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Posted By: TONY

My only hope is that the industry/hobby can reform itself on it's own ?????

A good question but

Not in my lifetime unless the FBI or a similar entity cracks down big time on the industry

As a collector since 1957, a dealer back to 1972 I'm no newbie to the industry

I tried to get a dealer association started back in the early 80's

Dealers almost laughed me out of the hobby

soon after Kit Young did get such a animal up & running

Is it still in business ?????

I'm kidding, it slowly died without doing anything meaningful that I'm aware of

I suggested a card grading service around 1983

boy did that get dealers nervous......

How dare a 3rd party grade THEIR cards ???

I started a grading service a few yrs later with lou costanzo & a group of other non-hobby individuals

Speaking of Costanzo he ended fkuing me on a deal, guess that's what good friends do to each other in this business

But of course it failed.........just a few too years ahead of the time it would be embraced by the hobby & some dealers like SGC & PSA are

Even today some dealers still fight the concept of graded cards or authenticated memorabilia

There is too much $$$$$ in this industry & the $$$$$ get bigger yearly

didn't i just read the buyers premium by some firms will be 25%

Are u freaking kidding me????

what is the max for a buyers premium?

Is there no limit to the Greed?

Unless something drastic happens in the industry to drive out all the charlatans it will continue "business as usual" & the small gagel of scoundrels will keep getting rich ripping off the hobby

Who will stop it?

I have no idea but sure hope it happens soon & they come down hard on the "lowlifes" who are destroying our great hobby

Tony Galovich