Quote:
Originally Posted by ergoism
If that's the cost in America, I'm sure it's a fraction of that in Mexico and China. Even at 50k he could afford it, he's made that in a days worth of scamming.
I'll end this here, there's really no point in arguing where these slabs came from. The fakes are good and that's that.
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No. The $50,000 is to have it done in China, per your example/claim. Further refinements of the prototype, manufacturing, plus the initial order could easily run $250k if you wanted an exact holder. And even then, it might not be the same.
Again, I'll ask the question--what evidence do you have that your Mexican scammer is having his own holders fabricated? Doesn't it stand to reason that if he has this much money to spend, he probably would go into a legitimate business rather than trying to peddle fake sports cards to a network of hapless Craigslist sellers?
PSA puts together some very good guidelines that can virtually eliminate these types of scams. From their website:
One way the PSA holder may show tampering is what is commonly referred to as "frosting" along the edges where the clear plastic starts to exhibit a cloudy appearance. In some cases, you can actually see minor fractures or cracks in the plastic as a result of the violation. This occurs when the sonic weld is broken and can be seen in various degrees.
What may seem like a very basic approach is the importance of knowing the seller. It is not uncommon for collectibles to be valued at five, six or even seven-figure levels in some cases. If you were buying a watch for $5,000, would you purchase it from a company or someone you didn't recognize or know? If not, the first prudent step would be asking for good references. The same approach should be used in the collectibles market. It is imperative that you find a reputable dealer or auction house to buy from. Remember, it is your money.
If you are directly solicited by a person or company with whom you have no prior dealings or relationship, you should approach the offer with caution, particularly if such an offer is coupled with a deal that seems too good to be true. These are warning signs. Ironically, the lure of a quick profit often overrides one's common sense. Don't let this happen to you.