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Does the Hobby need a Self-Regulatory Organization?
This is an idea that has been floated by Jon's Sportscards & Collectables. I think it's badly needed now (after Jim Beckett's Shill Bid admission) and wondering how an SRO can be put together?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pkl...FWhn-NZ4AaABAg |
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Good idea, I have no idea how it gets implemented though.
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No. If they shill bid or you don’t agree with third party graders don’t use them., last thing needed is more regulations.
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How would anybody regulate this mess?
At best, it would be nice if all TPGs used an industry standard for grading. Yes, the grading systems are close, but it would be nice if all aspects of grading were the same across all TPGs. Problem is, they'd still screw it up anyway because subjectivity is just so broad and that includes graders because everyone is different. We'd be naive to believe that shill bidding is only a problem for the sports card auctions. After a collectors commission is established, you can count on there being some BS cronyism where the people at the top figure a way to line their pockets. |
Consumer protection via trade organizations "self regulating" through shared rules is a thing that works (National Association of Realtors, for example), but it's real hard to get off the ground.
In more modern times you tend to need an outrageous scandal or the government breathing down the industry's neck to get this kind of thing going. The hobby has had more than a few seemingly somewhat regular outrageous scandals on the dealer side along with a current monopolization of licensing rights from the producer side...and the hobby keeps churning with a shrug. I dunno if there's anyone or anything strong enough to get the industry players to blink and agree to even explore such a thing, much less signing onto it. |
Like most things, the concept seems brilliant, but the execution could be near impossible.
My guess is that it would take a lot of work to get us all to agree on the rules. Once you get there, then good luck enforcing them. Will a stern finger wag or public outing here be enough to keep anyone in line? And that’s assuming that you even have some way to discover the shenanigans, not to mention proving it. |
Before people jump to the conclusion that a governmental-type set of rules and regulations would "solve" something, let's keep the big picture in clear focus:
We are using disposable income to collect baseball cards and other collectibles that interest us. |
This has been raised countless times over the years. No offense to the OP or anyone else, but it's just mental masturbation until someone comes up with an actual plan and puts in the time and work to fund and implement it. Which will never happen. It never goes any further than along the lines of if someone else does all the work, I'll make a contribution.
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Doug, you've posted that damn card enough times that you should make it your avatar lol.
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Plus it is hilarious to read all the scammer stories. Then who says it doesn't end up like the eBay fraud team that had members that were the worst offenders. One of those former members still has an unlimited supply of sun faded cards he claims are rare errors. |
I miss the days when every collector was forced to use a combination of their own knowledge and predominantly buying from trusted dealers in an effort to avoid pitfalls. It's amazing how our hobby/industry was a forerunner in how the world is devolving, blindly relying on external answers without bothering to do any additional research on the matter at hand. What's next for the industry, ChatTPG?
Slab, slab, slab. Flip, flip, flip. Grade, grade, grade. I don't grasp how someone with a large collection can stand all that excess clunky plastic and weight, not to mention how much more room it would all take up. |
Toothpaste is out of the tube unfortunately. It’s the Wild West. Best we can do is inform the hobby of what is going on.
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On the flip side, I can think of a few scandals that did have an impact, and there are probably others out there as well. PWCC is no longer with us. Beckett grading has dropped off pretty dramatically. A few old time grading companies no longer exist, at least in part due to scandals. So it’s not as if there are zero examples of bad actors being punished by the market. Plus didn’t Moser and friends end up in jail for a bit? Maybe I’ve got the wrong name… |
As best I know, no one went to jail as a result of the FBI investigation into Moser, PWCC et al. Or even was charged. My guess is that the alleged card doctors are operating as before. As for Brent, he now appears to be affiliated with Mike Baker's company.
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To me it provides a complete commentary on these and other types of conversations here. |
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The costs paid to those with a proven track record of... I'm just trying to give myself a reason to post "that" card again, hahaha. |
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Was baker with GAI when they started grading all these bad cards? |
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Grade, grade, grade. Slab, slab, slab. Flip, flip, flip. |
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Even the PWCC backlash (to pick one recent of many overall scandals) lasted all of a few months before people flocked to their personal site. They later made some bad business decisions and even still Fanatics decided they didn't care enough about any negativity to buy PWCC. If any of the "bad guys" get something to sell after their scandal they tend to gain an audience no matter of their past. I can't think of anyone that didn't simply run away from the hobby that faced any significant backlash to continuing to be involved and they all seemed to do just fine financially...in the 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, 20s...etc. It's up to personal morals to decide whether you care to do business with someone or some company. The hobby on whole doesn't seem to care and it spans every generation as far as I've experienced. It's not like the old days where you need to read about it in hobby trade magazines or hear it through the grapevine...people make 10 dozen videos about it and there's 10 page threads on internet forums these days with instant feedback on the issue. |
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