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Archive 11-19-2007 06:17 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>MikeU</b><p>Kevin, <br /><br />To add some additional real value that I think a lot of people would enjoy:<br /><br />1. List the certification numbers of all cards on your site that you have rejected. Collectors will then traffic to your site to do a cert check before they purchase cards. <br /><br />That, I think, would be very valuable, both for yourself and the general colleting public.

Archive 11-19-2007 06:27 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>This would be a great idea if Kevin did not want to get any business. Obviously dealers would not give a collector a return privlege if this happened as they would never be able to sell the card.

Archive 11-19-2007 06:30 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Steve Murray</b><p>Isn't that the idea? Keep the bad cards out of the market.<br /><br />Jim; I think everyone knew is was you <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

Archive 11-19-2007 06:31 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>it would put Peter out of business.<br /><br /><br /><br />Do you mean to say that Kevin's customers should risk having their cards being 'blacklisted' by Kevin's opinion?<br /><br /><br />Who the heck would submit to him if that was the case?

Archive 11-19-2007 06:33 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>MikeU</b><p>"This would be a great idea if Kevin did not want to get any business. Obviously dealers would not give a collector a return privlege if this happened as they would never be able to sell the card."<br /><br />Then, Jim is not helping to clean the hobby, he just wants to pass the junk to a different person. The good dealers should not have a problem with this, unless they have aboslutely no respect for Kevin. <br />

Archive 11-19-2007 06:39 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Anonymous</b><p>Mike,<br /><br />That's ridiculous. No dealer is going to take a $10,000 loss on a card and publicize that Kevin is uncomfortable with it. And once again just because Kevin may disagree with a grading service is no indication he is right.

Archive 11-19-2007 06:43 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Steve Murray</b><p>"And once again just because Kevin may disagree with a grading service is no indication he is right."<br /><br />Then why bother?

Archive 11-19-2007 06:45 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Rick McQuillan</b><p>Mike, you hit the nail on the head. I agree with you completely.<br /><br />Rick

Archive 11-19-2007 06:49 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>MikeU</b><p>It all depends on how Kevin wants to market his company. <br /><br />1. Does he simply want to be an extra set of eyes for a couple of wealthy collectors and make a very minimal amount of money. <br />2. Does he want to make a differnce and does he truly have the talent to make a strong influence with dealers and grading companies. <br /><br />Right now if I am a large dealer, this is something I might say:<br /><br />1. I have little respect for Kevin, but if I have to humor a good client and go through this motion to sell some cars, no big deal. I really do not care too much if Kevin rejects the card, because I can sell it to others and I also have plenty of other cards to sell Jim. <br /><br />If Kevin were to post the serial numbers:<br /><br />1. Dealers and graders would respect what he has to say and his opinion would be of real value. <br />2. If Kevin does not add that kind of value, he would be exposed and pushed out of business. <br /><br />If Kevin is good and exposes a bad card:<br /><br />1. Wouldn't the dealer have recourse with the grading company to alleviate his loss. <br />2. Kevin may be wrong once in a awhile, but if he is right more often then not, a revolution in the right direction can take place. <br /><br />My point is unless Kevin does something like this to truly add value to the hobby, his presence is not needed for me personally or for anyone that is truly trying to better the hobby. If he took it to the next level, that is something that could be special.

Archive 11-19-2007 07:06 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Mike,<br /><br />So how does he make money under your vision?<br /><br />I know of at least one major collector who has had Mike look at a significant percentage of the cards in his collection.<br /><br />Steve,<br /><br />You can't be serious. PSA and SGC will disagree if a card is altered. Heck, I have had a grading company disagree with itself. Send it in once its altered--send it in again its an 8.<br /><br />One would bother with this so as to minimize the risk of having altered cards in his collection.<br /><br />

