SGC is now authenticating autographs

[shelly]

Jim, I only wished I was in Jamaica , but I am talking reality.I will say this one more time a Psa Mantle, vs. your cert or Richards who is going to get more money. You must be smoking bad Jamaican weed.
Tell me any auction house that will use your cert vs. Psa.
You know I am telling the truth. Why am I the bad guy?

[JimStinson]

Originally Posted by shelly

Jim, I only wished I was in Jamaica , but I am talking reality.I will say this one more time a Psa Mantle, vs. your cert or Richards who is going to get more money. You must be smoking bad Jamaican weed.
Tell me any auction house that will use your cert vs. Psa.
You know I am telling the truth. Why am I the bad guy?

Well ...I don;t know how to answer that question because almost 100% of the autographs I offer on my e-mail updates sell within 48 hours , so I don;t really need to use an auction house , what would I send them? AIR ? I monitor auction results all of the time , I work 15 hours a day 7 days a week.
So while I don;t "Mill around smartly" at card shows I have a pretty good handle on what things should and shouldn't sell for and I don;t smoke weed , jamaician or otherwise but I do love a cold beer from time to time , Now what were you saying ?
__________________________________
jim@stinsonsports.com

[shelly]

The subject has nothing to do with who you are and how and what your reputation is. It is about fact no matter how good you are you can not compete against the tpa
I have no idea why you want to argue. I have all the respect in the world for you but this is not about you your ego. It is a fact.

If I had enough money so that no matter what happens my kids and wife would be taken care of no matter what I would buy from any of the people that we have talked about . I am saying if God forbids and I do need the money and the not to mentioned people decide that it is not real. What is that autograph worth with your cert. Or even if it is real can you get more money with your cert versus theirs ? Not a chance in hell.
You can tell me your background and everything you have ever sold. Tell me if anyone other than a true collector has any idea who you are. Jim Utah is a strange place but if needed I can set you up for a good piece of Jamaican pie.

This has nothing to do with facts it all has to do with deception.
Just put up a site and ask who would they want a cert from if they really had to sell something.

[mr2686]

Originally Posted by JimStinson

Well ...I don;t know how to answer that question because almost 100% of the autographs I offer on my e-mail updates sell within 48 hours ,__________________________________
jim@stinsonsports.com

Boy, that's the truth. Jim is the only reason I have email alerts coming to my phone so I don't miss out.

[Big Dave]

If their autograph business gets off the ground, and they get on eBay's approved authentication list, I hope it is not the same good old boy type of authentication company. The kind of company where a lot of it depends on who you know, and how much business you do with that company. Happens to often.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

The kind of company where a lot if it depends on who you know, and how much business you do with that company. Happens to often.

Don't be shy Dave, tell us what you think .
What are you implying ?? .

[Mr. Zipper]

I don't see why so many turn this into an all or nothing scenario. Can't we like both Jim, Richard and the credible TPAs?

I am usually pretty comfortable with authenticating the material I buy myself. But sometimes I want something and don't have the time, energy or desire to study the signature for months to develop a sound level of expertise in it. Maybe I want a Hideki Irabu signed photo and really don't feel like becoming a Hideki Irabu expert in the process... I just want the damn photo to put in my collection and move on. It doesn't make me a bad guy -- it makes me like 99% of collectors. And this is where dealers and TPAs come into play.

Of course I would prefer to patronize a longtime and reputable seller like Richard or Jim first, and if I bought from them I would have a high degree of confidence in their offerings.

But let me ask... when was the last time Richard or Jim had a Derek Jeter bat? What about an Albert Pujols ball? What about that Hideki Irabu SP... Jim can you help?

No dealer -- or small group of dealers -- is the complete solution unless you have a very tight focus.

Despite the claims of some, in my opinion, PSA and JSA are highly accurate in most cases. Certainly there are areas where they could likely improve. But they are a reliable opinion in the vast majority of cases. I would buy a Derek Jeter bat from eBay with a PSA or JSA cert with full confidence. With Mantle, Williams, Maris and DiMaggio, I can't recall ever seeing them cert a clunker. I could go on, but you get the point.

Now, if I hit the lottery and wanted to invest in a Babe Ruth single signed ball, I would not rely on anyone's sole opinion. In all due respect, if I bought one from Jim, I'd ask for a second opinion from Richard and vice-versa. If it had a TPA letter, I'd get second opinions too. This just seems to be common sense with a high value / high risk item.


* In the interest of full disclosure, I am the space consultant for JSA. I have examined hundreds of items for them and give every one my best thinking and effort. I have never been rushed, influenced to opine one way or another and I am never told who the submitter is.

[Runscott]

Steve, the problem is that we each have had differing personal experiences.

I've seen people here bash authenticators who I have a lot of faith in. When I say 'faith', I mean that I think they get most stuff correct, and if I ever had a problem, they would listen to it and make things right.

On the other hand, I questioned a pre-cert from another authenticator and got blown off. I will still buy things that have their name associated with it, but I have to be able to authenticate it myself;i.e-their LOA's are completely worthless to me. Doesn't mean they are intentionally dishonest - rather that they are slipshod and don't appear to be concerned with their customers.

