Gar Miller: Accurate Grading??

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Posted By: James Feagin

I'm thinking of ordering from his website. I've noticed that he doesn't have any scan available. Is he accurate with his grading? I ask because there are several old-school dealers who vastly over-grade their cards (Fritsch). Any problems at all?

James

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Posted By: leon

I have had 2 deals with him, years apart. Both were overgraded 1-2 grades. When he did send scans I couldn't see all of the wrinkles the cards had. Ouch.....I am sure he's a nice gentleman though from what I've heard....regards

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Posted By: James Feagin

Anyone want to confirm that or offer to the contrary?

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Posted By: J Levine

Been years since I bought from Gar but if I recall he tends to overgrade the midgrades (nrmt is ex and ex is vg) and undergrade the lower grades (poor is fair and fair is good). He is really an old time collector and grades as such. He is a great guy and if you are not satisfied I am sure he will make it right.

Joshua

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Posted By: Richard

James - send me your contact info

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Posted By: leon

Others might have another experience but you don't need to confirm what I said. I just bought the last deal from him a month or two ago, all T205 HOF's, and still have them if you want scans. I have no reason to tell anything other than what happened. regards

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Posted By: James Feagin

Thanks Leon,

It's an old Bible saying "in the mouths of two or three witnesses shall ever word be established." I'm pretty sure that's in 1st Corinthians. It holds true to baseball cards as well

James

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Posted By: Tim Newcomb

Leon's experience holds true for me too:

Gar is a fine gentleman, a fair dealer, and he overgrades 1-2 grades. Standards have changed a lot since his grading eye was formed.

Tim

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Posted By: Michael Peich

I agree with Tim--Gar is a nice, congenial man, an important early dealer in the hobby, and someone from whom I bought my first T-206s five years ago. That said, he grades as if it is still the mid-70s, 1-2 grades too high. If the cards are not the grade he claims for them, I assume he will refund. Cheers, Mike

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Posted By: Peter Thomas

with 4 grades of mint, to differentiate between the new crap, and only 1 grade of poor-fair is part of the problem.

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Posted By: Tim Newcomb

Peter's comment refers to something I've been working on, and hope to unveil gradually in the weeks to come: an alternative grading scale for prewar cards that would grade Poor-Good by the grading companies. It's not a money-making venture, just a system that we on the board could adopt and adapt in order to help us describe scarce prewar stuff more precisely, and make satisfying deals with one another. Watch this space for more..............

Tim