Archive 11-19-2007 08:15 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>MikeU</b><p>"Mike,<br /><br />So how does he make money under your vision?<br /><br />I know of at least one major collector who has had Mike look at a significant percentage of the cards in his collection."<br /><br />Jim, <br /><br />To bring the dicussion full circle:<br /><br />Genesis: <br /><br />1. This does nothing to clean up the hobby, which I thought was always an underlying premise of these efforts. <br />2. This is simply a second set of eyes for collectors. <br />3. The second set is needed for you because you do not trust PSA to either get is right a majority of the time or reimburse you for bunk cards. <br /><br />Things I do not understand (My ignorance):<br /><br />1. You trust Mike Baker more than PSA, but will not use them. <br />2. You trust Dave Forman more than PSA, but will not use them. <br />3. You trust Derek Grady more than PSA, but would not buy from Mastro and probably do not currently buy from Heritage. <br />4. As a HOF collector, you do not hold PSA to task for bunk cards. You do exactly what they want by sticking with them despite items 1-3 and will even pay other parties addition money to double check there cards. <br />5. Your entire problem is that PSA does not guarantee their product.<br />6. For newly started sets, there is no reason why you could not use a different grader that gives you more assurance. <br /><br />Switching Costs:<br /><br />1. For you at this point, I can appreciate for the sets you have underway, that it would be a big deal to switch and you feel the best option is a second set of eyes. This allows a niche for Kevin. <br /><br />Kevins Current Niche:<br /><br />1. PSA collectors that feel their switching costs are too high and despite their lack of guarantee are plowing forward. <br />2. To compensate for the lack of guarantee, they want a second set of eyes to feel good about purchases. <br />3. These collectors have several options i.e. Mike Baker as you mentioned above, who are much more visable or wholly accepted. <br />4. Kevin has been uable to secure a job at either PSA or GAI. This could steer many of the collectors in chosing other second opinion individuals. <br />5. Most collectors need or desire any other opinion than the one on the slab, regardless if it is GAI, PSA, SGC or BVG. That is enough in and of itself. <br />6. Kevin has obviously secured Jim's business and could get more, but there are certinaly limitations noted in 1-5. <br /><br />My Potential Current Needs for Kevin:<br /><br />1. I use SGC, so I am comfortable with their guarantee and need nothing else. <br />2. However, lets say I am ready to buy an SGC 88/8 49 Leaf Paige. This is a lot of money for me and I would not mind a second opinion. <br />3. For this issue, I would probably track down Ted Z. before Kevin. <br />4. Since Kevin and Ted Z. can give advice with no consequence, it does not mean a great deal, but I might pass on a card that Ted Z. gave the thumbs down on. So there is some value in gut feeling, but nothing of real substance.<br /><br />Future Potenial For Kevin:<br /><br />1. If Kevin posted certification numbers on his site, I would probably steer clear of those cards. That is a gut feeling value. <br />2. Once he does this, initially graders will likely say (He can not get a job here, he is not a grader, he is second rate etc.) They will tell this to dealers and try to undermine Kevin. <br />3. Kevin either has the skills or not. If not he will sputter quickly and should simply stick to his non-consequence 2nd opinon plan. <br />4. If Kevin does have the skills, he should be able to point out the specifc flaws to the graders and dealers to help pull the cards off the market and help dealers obtain their money back from the graders. <br />5. If he has enough skill to do #4, then he has something special and could really make some money and be a valued source. That was my vision plan. <br /><br /> <br /><br />

Archive 11-19-2007 08:28 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Mike,<br /><br />You don't understand--you're right. You would be better off trying not to get inside my head and try to figure out what I think.<br /><br />I have tried to get a collectors group going and have met with derision by some and lack of interest by most of the remainder so this is something I am going to do for me. I am acting in my own self interest by having an expert look at my expensive card purchases before I buy them. Your proposal is simply not workable.<br /><br />I don't understand SGC's guarantee--so if Kevin says it is likely altered and SGC says it is legit do you get your money back or do you only get your money back if they agree they screwed up the first time.<br /><br />And I like PSA--I just want a second pair of expert eyes on my expensive cards.

Archive 11-19-2007 08:38 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Marc S.</b><p>I prefer higher-grade cards to lower-grade ones, and my current collecting interests lie primarily in pre-war and 19th century rather than modern. Alterations are a big problem in the hobby, I know and understand that. And I have a good deal of money tied up in my collection.<br /><br />All that said, these repeated discussions sadden me. If I can't either a) educate myself to some limited degree for becoming comfortable with cards or b) take a leap of faith and trust the dealers/collectors with whom I trade and do business, then the hobby lacks that pizazz that made me want to collect again.<br /><br />I regard Kevin's expertise and consant experimentation something that makes him a true student of the hobby, and one that can teach many of us what to be careful for. And I wish him great success in any hobby-related ventures that he may take on in a more meaningful context.<br /><br />But if I can't have fun in this hobby, I'll simply walk away. These dicsussions <i>are</i> important...but in my mind, they should be in the 10% range of what we spend our time discussing. But it seems to be to be a dominant, recurring theme, at which point I question how much "fun" we are all having? Certainly we are not forensic paper anthropologists, where these discussions are enthralling, mind-boggling and interesting so much that we want to relate these stories to our non-hobby friends and family.<br /><br />~marc