[Duluth Eskimo]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zipper

I don't see why so many turn this into an all or nothing scenario. Can't we like both Jim, Richard and the credible TPAs?

I am usually pretty comfortable with authenticating the material I buy myself. But sometimes I want something and don't have the time, energy or desire to study the signature for months to develop a sound level of expertise in it. Maybe I want a Hideki Irabu signed photo and really don't feel like becoming a Hideki Irabu expert in the process... I just want the damn photo to put in my collection and move on. It doesn't make me a bad guy -- it makes me like 99% of collectors. And this is where dealers and TPAs come into play.

Of course I would prefer to patronize a longtime and reputable seller like Richard or Jim first, and if I bought from them I would have a high degree of confidence in their offerings.

But let me ask... when was the last time Richard or Jim had a Derek Jeter bat? What about an Albert Pujols ball? What about that Hideki Irabu SP... Jim can you help?

No dealer -- or small group of dealers -- is the complete solution unless you have a very tight focus.

Despite the claims of some, in my opinion, PSA and JSA are highly accurate in most cases. Certainly there are areas where they could likely improve. But they are a reliable opinion in the vast majority of cases. I would buy a Derek Jeter bat from eBay with a PSA or JSA cert with full confidence. With Mantle, Williams, Maris and DiMaggio, I can't recall ever seeing them cert a clunker. I could go on, but you get the point.

Now, if I hit the lottery and wanted to invest in a Babe Ruth single signed ball, I would not rely on anyone's sole opinion. In all due respect, if I bought one from Jim, I'd ask for a second opinion from Richard and vice-versa. If it had a TPA letter, I'd get second opinions too. This just seems to be common sense with a high value / high risk item.


* In the interest of full disclosure, I am the space consultant for JSA. I have examined hundreds of items for them and give every one my best thinking and effort. I have never been rushed, influenced to opine one way or another and I am never told who the submitter is.

This is well said and hits the nail on the head. Is also support what Shelly was saying. Why do people get so angry? IT'S AN OPINION, not the end all be all.

You have some people that act like people are saying their opinion is not as good as PSA or JSA. That's not the case either. You have others that, who the hell knows what they are talking about. Bottom line is that what Shelly said is exactly right.

As for Mr Stinson and Mr Simon. I think it's pretty much established that you both are experts in your field, but as the previous person mentioned what if I want golf or football or some other sport that you may not carry. One cannot always rely on one dealer. Nor should those people be limited to selling their items back to you if they can get more for it with a PSA letter.

Also, Jim and Richard already had their businesses well established before PSA was was created, try establishishing an autograph business nowadays without third party authentication. It would be very hard to do and I think most people would agree with that.

I read a lot of these threads and WAY too many take peoples opinions WAY too seriously. Including myself at times. Bottom line is people are free to do whatever they want and it doesn't make them a bad person or a stupid collector.

[HexsHeroes]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zipper

I don't see why so many turn this into an all or nothing scenario. Can't we like both Jim, Richard and the credible TPAs?

.


I have been collecting vintage baseball autographs just long enough to have purchased items from James Spence III back when he was considered (by some of his peers) as one of the "good guys" who's experience and opinion you could trust. Makes me wonder if the evolution of JSA could have been guided differently, and if so, would it have made any difference with how JSA is preceived today?

[travrosty]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zipper

I don't see why so many turn this into an all or nothing scenario. Can't we like both Jim, Richard and the credible TPAs?

I am usually pretty comfortable with authenticating the material I buy myself. But sometimes I want something and don't have the time, energy or desire to study the signature for months to develop a sound level of expertise in it. Maybe I want a Hideki Irabu signed photo and really don't feel like becoming a Hideki Irabu expert in the process... I just want the damn photo to put in my collection and move on. It doesn't make me a bad guy -- it makes me like 99% of collectors. And this is where dealers and TPAs come into play.

Of course I would prefer to patronize a longtime and reputable seller like Richard or Jim first, and if I bought from them I would have a high degree of confidence in their offerings.

But let me ask... when was the last time Richard or Jim had a Derek Jeter bat? What about an Albert Pujols ball? What about that Hideki Irabu SP... Jim can you help?

No dealer -- or small group of dealers -- is the complete solution unless you have a very tight focus.

Despite the claims of some, in my opinion, PSA and JSA are highly accurate in most cases. Certainly there are areas where they could likely improve. But they are a reliable opinion in the vast majority of cases. I would buy a Derek Jeter bat from eBay with a PSA or JSA cert with full confidence. With Mantle, Williams, Maris and DiMaggio, I can't recall ever seeing them cert a clunker. I could go on, but you get the point.

Now, if I hit the lottery and wanted to invest in a Babe Ruth single signed ball, I would not rely on anyone's sole opinion. In all due respect, if I bought one from Jim, I'd ask for a second opinion from Richard and vice-versa. If it had a TPA letter, I'd get second opinions too. This just seems to be common sense with a high value / high risk item.


