collectors--a substantial segment of the TPG's business, no doubt, who see the grades in catalogs and at shows and realize they're getting the short end of the stick? How do you think they must feel, and are they just going to sit back and take it? It just all seems too implausible to me. As I've said before, I want to see some proof.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I don't have the time, energy, or motivation to reproduce all the threads from Blowout identifying altered cards and their sources, all the analyses of submissions they did, or to more importantly to reconstruct all the countless conversations I've had over the course of decades that inform my views on this subject. The question was posed, and I offered my views, which apparently many others share. You are free to believe what you want and to do whatever burden of proof thing you wish.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I don't have the time, energy, or motivation to reproduce all the threads from Blowout identifying altered cards and their sources, all the analyses of submissions they did, or to more importantly to reconstruct all the countless conversations I've had over the course of decades that inform my views on this subject. The question was posed, and I offered my views, which apparently many others share. You are free to believe what you want and to do whatever burden of proof thing you wish.

I will, of course, but the burden of proof is on those making such serious accusations. So far, I haven't seen squat.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

I will, of course, but the burden of proof is on those making such serious accusations. So far, I haven't seen squat.

The OP asked for people's views. By stating mine I did not assume any burden to prove anything to anyone or convince someone who has not read anything on the subject even though lots has been posted. Nor did anyone else who is of the same view, and they are legion. If you are interested start with the Blowout threads, there's a sticky at the top of the baseball forum and go from there. Read the Joe C. thread I linked, although that just involves preferential grading not altered cards. With all respect, saying "I haven't seen squat" doesn't mean much when you haven't read what is out there.