Archive 11-19-2007 08:44 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Lee Behrens</b><p>I think that Mike's idea is the right idea. There is pro's and con's to what Kevin is offering and if he does not publish on the site than it is a dishonest business benefiting only the submitter. If the submitter does not like it, heck he can just resubmit it to the grading company that gave the orignal grade. <br /><br />Jim, if you don't think there is some risk involved on both ends than your are really confused. I really have not figured out your logic in this whole matter, you feel it is a great service but if Kevin does something that you feel we not make money but would benefit the site and his project, that it is than OK not to OUT some BADS? <br /><br />I think KEvin's idea is a noble one but is going to take alot of work.<br /><br />Lee

Archive 11-19-2007 08:57 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Lee,<br /><br />No dealer would want to have or would make his sale to me contingent upon Kevin's OK if he thought it could end up on a blacklist--anyone with any sense can figure that out.<br /><br />Marc,<br /><br />I agree with you in principal--one issue I have is that I would typically buy from several hundred dealers in a given year.

Archive 11-19-2007 09:23 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Matt</b><p>Jim - couldn't your same argument be made regarding the advent of the slabbing era? No dealer would want to submit a card for slabbing if the end result could be that the card was deemed a reproduction or trimmed? But as we know that logic did not hold then.

Archive 11-19-2007 09:29 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Lee Behrens</b><p>So, Kevin's service would only benefit the person putting paying for Kevin's services and if Kevin feels it's altered then what you are saying is that it is alright for them to go sell the card without any mention of Kevin's findings. <br /><br />To me there is no reason that Kevin could not charge to find out if he has already looked a card and have it on his website, heck, he could make unlimited amounts of money on the same card.<br /><br />For this whole thing to work, the buyers are going to have to start demanding his services from the sellers, until that hurt the bottom line of the seller it just will not make a difference. It is a good start, but if it is like people's feelings on auction house (I don't like what they are doing, but if they have a card I want I will bid on it.) mentality. It just won't matter.<br /><br /><br /><br />Lee

Archive 11-19-2007 09:37 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Lee Behrens</b><p>Mark S.,<br /><br />I also agree that the hobby should be fun but with the amount of money involved that is a little tough because there are too many cheats out there. If I didn't enjoy the cards I certainly would be selling more.<br /><br />I personally believe that I have a decent grasp on altering but if you would like to see my collection of slipped through my first inspection only to find out that are altered are plentiful (around 30 cards). There is a reason that every trade or service has experts, because they are needed. The experts gain there reputation through experience and results, must of us don't have the time to get the experience.<br /><br />Lee

Archive 11-19-2007 09:42 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Frank Evanov</b><p>Carrying this over from the other thread that was locked. As you recall, I questioned Kevin's credentials, his documented experience and the source of his expertise:<br /><br />from Jim:<br /><br /><I>"Credentials?--I have read his posts here and on the other board on alterations and he has actually gotten cards past Mike Baker who I consider the best grader in the business."</I><br /><br />Those are credentials Jim?? Getting a card past Baker hardly qualifies. And who is to say that this actually happened?<br /><br />from Jim:<br /><br /><I>"Just <U>because Kevin is uncomfortable and lets say SGC or PSA grades it doesn't mean the card is altered.</U>"</I><br /><br />Whoa, hold on now. Isn't that the whole point? Presumably I would be paying Kevin for his "expert opinion" that a card is altered...not for him telling me he's "uncomfortable" with a card. And if he is uncomfortable, you are then saying it <U>doesn't</U> mean the card is altered?<br><br>Frank

Archive 11-19-2007 09:55 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Brian</b><p>Writing a business plan on a public message board isn't a recipe for success.<br /><br />Let Kevin start his business, if he chooses. It will succeed or fail on its own merits.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