* In the interest of full disclosure, I am the space consultant for JSA. I have examined hundreds of items for them and give every one my best thinking and effort. I have never been rushed, influenced to opine one way or another and I am never told who the submitter is.

Do you thinkg Spence and Grad spend months studying every single signature they opine on? You are delusional! They authenticate thousands of different sigs, and how do they spend MONTHS on each one studying in order to be competent on each of those autographs? They can't, but why do you think they are experts at all of those then? Did they spend months studying terry bradshaw, then olga corbett, then laurent fignon, then soupy sales. C'mon!

They are not highly accurate, if they were, there wouldnt be a zillion joe louis autograph 'paperwieghts" out there with both psa and jsa authentication on them. what a joke!

I showed a run of 141 bad ali autographs from abc corp. how is that HIGHLY ACCURATE???? Would 141 nearly consecutive bad neil armstrong signatures impress you? Would they still be HIGHLY accurate? Or do you just not care because its a signature from a sport that is not YOUR favorite? What if it was? wouldn't you think they are ruining your beloved hobby? Of course you would. Grad and Spence should be ashamed of themselves for what they pass having no business even opining on them.

How can they be 'experts' at 20,000 different names and dozens of different sports and entertainment categories. They CAN'T that's how. JSA says to send in your Brazilian soccer league autographs. I suppose they brushed up on their Brazilian soccer autographs? Hell no! They must be big Brazilian soccer fans from way back over there at JSA. Guys who job it was to put the JSA sticker on the item are now authenticators. they got a promotion and now THEY are the big experts too. Nobody ever heard of these guys. It takes decades of experience, not putting the stickers on for a couple of years.

AGAIN, WHAT A JOKE!

[JimStinson]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zipper

I don't see why so many turn this into an all or nothing scenario. Can't we like both Jim, Richard and the credible TPAs?

I am usually pretty comfortable with authenticating the material I buy myself. But sometimes I want something and don't have the time, energy or desire to study the signature for months to develop a sound level of expertise in it. Maybe I want a Hideki Irabu signed photo and really don't feel like becoming a Hideki Irabu expert in the process... I just want the damn photo to put in my collection and move on. It doesn't make me a bad guy -- it makes me like 99% of collectors. And this is where dealers and TPAs come into play.

Of course I would prefer to patronize a longtime and reputable seller like Richard or Jim first, and if I bought from them I would have a high degree of confidence in their offerings.

But let me ask... when was the last time Richard or Jim had a Derek Jeter bat? What about an Albert Pujols ball? What about that Hideki Irabu SP... Jim can you help?

No dealer -- or small group of dealers -- is the complete solution unless you have a very tight focus.

Despite the claims of some, in my opinion, PSA and JSA are highly accurate in most cases. Certainly there are areas where they could likely improve. But they are a reliable opinion in the vast majority of cases. I would buy a Derek Jeter bat from eBay with a PSA or JSA cert with full confidence. With Mantle, Williams, Maris and DiMaggio, I can't recall ever seeing them cert a clunker. I could go on, but you get the point.

Now, if I hit the lottery and wanted to invest in a Babe Ruth single signed ball, I would not rely on anyone's sole opinion. In all due respect, if I bought one from Jim, I'd ask for a second opinion from Richard and vice-versa. If it had a TPA letter, I'd get second opinions too. This just seems to be common sense with a high value / high risk item.


* In the interest of full disclosure, I am the space consultant for JSA. I have examined hundreds of items for them and give every one my best thinking and effort. I have never been rushed, influenced to opine one way or another and I am never told who the submitter is.

Very well put & excellent point, We are discussing opinions and when it comes to opinions EVERYONE can be right and EVERYONE can be wrong. Sometimes all at the same time.

For a long time everyone thought the earth was flat or that the sun revolves around the earth, I would imagine that when this was proven as wrong it probably ticked off alot of people ....ESPECIALLY THE MAP MAKERS

But in business everyone IS and SHOULD be allowed to spend their money however they like , where ever they like. And when it comes to business the one constant is IF SOMEONE IS DOING SOMETHING RIGHT they stay in business , If not they fail.

With regards to PSA they have been around awhile so they must be doing SOMETHING right , I know some of the people that are involved with them and personally I like them.

JSA ....same thing they have stayed in business because enough people like what they do to keep them in business. I know some of the people that work for them and I like them , Including Jimmie himself..who I've hoisted more than a few beers with over the years.

With regards to the new SGC authentication which started this thread. I wish them nothing but the best, I spoke with the fellow thats going to be their lead authenticator on the phone a couple days ago and although we've never met he sounds like a nice guy , that sincerely wants to do the right thing.

So there is plenty of room for everyone to co exist and get along, and have opinions. The real test in the end is like ....Darwin's Evolution of Species.....If it works it fourishes and grows , if it dosen;t it goes. That applies to business as it does in nature and also applies to third party authenticators , dealers, restaurants, auto mechanics, You name it.
There is alot of good natured banter here and I like it, Have communicated with some likeable people as a result of my participation here that I otherwise would have never crossed paths with and for that I'm greatful.

No reason on earth why everyone can't have their opinions and still get along
_________________________
jim@stinsonsports.com