THE MARKEL REPORT: Are Graded Baseball Cards Being “Juiced” (Aesthetically Enhanced)?

[WhenItWasAHobby]

Again a PSA 8.5 from eBay seller "scottsusor". The raw card sold
to scottsusor on eBay around March 2007

[onlychild]

The term "microtrimming" has been tossed around on this thread.

From experience, to trim so thin in a specific area and with the side fibers smoothed (or removed), my guess is that this the result of delicate card sanding as opposed to the conventional blade job. Again, just an educated guess.

Great detective work Dan...and team!


Kevin

[Flintboy]

What should bother everyone is what this effect is having on everyones collection monetarily. For example, I find a 61 Jim Gentile raw, a very low pop and grade it. It comes back an "8." I sell my legitimate card on Ebay for "X." I check VCP and see that several cards have sold prior to this by someone who I suspect is altering cards. My card sells for a quite a few dollars less because "seller X" has sold 3 other Gentiles in an "8". Basically that guy just cost me good money. How much has your collection suffered cash wise because of this? Im bettin quite abit.......

[WhenItWasAHobby]

I guess this shouldn't come as a surprise, but I've been banned from the Collectors Universe Boards after being a member for 8 years plus 2 years prior when it was the PSA Board.

I have no regrets regarding the way I've handled this. I believed from the start of this investigation that I should distance myself from anyone or organization that would compromise the integrity of the findings or try to suppress the truth and I'll just leave it at that.

I do find it curious that Joe Orlando would do such a thing when he's in such a vulnerable position as he is right now. This isn't about a vendetta against PSA - I still own about 600 PSA graded cards. It's about stopping someone from systematically defauding the collecting community and hopefully the victims getting back what they lost.


There's actually one real good development in the making. It should become self-evident in the next several days.

[calvindog]

Dan, it's disappointing that the hair-trigger response from PSA is not to try to get to the bottom of a horrible situation of which they were probably an unwitting party but instead to shoot the messenger. Such a typical, paranoid response from Joe Orlando. I'm disappointed as I really thought this presented him a chance to do some good and show the collecting community that he cares about the quality of his product. Oh well, no wonder he's such a great guy.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Dan, it's disappointing that the hair-trigger response from PSA is not to try to get to the bottom of a horrible situation of which they were probably an unwitting party but instead to shoot the messenger. Such a typical, paranoid response from Joe Orlando. I'm disappointed as I really thought this presented him a chance to do some good and show the collecting community that he cares about the quality of his product. Oh well, no wonder he's such a great guy.

Jeff I don't condone PSA's attitude but I can understand it. An admission that a dealer/card doctor can regularly get trimmed cards past their graders could be devastating. Against that, any backlash from banning a dissident is probably minor.

[calvindog]

It's certainly understandable for them to circle the wagons but kicking one guy off their boards will not make the problem go away nor prevent others from learning about it. Why not take the high road by announcing steps to prevent this sort of thing from happening again?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Dan -- under the circumstances banishment would seem to be a badge of honor. Have you heard from Susor?

[benjulmag]

Originally Posted by WhenItWasAHobby

I guess this shouldn't come as a surprise, but I've been banned from the Collectors Universe Boards after being a member for 8 years plus 2 years prior when it was the PSA Board.

Looking at things from the bright side, at least Boards such as the ones you describe choose only banning. They do not (at least not yet) add such other niceties as imprisonment and torture.

[daviddbreadman]

I apologize if this had link had already been posted.. more on Scott Susor from several years ago including comments of him "scouring the net for raw cards.

http://forums.collectors.com/message...70&STARTPAGE=8

Also its noticeable that PSA seems to use Scott Susor in their articles at times. Not really proof of anything but I don't seem to have PSA calling me up for quotes for articles.

http://www.psacard.com/articles/arti...tml?artid=5122

http://www.psacard.com/articles/arti...tml?artid=5582

[WhenItWasAHobby]

After filing a complaint with eBay on Friday, I just received this response back:

Thank you for writing eBay in regard to item number 310156210162 (1961
TOPPS #494 TOM CHENEY Pirates PSA 8 NM-MT) that you purchased from
scottsusor. As you stated, the seller sold you a card which was altered
and you have already filed criminal charges with IC3 against him.
Because of the seller's activity, you would like us this seller be no
longer allowed to sell on the site. I know it's taken us a while to get
back to you and I'm sorry about the wait.

Rest assured that we thoroughly reviewed your report about the seller
and will take appropriate action. We may take a range of steps that
include giving a warning, canceling a listing, restricting or suspending
an account, or removing PowerSeller status.

We protect the privacy of our members, so we can't share the results of
our investigation with you. We appreciate you taking the time to file a
report and help make eBay a safe place to buy and sell.

At this time, to help you decide what would work best for you, I
recommend the following options (details below):

-- Contact us by phone --

As you're a valued member of eBay, we would like to help you resolve
your concern the soonest time possible.

Kindly call us at the number provided below and we'll be glad to assist
you.

eBay Customer Hotline Number for "Item Not Received or Significantly Not
as Described" disputes : 1-866-643-3720


So I did call eBay and talked to a very helpful person named Joe. It appears that is will only be a matter of time before these two two eBay accounts are shutdown.

Also, thanks Jeff, Peter, et al, for all of your supporting thoughts.