Archive 11-19-2007 09:57 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>MikeU</b><p>Jim, <br /><br />Taking the element out of my post of trying to get in your head, I think it does give a clear illustration of the potential Kevin could bring vs. simply being a set of 2nd eyes. I strongly disagree that it would simply not be workable. It is only not workable if Kevin does not truly have the skill-set to objectively show PSA, BVG, GAI and SGC their errors. Without this, you are right, no dealer would agree to have his cards blacklisted by someone with no respect/skill-set. <br /><br />However, with respect and skill-set, Kevin could single handedly assist dealers in getting reimbursed for bunk cards from graders. This is where Kevin would have a true value proposition vs. just another set of 2nd eyes. <br /><br />In your SGC example, lets say Kevin says an SGC card is bunk. He has objective information and the collector or dealer and Kevin go to Dave Forman for an answer. There are a couple of options:<br /><br />1. Kevin objectively shows Dave the problem, he agrees and pulls the card off the market. <br />2. Dave shows Kevin why he is wrong. <br />3. There is an impass. For this, I think Kevin should have two categories of rejection i.e. some doubt of authenticy/alteration, but can not completely substantiate the doubt and no doubt with objective information that the card is not authentic or is altered. I think the no doubt categories could be argued with the grading companies. The "some doubt" statements are meaningless.

Archive 11-19-2007 10:01 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Matt,<br /><br />I don't think its the same--a dealer could always sell the card raw if it did not grade.<br /><br />Lee,<br /><br />I agree with part of what you say. I think in the beginning Kevin works for who pays him and no disclosure is necessary.<br /><br />Over time, it would be great if buyers demanded Kevin's approval on graded cards--not holding my breath on this one however.<br /><br />Frank,<br /><br />Who is to say it happened? Kevin said it--are you suggesting he is lieing? All one would have to do is ask Mike.<br /><br />On your second point, I don't think its clearcut on every card. Reasonable people can disagree. If he has doubts I will pass.

Archive 11-19-2007 10:03 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>peter chao</b><p>It was mentioned earlier...Kevin consider buying out or merging with GAI. At this time buying them out would be relatively inexpensive. It probably would require no more than a minimal investment. Pay for their business license, back rent, and a few extra dollars for what remains of their goodwill.<br /><br />Peter C.

Archive 11-19-2007 10:06 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>G. Maines</b><p>Consultants are commonly employed, and most provide their services confidentially. Medical, Legal, Technical. Professional, and other experts are routine in the considerations of many.<br /><br />There is no cause to assume that services which Kevin may offer should fall outside of this framework, unless it is perceived as advantageous to those directly involved. imo

Archive 11-19-2007 10:07 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Steve</b><p>Kevin/Jim, Your ideas are a positive step though controversial with collectors. <br /><br /> I'm no businessman but have you considered this route?.. Offer a Grade School -short course or workshop to furthur certify the current employees that work for psa, sgc, bvg, gai etc. You could even develop a program for the collectors themselves, that would likely garner great interest.

Archive 11-19-2007 10:08 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Mike,<br /><br />It would be nice if everything worked out like you described but I just don't think its realistic. Do not believe Joe Orlando would entertain the idea of Kevin showing their expert graders why they are wrong. Also again I would come back to the point that Kevin if he undertakes this has got to driven ultimately by economics. Just do not see the econonmics of your business model.

Archive 11-19-2007 10:12 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Ahhhh....now I understand why no one comes forth with any evidence of these altered cards. They are reserving their right to recirculate the card back into the hobby at a maximum profit.<br /><br />So far I am unimpressed with any efforts to clean up the hobby.

Archive 11-19-2007 10:56 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>&lt;&lt;&lt;All that said, these repeated discussions sadden me. If I can't either a) educate myself to some limited degree for becoming comfortable with cards or b) take a leap of faith and trust the dealers/collectors with whom I trade and do business, then the hobby lacks that pizazz that made me want to collect again.<br /><br />But if I can't have fun in this hobby, I'll simply walk away. These dicsussions are important...but in my mind, they should be in the 10% range of what we spend our time discussing. &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;<br /><br />Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you Marc.<br />tbob

Archive 11-19-2007 10:58 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>cmoking</b><p>A list of the certs are almost useless when companies like Memory Lane can get Joe Orlando to change them for them in a deceptive manner.

Archive 11-19-2007 11:09 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Kevin Sacuier</b><p><br /><br /><img src="http://www.simphoni.net/forums/style_emoticons/default/icon_popcorn.gif">

