What is your opinion on TPA's?

[homerunhitter]

What is your opinion on TPA's? (PSA, JSA, Beckett, SGC, Etc)

Not looking for forty people to post, "you should learn autographs" or "do your homework on autographs" I have seen that a hundred times on this site, I get it. I understand that, but im not asking THAT question....im instead asking....

What is your opinion on TPA's in general? Thank you!

[bnorth]

They are the absolute greatest thing in the hobby. That is if you have raw items you can get "certified" by them to sell. They are absolutely amazing for making money that way. Other than that they are completely worthless.

[homerunhitter]

I appreciate your honest opinion. Thank you

any other thoughts?

[rand1com]

They are way better than just buying autographs blind especially if you like to collect autographs but know little about their authenticity.

Obviously, they make some mistakes that get highlighted but if they get 90% right that gives a collector a way better chance to get something authentic than just rolling the dice.

[theshleps]

I have had the opportunity to know some of the top authenticators and spend time with them and learn from them. At last a few of them know alot more than me. many questions still remain
1- when we send something in we do not know which authenticators look at your item, how many look, how much time they spend looking.
if I knew only the top guys would look and take all the necessary time they need, I'd be great
.
Unfortunately that cannot be guaranteed as the demand for authentication outweighs the number of experts that do it for a living.
Again if you need to sell and use an auction house TPAs are required and PSA slabbed typically will go for more than the others. In some ways I wished we turned back the clock but that is in many things in todays world

[Hankphenom]

To paraphrase what Winston Churchill said of Democracy, that it is the worst form of government except for all the others, substitute TPAs. I'd like to hear from somebody that would like to go back to when they weren't part of the hobby.

[rand1com]

Originally Posted by theshleps

I have had the opportunity to know some of the top authenticators and spend time with them and learn from them. At last a few of them know alot more than me. many questions still remain
1- when we send something in we do not know which authenticators look at your item, how many look, how much time they spend looking.
if I knew only the top guys would look and take all the necessary time they need, I'd be great
.
Unfortunately that cannot be guaranteed as the demand for authentication outweighs the number of experts that do it for a living.
Again if you need to sell and use an auction house TPAs are required and PSA slabbed typically will go for more than the others. In some ways I wished we turned back the clock but that is in many things in todays world

I agree we do not know who looks at our items. And like you, I have a lot of confidence in the senior authenticators at all 3 major 3rd parties, but they have to hire trainees just like the card grading companies do and they are no better than anyone else who starts with no real knowledge. I know that the 3rd parties for the most part when they authenticate at shows send pics of most of the autographs(especially the high dollar ones) to the senior guys. Sometimes, they take the item back with them if there is any question. They really try to do their best and we all know they sometimes miss the mark. Overall, they have greatly improved the autograph market in my opinion.

[Kaneen]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

What is your opinion on TPA's? (PSA, JSA, Beckett, SGC, Etc)

Not looking for forty people to post, "you should learn autographs" or "do your homework on autographs" I have seen that a hundred times on this site, I get it. I understand that, but im not asking THAT question....im instead asking....

What is your opinion on TPA's in general? Thank you!

My opinion on TPAs is:

Third Party Opinion Sellers
VG-EX 4.5
(Opinion Grade Only)

NOTE: The OP who requested this opinion did not pay me extra for the Dual Opinion Service, whereby my above opinion would have listed the specific TPA I was opining about. Therefore the opinion flip just states the generic "Third Party Opinion Seller" heading.

If my opinion changes as a result of this thread, I will resubmit and add the following qualifier to my opinion:

A - Altered

[Republicaninmass]

Their OPINIONS are "likely to be correct"

[Kco]

It depends on the scenario. Generally they are good and needed, and I always utilize them as a backup to my opinion. If i like the item on my own, and PSA/JSA agree, it layers on my confidence in the piece.

For those saying "I only collect for me so I don't need it", my counter would be if you were to drop dead tomorrow, would your loved ones know what to do, what is worth what, or would they be the ones trying to fly blind to figure out how to sell your belongings after you're gone. It is for that reason almost entirely, that everything I have also has either PSA, JSA or both (for non first party items). There is also a valuation spreadsheet that I update regularly and instructions on which friends, auction houses and colleagues to contact should something happen to me.

The other component is WHICH TPA to use for what items, generally each has their strong suit and weaker areas. I tend to find JSA the best of the bunch for vintage baseball, followed by PSA and then Beckett. As vintage baseball is my primary collection focus, I tend to weight the opinions of these companies in that order.

Bottom line is they add legitimacy to what you're claiming something is. EVERY one of us started with no knowledge and built up our knowledge base and eyes over time. Some people genuinely cannot judge a signature no matter how long they look at it. Anyone just entering the hobby has that same baseline, and TPAs help make their purchase choice a lot safer. Sure TPAs miss some here and there, but they definitely bat over 90%, and well above 95% on the biggest names.

[Lordstan]

Originally Posted by Kco

For those saying "I only collect for me so I don't need it", my counter would be if you were to drop dead tomorrow, would your loved ones know what to do, what is worth what, or would they be the ones trying to fly blind to figure out how to sell your belongings after you're gone. It is for that reason almost entirely, that everything I have also has either PSA, JSA or both (for non first party items). There is also a valuation spreadsheet that I update regularly and instructions on which friends, auction houses and colleagues to contact should something happen to me.

I have heard this rationale about flying blind so many times, yet Imo it means nothing. First off, as you have done, is very easy to provide your family with the names and contact information for a handful of friends, dealers, and auction houses they can call to sell your collection, with or without TPAs. It took me virtually no time to contact on of the big auction houses, negotiate a rate for items of mine they sell, and give my wife one number she can call where they will haul it all away and send her a check. They will authenticate stuff that is worth it and not waste on stuff that isn't. Anyone could do the same and I have not had to spend a single dollar on a tpa. For me, it's better to take the extra money and buy more items that can appreciate rather than sinking into opinions that don't.

Originally Posted by Kco

The other component is WHICH TPA to use for what items, generally each has their strong suit and weaker areas. I tend to find JSA the best of the bunch for vintage baseball, followed by PSA and then Beckett. As vintage baseball is my primary collection focus, I tend to weight the opinions of these companies in that order.

This is a great point and is huge reason to NOT authenticate until right before sale. Suppose 10yrs from now PSA or JSA has a huge scandal and their opinions are worth nothing. It has happened before and could happen again to any of them.
To me, if you see TPAs as a business practice used to maximize sale price, then it's best to certify right before you sell.


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[homerunhitter]

Originally Posted by Lordstan

This is a great point and is huge reason to NOT authenticate until right before sale. Suppose 10yrs from now PSA or JSA has a huge scandal and their opinions are worth nothing. It has happened before and could happen again to any of them.

With all of the graded cards (and autographs) out there can you imagine is PSA had a major scandal where now their opinion is worth as much as GAI (aka..not worth a thing!) the hobby will sink with all the graded cards out there nowadays. Yikes!