Are the autograph auth. folks absolute idiots?

[calvindog]

JSA, PSA, who cares who does it - it's idiotic. And if the customer wants the card shredded does that mean JSA or PSA will do it? Just put the damn thing in a slab with the grade up top. PSA and SGC don't give customers the opportunity to have a sticker with the grade of the card put on the back, so why are autographed cards treated differently?

[Doug]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Just put the damn thing in a slab with the grade up top.

That was exactly what I was getting ready to say, but Jeff beat me to it.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by calvindog

JSA, PSA, who cares who does it - it's idiotic. And if the customer wants the card shredded does that mean JSA or PSA will do it? Just put the damn thing in a slab with the grade up top. PSA and SGC don't give customers the opportunity to have a sticker with the grade of the card put on the back, so why are autographed cards treated differently?

A. Agreed as to it being an idiotic practice regardless of who does it. Just think the thread title is misleading or unfair (yes, we agree on that Leon) in that regard.

B. PSA and SGC grade cards -- their job is to protect the card. JSA authenticates and grades autographs -- their job is to authenticate the autograph. Their job functions and business requests are really very different. JSA is not in the business of preserving autographs -- unless you want them to have BVG do it, which they are happy to do. They give an opinion as to the authenticity of a signature and then they need to tie that opinion to the autograph, which could be on an infinitely vast type of media. To not have a sticker service in such a business model would be hazardous to their success. And to limit those stickers to a universe regardless of customer taste seems a bit strange to me.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by T206Collector

B. PSA and SGC grade cards -- their job is to protect the card. JSA authenticates and grades autographs -- their job is to authenticate the autograph. Their job functions and business requests are really very different. JSA is not in the business of preserving autographs -- unless you want them to have BVG do it, which they are happy to do. They give an opinion as to the authenticity of a signature and then they need to tie that opinion to the autograph, which could be on an infinitely vast type of media. To not have a sticker service in such a business model would be hazardous to their success. And to limit those stickers to a universe regardless of customer taste seems a bit strange to me.

Paul, you must be bored today --you're really splitting hairs. With your argument PSA and SGC should then only be responsible for offering opinions on the condition of the card. Why not put a sticker on the backs of the cards with that grade on it? The fact is whether you're authenticating autographs or offering a grade for the card's condition, of paramount importance should be the desire to protect the item. There's simply no good reason why JSA or PSA can't just slab the autographed card with a number at the top. As for larger, non-slabbable items, then a discreet sticker on the back or an accompanying letter should do the trick just fine. This isn't rocket science they're undertaking.

If JSA can authenticate Sal Bando's just signed autograph even though he was 3000 miles away at the time the autograph was signed, then I suspect JSA can figure out this problem as well.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by calvindog

There's simply no good reason why JSA or PSA can't just slab the autographed card with a number at the top.

1. They do this for a fee.
2. They offer a sticker for less money, and it is up to the customer to decide.
3. If SGC or PSA offered a grading sticker for $1, no one would buy it. That is why they don't offer it.

Customer: Do you have a sticker authentication service?
JSA: It depends on what you want to put the sticker on.
Customer: I want to put it on my baseball card.
JSA: Sorry. We don't put stickers on baseball cards.
Customer: PSA will do it.
JSA: Then go to PSA.

Seriously?

[calvindog]

Yes, and based on the responses in this thread there is major demand for the back of the card sticker. I'm sure many collectors would run to PSA just to get that destructive sticker placed on the backs of their autographed cards.

[Rich Klein]

what I have gathered from the now infamous Sal Bando video.

The rep from JSA was taking a table at the same show that Bando was signing at and thus Bando was no more than a few hundred feet away. Plus; from watching the video -- I suspect the guy from JSA was a bit "set-up" by the reporter.

Should they have checked said autograph better: of course, but the logic of the show dictated that the autograph was good. I bet that a person with your skills as a lawyer could prove damages to JSA for all that

Regards
Rich


If JSA can authenticate Sal Bando's just signed autograph even though he was 3000 miles away at the time the autograph was signed, then I suspect JSA can figure out this problem as well

[barrysloate]

What happens if you try to remove the sticker? Does it take a piece of the card with it? If it does, then it ruins the item and is unacceptable. If it doesn't, what stops someone from removing the sticker on a genuine item and reattaching it to a bad one? So either way, it stinks.

[FrankWakefield]

Two events are occurring, both of which seem senseless to me.

1- JSA puts a sticker on the item. Front is worst, back is bad.

2- People submit their stuff to JSA and PAY them to put a sticker on their stuff.



I used to think the 1st one was the greater transgression, but at least JSA gets paid to do something that seems senseless to me. I now think that the 2nd is worse... here, don't merely put a sticker on my stuff to ruin it, please let me also pay you for the damage you're doing.


Will a day come when some grading company will certify slabbed cards with a sticker on the slab, certifying that the slab company got it right?

[Anthony S.]

What is the "now infamous" Sal Bando video? I think all this came down when I was taking a break from collecting (and I don't collect autographs).

Incidentally, in the early 1970's my parents were at a small dinner party, maybe 8 people, with Sal Bando and my mom showed up with a half dozen baseballs stuffed in her purse. He graciously signed them, though I suspect he may have wanted to strangle her (not an uncommon sentiment). Giants fan that I am --- he was an Oakland A at the time --- it became my "street catch" ball (the one you don't mind getting torn up by the cement and asphalt when it hits the ground).

[sox1903wschamp]

Originally Posted by calvindog

JSA, PSA, who cares who does it - it's idiotic. And if the customer wants the card shredded does that mean JSA or PSA will do it? Just put the damn thing in a slab with the grade up top. PSA and SGC don't give customers the opportunity to have a sticker with the grade of the card put on the back, so why are autographed cards treated differently?

Agree with this 100%. The Vintage item has already been through decades of who knows what and now a 3rd party is going to knowingly damage an item with a sticker? What? Common sense please. We want these items to last plenty of more decades into the future.