Archive 11-19-2007 11:18 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>JimB</b><p>Personally, I have not seen a substantial reason to trust Kevin Saucier's opinion above SGC's. He seems to be a reasonably competent *card doctor*, though we do not know the limits of his abilities in that regard. But that does not necessarily mean that he is going to be any better at detecting alterations than the graders at SGC or PSA. They get trained to look for the same things he knows about. He could not even get a job with PSA or GAI, correct? He claims to have gotten some types of alterations past the grading companies (though I do not remember seeing any examples). But if these sorts of alterations are undetectable, there is no reason to think he would catch them either if performed by somebody else. Getting something by the graders does not equate with an ability to detect alteration. I do not see the advantage of complicating the situation here.<br /><br />Assuming there needs to be some sort of reform, perhaps a better idea would be to have an independent review of the grading companies executed by sending in X number of altered cards (mixed in with unaltered cards) to each grading company periodically. The same cards would be sent to the all the major grading companies and then the results would be compared and made public. But adding another layer of "authentication" seems tedious and unnecessarily complicated to me, whether it is done by Kevin or anybody else.<br />JimB

Archive 11-19-2007 11:24 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Kevin,<br /><br />You know you've "arrived" not just when there is a separate thread about you but when Leon closes another about you to focus on another one with your name in the title.

Archive 11-19-2007 11:29 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Jim B, you said it exactly how I would have if I was as eloquent as you. <br /><br />It's time for Kevin to tell us exactly why he should be trusted over SGC and PSA...show us some of those cards in holders that you got past the graders.<br /><br />edited to make clear which Jim I was referring to.

Archive 11-19-2007 11:39 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Dan,<br /><br />He never claimed he should be trusted over PSA and SGC.<br /><br />He also has never announced he is going into business.<br /><br />For those who know him and trust his judgment, he can probably have a pretty nice side business.<br /><br />

Archive 11-19-2007 11:52 AM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Isn't starting a website called AlteredCards.com considered "going into business"? I'm failing to see how this helps clean up the hobby if none of Kevin's work will be reported to anyone but the submitters.

Archive 11-19-2007 12:14 PM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Corey R. Shanus</b><p>"So far I am unimpressed with any efforts to clean up the hobby."<br /><br />Dan's thoughts echo mine. Unless and until the day comes that people who claim to really care about cleaning up the hobby are prepared to put their money where their mouths are, nothing major is going to come of this. And what specifically do I refer to? The tap dance around the main issue -- getting slabbed altered cards out of their slabs. This is not going to happen merely by getting a second opinion about some prospective purchase. Say it comes back negative? Then all that's been accomplished is that the purchase will not take place. However, the card will remain in its slab ready to be gobbled up by the next prospective purchaser. Until the day comes that people are prepared to have their "suspect" (e.g., lacking provenance, coming from issues with a significant rate of alteration, etc.) slabbed cards re-examined and have those deemed altered put in slabs that accurately indicate the true state of the card, this is all hypocritical banter.

Archive 11-19-2007 12:17 PM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>This is beginning to look like a problem without a solution. There are too many different opinions regarding how any card can objectively be deemed unaltered and original.<br /><br />Maybe the best solution is for the graders to spend more time examining valuable vintage cards, so that they get it right with such frequency that a second set of eyes won't be needed. They can always have more training and become more skilled at what they do.<br /><br />After reading through this thread I realized there is no way we will ever reach a universal agreement on this issue.

Archive 11-19-2007 12:22 PM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Matt</b><p>I would just suggest further, even if Kevin would have a registry of rejected slabs, the slab owners would probably just pop the cards out and resubmit to get a new slab #.

Archive 11-19-2007 12:28 PM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Bottom of the Ninth</b><p>Barry,<br /><br />But there really is a universal answer. Given the quantity of sets registered with SGC and PSA, given that prices for graded material continues to skyrocket and given the sheer volume of cards PSA and SGC are grading, it is safe to conclude the majority of people do not really have an issue with the shortcomings of grading. If they did they could effect a change. They put the grading companies in business and they can put them out of business.<br /><br />I am also fairly certain that there could be a legal issue for Kevin were he to place a cert number on his site stating a card he examined, while in the holder, is altered. Guess this is a question for one of the many attorney's here.<br /><br />Greg

Archive 11-19-2007 12:50 PM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Greg,<br /><br />Maybe Peter Chao will weigh in on this.<br /><br />I don't know why Dan and others equate this with cleaning up the hobby. What's wrong with taking advantage of your expertise to fill a hobby niche and make money.

