PSA and publicly available information?
 

When someone submits cards to PSA for grading, is any of that information public? Possibly through the the registry website (or elsewhere)? Asking because of a strange situation.

About 2 years ago the owner of a local auction house I know had a consignment for a large collection of tobacco cards along with other 'newer' stuff (including a '52 Mantle). So he had his nephew who knew a little about cards send the cards off to PSA for grading. After about 18 months the cards came back graded. A short time after that, maybe a few days to a week, the nephew gets a call from "a major auction house" asking the nephew if he would be interested in consigning the cards to this major auction house for sale. The question that was asked to me was how did the auction house get the contact information?

I don't believe the nephew created a registry profile, or even if he did, his name/location wouldn't be publically available unless he used his name or some other 'searchable' information, such as his real name or the local auction house name.

Am I missing something that is not shady in nature?

Probably depends on which auction house is the major auction house that did the contacting. Keep in mind that PSA and at least one major auction house are owned by the same parent company.

So I suppose it’s possible that they might share information about cards recently graded by PSA with the auction house.

PSA and Goldin are both owned by the same company. When you submit your cards to PSA, you have the option of having them shipped directly to the Goldin Vault.

Are you referring Golden (as Rob mentioned below)? It wasn't them.

I was. Interesting that it wasn’t them.

I am sure major auction houses haver access to information the common man does not. Just how it is. I'm not sure I see any harm here.

Yeah, that was the only thing I could come up with, but was wondering if there was any 'legit' method I was missing. Not sure when the tenure falls, but it would have been in the past 3-6 months when they received them back from PSA. With all these cards being new to the market, including a T206 Demmitt St Louis Polar Bear, I could see how the details might 'slip out'.

I’m sure it’s just PSA likely selling leads to make money on the back end.

I find it interesting that most people don’t know the largest provider of leads to credit card companies and mortgage providers are the credit bureaus themselves. Lead sales are a great way to make easy money for businesses.

Here’s a bit from their privacy practices vague enough to cover sharing-
“ We use the information that we collect to provide and maintain the Website as we deem appropriate in our sole discretion and to provide the Service, and to provide any other services that you and CU agree to. We may also use the information to contact you to further discuss interest in our company, the goods and services that we provide, and to send information regarding our company or partners, such as promotions and events. You may be invited to receive an email newsletter or other correspondence by providing an email address. Your email address and any Personal Information will not be distributed or shared with third parties unless it is to transact such business as you have contracted us to do, to comply with any legal processes and/or law enforcement requests, or in order to conduct any business as we, in our sole subjective discretion, deem reasonable.”

So, per the last part of that statement…”if we feel like it”.

Don't forget Joe Orlando is now at Heritage and obviously he would still know people at PSA. I imagine other major AHs also have ins. People talk, it's human nature.

I was told, by someone whom I feel is a reliable source, that at one time someone higher up the ladder would leak submission results to a certain auction house prior to the submitter even knowing the results of their grading.

Of all the activities the top tier grading companies have been...accused of...this seems to not even make the top 10 list but not sure it is appropriate that info be leaked without permission of the submitter but wtf do I know?

Man, when I finally get back my PSA 5 1975 Topps Steve Foucault, I can't wait for the auction companies to come knocking on my door!! :D

Stay strong! Hold out for your cut of 75% of the juice, plus zero listing fees.