Probstein is running a bunch of Purple Label cards

Here is one of the listings

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-10-1968...edirect=mobile

LOL at a card with a qualifier and a purple sticker. It's a high-end 6(ST) I guess.

But it's a high end stain... nicer than most stains you'd normally see on a '68 Topps.

I'm sorry, but this sticker stuff is retarded.

LOL....agreed.....especially when it appears to be applied haphazardly.

The purple sticker will only work if it is applied carefully, and not too frequently. I look at a lot of coins (as I've mentioned) and I always try to study as many as I can that have the CAC sticker. I see so many coins that are overgraded (what else is new) but I have to say the CAC coins generally look properly graded, and usually have nice eye appeal. So it looks like they are doing something right. Are the stickers needed? That's debatable. Are they accomplishing what they set out to do? It appears they are.

So the purple sticker has to be put on cards that genuinely deserve it. If the service just becomes a favor for dealers who do a lot of business and are putting a lot of pressure on the company for more stickers, then it will fail. Someone just posted a group of 1968 Topps that are PSA 7's and are all stickered. Frankly, they look like most other PSA 7's I see every day. So I am already a bit skeptical. Time will tell whether the hobby will accept them.

Just like PSA grades and the reason a Purple sticker could be a great help to collectors.

Purple 1968s
 

You guys are funny. This one looks pretty sweet though.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1754/2...eff12329_z.jpg

That's an insult to the retarded.

When one sees a group of 10 cards all the same year with this supposedly very selective sticker, it undermines the credibility, IMO anyhow.

And yet none of Probstein's listings even mention the purple labels?

I do hope that those are not your consignments that you stickered yourself.

I don't know the answer but, as devil's advocate, why?
From what I understand, Beckett sometimes grades vintage and sells it through Beckett owned Goodwin Auctions. Is there a difference? I see a few sides and the one that is in the TPG side is "the card has to stand on its own".....and I do like that idea. If the grade (or sticker in this case) is consistent with norms, I guess who cares?

And of course Purple Sticker has no norms yet, as it is a new company, except what we have seen very recently. They better tighten up their standards is all I can say....and even with that, it is a huge longshot to success for them. But if you don't take the shot...

Leon the conflict of interest is obvious if he is setting himself up as an objective third party grader and stickering his own cards. Imagine if PSA sold their own cards, the thread would break records. If Beckett is doing that then in my mind that's a credibility burner too.

PSA used to with their Collectors Universe Auctions, I believe. I agree with you and don't like it (TPG grading and selling) either. I will go out on a limb and say the authorities might not see it as anything but a conflict of interest though. As I had said, it's not a problem till it's a problem, seems to be the mantra. If the Purple Sticker cards ARE high end then that could get some traction, maybe. I absolutely agree though, it is a conflict of interest and not an arms length transaction. Purple Sticker might be trying get their brand out there, if it is their cards, but I am with you on thinking it's not the way to do it.

I did not mean to suggest it was anything the authorities should care about. Just bad business IMO. IF they are his own cards, and we don't know that, I just asked the question.

CU and/or PSA used to own a number of auction houses, but sold them off I believe for that reason.

I will note that independence doesn't make one a good grader or authenticator. The Pope might be as pure as the driven snow, but that doesn't mean you want him authenticating your autographs.

Buy the card not the sticker...

Purple label high end
 

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/NDUAA...x3/s-l1600.jpg

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/G5wAA...x6/s-l1600.jpg

I'll buy calling that card high end. Hint of wrinkle near the top of the bat?

That one is high end. I have seen too many that are not however.

And to beat the dead horse, we don't need a sticker to tell us that 4 is high end. And I can't imagine anyone buying that card would.

My issue is from a business standpoint. If they're only going to sticker 5% of submissions, people are going to stop submitting pretty quickly because you have to increase the value of the 5% enough to eat the cost of the 95%. This can only serve to encourage them to continuously lower their standards, thus devaluing the sticker, creating a vicious circle.

No people resubmit and it will eventually mean nothing to have the coveted purple sticker.

On that card, I am ok with the sticker. It's a great looking card (though I didn't need the sticker, flip or plastic to tell me that. I can see it.)

My hunch is that this is a fad, primarily because I think if there was actual value in it, the TPGs would have started doing this themselves a number of years ago.
I see the positives that TPGs have in the industry (as well as the negatives), which first and foremost have to do with confirming authenticity. Anything beyond that is opinion, and having a sticker put on by a fourth party is more of an ego booster than anything.
Hopefully, this all doesn't mean we have to include a new abbreviation: FPOs for Fourth Party Opinions...