Archive 11-19-2007 12:52 PM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Greg- that's actually a very fair point, as I feel very comfortable with my grading service of choice, SGC, and believe they get it right with tremendous frequency.<br /><br />But let me take it a step further. It seems to me that given proper training, the right diagnostic tools, and a thorough approach to examining a card, it should be possible to get it right with near 100% certainty. To use a cliche, if they can land a man on the moon, they can authenticate a baseball card.<br /><br />I think the real problem is that graders are sloppy. They have too much work, they don't spend enough time looking at each card, and it's quite possible they haven't received the proper training. The knowledge is out there, and each of the grading services has the ability to get it down so precisely that we should never have to be concerned that a bad card gets holdered.<br /><br />Maybe we would have to pay a little more, but in fact we do. If I submit a T206 common, I pay $8-10. If I submit a 10K card, I pay $100. For that $100, I expect every diagnostic tool known to man to be implemented.<br /><br />If they approached the issue with greater urgency, we wouldn't need to look outside the grading service for additional help. It's in their power to do a much better job and get it right.

Archive 11-19-2007 12:54 PM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Sean C</b><p>that this is actually be considered a viable business idea, or that there are that many altered cards in slabs that it might actually be successful. <br /><br />Also, from the locked post, Jim revealed more of himself than I think he ever intended:<br /><br /><br />===========================================<br />JimCrandell <br />(Login Davalillo) Re: www.AlteredCards.com November 18 2007, 9:32 AM <br /><br /><br />Rick,<br /><br />Just because Kevin is uncomfortable and lets say SGC or PSA grades it doesn't mean card is altered. Dealer will resell or put in auction where likely many altered cards reside.<br /><br />If I pay Kevin, why should anyone else benefit from his opinion? <br /><br />===========================================<br /> <br />With that statement, Jim's "cleaning up the hobby" crusade goes right out the window, and he is revealed as the petty, selfish collector many have accused him of being over the years.

Archive 11-19-2007 01:04 PM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>G. Maines</b><p>unlike the rest of us.

Archive 11-19-2007 01:08 PM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Sean,<br /><br />Boy you are an ass. I tried to do a number of things and you were nowhere to be seen.<br /><br />Now I need to buy cards and I want a second opinion. For the fifth time so even you can understand, no dealer will sell me a card if they thought it was going to end up on a list.<br /><br />

Archive 11-19-2007 01:12 PM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Stay tuned next week for Kevin's website launch. Will have endorsements from Rob Lifson, Mike Baker, Rich Mueller among others.<br /><br />

Archive 11-19-2007 01:14 PM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Jim, you have said many times that you won't work with dealers/auction houses that are unwilling to help clean up the hobby so if a dealer won't sell you a card for fear it may end up on a list then aren't they impeding the effort at cleaning up the hobby?

Archive 11-19-2007 01:15 PM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>While one can identify obvious or certain categories of problems and give a quick opinion (ala PSA/DNA Quick Opinion) about trimming, authenticity and such (Which in and of itself can be considered a useful service), you can't adequately examine a card without removing the card from the holder. Giving a final seal of approval to a card that hasn't been examined raw is dubious. You can't see everything when it's holdered only in part because, whether glass or plastic, holders distort light. Even if the holder causes no distortion, you won't know this until the card is removed.

Archive 11-19-2007 01:18 PM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Dan,<br /><br />You are misquoting me--those are not my stated reasons for not buying from certain auction houses.

Archive 11-19-2007 01:19 PM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Bottom of the Ninth</b><p>Barry,<br /><br />I see SGC as the more conscientious grader. They can be this way because they do not do the volume that PSA is doing which, sadly, "justifies" PSA's not having to do as good a job. PSA is inconsistent at best. Is that due to improper training? Too many different graders? Not enough graders for the volume? They reject stuff they shouldn't and grade stuff they shouldn't too frequently. <br /><br />I am not sure if paying more for a card is even the answer. If a submitter is sending in an altered card he is not going to pay $100 to be scrutinized. It is going to be submitted at a level where that submitter thinks he can get it through which would be at a lower tier of service where the more inexperienced graders are delegated. So the grading service is only as good as it's weakest link. PSA has tiers but that is easy enough to work around and most do it, even if it is merely to save money.<br /><br />Greg

Archive 11-19-2007 01:38 PM

Kevin Saucier - Adding Value
 
Posted By: <b>Charlie Barokas</b><p>Jim,<br /><br />If you are looking to purchase a card from a dealer with the stipulation that Kevin deems it unaltered, do you agree on a price before or after Kevin deems it un-altered?<br /><br />It sounds to me like an arbitrage situation?<br /><br />Since you have already stated a card would be more valuable with Kevin's impramatur would you not be adding value to any purchase you make immediately?<br /><br />Or would you be willing to pay the dealer more for said card?<br /><br />I am not trying to pile on just trying understand how this is fair to anyone but you and Kevin.<br /><br />CB


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