The Sports Card Industry Is Having A Tech Revolution - PSA Forbes Article

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by BobC

Thanks Rich, didn't even realize there was a Fanatics connection as well. I've said several times on the forum now that I think CSG is going to be a lot bigger player in card grading than many expect. And now they are connected with both Topps (through Fanatics) and Ebay. You watch, I wouldn't be shocked if down the road CSG starts grading Topps cards right from the factory, maybe being sold by/through Fanatics. They've already got an inside track on raw cards sold on Ebay. If they play it smart, they could up end jumping in front of all the other TPGs and not just authentic cards on Ebay, but offer to grade and encapsulate them as well. Would end up stealing potential customers from all the other TPGs that buyers may have thought about sending their raw cards to for grading otherwise. And I think PSA fully realizes they have a potential up-and-coming serious competitor on their hands.

Things like that Marx company bankruptcy aren't helping them either. Still waiting to hear exactly what PSA is going to do with those Marx submitted cards they're holding, and if they are going to grade them for free now, or not. Have heard/seen conflicting stories. Even though that Marx situation isn't directly their fault, PSA is still going to be viewed by many as indirectly responsible for at least some of this whole Marx situation. They don't need any bad publicity with someone like CSG looking to catch up to them. Will be interesting to see what, if any, new ideas, plans, or measures PSA might initiate in the coming months/years in an attempt to fend off and counter what CSG is doing.

Bob,

That was sort of my thought when eBay started with the Authenticity Guarantee. For consumer protection as well as a revenue generator, the day could come where cards over a certain price will have to be graded in order to be listed. eBay could make a sweet deal to sellers to get their cards slabbed for less money and less time than their competitors are able to do.

I did not know, or maybe I forget, that Fanatatics and Blackstone were involved with CSG as well as eBay. That is serious money. I am all in favor of competition. PSA has never really had any and you can see what that has lead to.

Chase

[FrankWakefield]

Security guarding school buses full of card submissions...

It does sound like they are using camaras, chips, technology to provide a safe and secure haven for cards awaiting grading.

Raise prices to curb demand... hmmm, doing that would increase profits. Announcing and following through with a delay in grading and card return would have curbed demand, but that may have resulted in a decline in profits.

Reading that article had me thinking about (illegal) drug suppliers, drug traffickers, and the users (the addicted). And I see a few similarities in meth, cocaine, and plastic card slabs. It seems an addiction. But I guess collecting ball cards (ungraded) is an addiction too, in a way.

It was an interesting article. Matters were open to the public when the company was public; going private allows them reveal what they choose.

An interesting article. It's all about the money.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Lorewalker

Bob,

That was sort of my thought when eBay started with the Authenticity Guarantee. For consumer protection as well as a revenue generator, the day could come where cards over a certain price will have to be graded in order to be listed. eBay could make a sweet deal to sellers to get their cards slabbed for less money and less time than their competitors are able to do.

I did not know, or maybe I forget, that Fanatatics and Blackstone were involved with CSG as well as eBay. That is serious money. I am all in favor of competition. PSA has never really had any and you can see what that has lead to.

Chase

I'm with you Chase, this will be interesting.

[insidethewrapper]

How about graded cards in packs and unopened boxes ?

[BobC]

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

How about graded cards in packs and unopened boxes ?

With Fanatics taking over Topps, I'd mentioned before about the possibility of them selling slabbed cards direct from the factory, and calling them "Uncirculated". Forget about gambling on getting Gem Mint 10 grades from other TPGs. It would also possibly add more exposure and could help build more approval and acceptance (and perceived value) in the hobby community for CSG, assuming CSG would be used for such purposes due to the investment/ownership connection between Fanatics, Topps, and CSG that now exists.

And anything building up CSG's rep and perceived value, works to diminish those in other TPGs. Just what they want.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

How about graded cards in packs and unopened boxes ?

Upper Deck did that years ago.

[Rich Klein]

Not just Upper Deck, in the 2000-01 period Topps and Donruss/Leaf/Playoff both did that and I'm not sure about Fleer. It was actually not a bad idea and value added to the unopened boxes

Rich

[Republicaninmass]

This article has not only the hallmark of irrational exuberance but also the "Forbes jinx". Tell tale signs the end could be nigh

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

This article has not only the hallmark of irrational exuberance but also the "Forbes jinx". Tell tale signs the end could be nigh

Not sure about that. Check out this other article:

https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.co...-single-month/


PSA kept the postal service busy in March.

For the first time in history, the company says it graded and shipped over one million trading cards in a single month as it continues to work through a submission backlog that measured around 13 million cards around this time last year.

The total was up 25% from February when PSA reported grading and shipping 802,694 trading cards in a month containing three fewer days.

In the first three months of this year, PSA says it has graded and shipped 2,783,269 cards, a 7.8% increase year-over-year from the same three months in 2021

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

Not just Upper Deck, in the 2000-01 period Topps and Donruss/Leaf/Playoff both did that and I'm not sure about Fleer. It was actually not a bad idea and value added to the unopened boxes

Rich

And Collectors Edge.

Signature rookies came close, having a set where the autograph cards came in a sealed hard case. But no grading