New Forensic Autograph Authentication Company

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zipper

So, another scorned submitter lashing out.

I'm frankly puzzled what people mean when they say stuff like, "can't stand what has happened to this part of the hobby."

Were they around in the 90s when literally 80% of the stuff on ebay was fake? Did they go to any of the shows in the 90s when many of the show dealers were selling Marino Family forgeries and no one knew it? Have they forgotten the so-called reputable dealers like B&J Collectibles and Stans Sports selling forgeries by the truckload at shows and in big glossy magazine ads?

Admittedly, the hobby has its issues, but it's way cleaner now than it was a decade ago.

Admittedly I don't collect autographs. I have enough headaches on the card side and I "think" I know what I am doing over there. I did tell Ken, while on the phone, that I think the TPA's have probably helped the autograph part of the hobby "some".....I just don't have enough experience to really know how much. I will let you guys hash all of that out. Ken does collect some autographs and did make the statement I said, and in reading this board, it seems like he isn't the only one that feels this way. Now, there are also those folks that think TPG (the card graders) have hurt that side of the hobby. I disagree with them as I do know that part of the hobby and think they have helped. It still isn't perfect but, to me, is a lot better with them than without them. As one of the SGC guys and myself were chatting this morning, concerning a fairly obvious error they made and are trying to rectify....the overriding sentiment is, "you will never make everyone happy." That's the only thing I am certain of!!

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally Posted by Leon

Admittedly I don't collect autographs. I have enough headaches on the card side and I "think" I know what I am doing over there. I did tell Ken, while on the phone, that I think the TPA's have probably helped the autograph part of the hobby "some".....I just don't have enough experience to really know how much. I will let you guys hash all of that out. Ken does collect some autographs and did make the statement I said, and in reading this board, it seems like he isn't the only one that feels this way. Now, there are also those folks that think TPG (the card graders) have hurt that side of the hobby. I disagree with them as I do know that part of the hobby and think they have helped. It still isn't perfect but, to me, is a lot better with them than without them. As one of the SGC guys and myself were chatting this morning, concerning a fairly obvious error they made and are trying to rectify....the overriding sentiement is, "you will never make everyone happy." That's the only thing I am certain of!!

It's funny that the same people who complain about the mistakes that PSA, JSA, BGS or SGC make, don't complain when their PSA 10 card/autograph, JSA card/autograph, SGC card or BGS 9.5/10 card sells for a tremendous amount of money because of that PSA, BGS, JSA or SGC high grade or authenticated autograph.

We are all human and we all make mistakes. Some complain because their in-person autograph wasn't authenticated; I don't blame any authenticator who errs on the side of caution as opposed to maybe certing a forgery.

Most collectors have their cards graded or autographs authenticated so that their card or autograph sells for a higher premium.

There was a discussion on the other side about a Ozzie Smith PSA 10 rookie card that sold for $20,000. The collector who got that card graded made a nice penny on that card and the buyer of that card now owns a rare Ozzie Smith PSA 10 rookie card. Both the seller and buyer got what they wanted.

[David Atkatz]

Another idiot who buys the holder rather than the card.

[thetruthisoutthere]

Originally Posted by David Atkatz

Another idiot who buys the holder rather than the card.

Obviously the seller was able to afford it and he has bragging rights to an Ozzie Smith "1979 Topps" rookie card "Population 4." Good for him.

[David Atkatz]

Yeah. Good for him.

(BTW, he also has bragging rights for being a semifinalist for the 2012 "More Money than Brains" award.)

[GrayGhost]

IMO, the PSA pop business like "one of four graded" is misleading. That is OF ONES GRADED. What about the people who either don't want/can't afford/don't care bout "professional grading"? There is NO way on God's Green Earth there are not MORE MINT Ozzie Rookies out there. Thus, the idea that the "pop is this" does NOT mean that many exist, just that many who someone has cared to get graded. So, I think its ridiculous overall.

That said, for those who do place such a high value on graded cards that any ungraded ones in high grade are basically irrelevant. are happy.

Course, tho I think its nuts. I also know the guy who paid what is a ridiculous 20K for that is happy, so its his life.

Sorry Leon for this , but I wrapped up my thought on it, since the thread had jumped the tracks.

[travrosty]

they are buying the grade, and not the card.

Some high 9's of smith have the 9 grade on the holder because psa doesnt do 9.5's, and these high 9's are in the same condition as the 10 in many instances, just a lot less expensive. They were close but fell on the 9 side of the fence in the graders mind based on if the grader was feeling conservative or liberal that day.

some high 9's keep getting resubmitted by the submitter until it comes back a 10. They are chasing the grade only.

so they have the same card either way, they just want that #10 on there, for the price increase and bragging rights, but the card didnt change.

It's not about the card anymore. If I wanted a pristine ozzie smith card, just buy a nice 9 and save the vast bulk of the purchase price a 10 would cost. even add your own 10 label on it if someone needed the ego boost.

Some guy paid 90 grand for a psa 10 wayne gretzky rookie. It's just insanity, but there are guys out there that already have a lexus for every day of the week and they need to spend their money on something I guess.


its the same thing with getting an LOA with autographs. Many collectors just want the cert, and if the autograph is actually real or not is secondary. They would rather have a fake autograph with a abc/xyz cert than a real one without an LOA. As long as no one tells them the truth.