[Seven]

Originally Posted by JustinD

It's become a fairly common practice already for the scammers, these things just take them a few months to figure out. Keywords in the listing titles cull it out easily - "set", "pack", "box", or "lot" are examples. You can see that issue as people commonly used "set break", "base set", or "pack fresh", they were kicked out of the program. They supposedly fixed that recently if the phrase "set break" is used, but not sure. "Set" will still kick it on it's own.

No lots, sets, or unopened packs/boxes are in the program, so many scammers will sell a fake Ruth with some trash like a free 1983 Topps common to slide it under the lot category and get the fake to the buyer.

I would feel bad about posting this info, but they all know this already. The site is full of them.

You must look for the blue check and eBay statement (not seller statement) that it is 'Authenticity Guaranteed" to trust it is in the program.

For every program that comes out that guarantee's the authenticity of something, there will be a person or people that find a way around it. Even the grading companies are not infallible, fakes have been slabbed before whether they be cards or autographs. The most important thing we can do is educate ourselves on what we are buying, and ask people that are experienced in certain areas for their opinion and knowledge.

Back to the topic at hand. I have purchased cards that were slabbed altered before. If you want to alter a card, that is your prerogative, it shouldn't get judged by the same standards a non altered card does. The inherent problem is the grading companies IMO. Alteration has been around for quite some time, but collectors treating the grade like it is gospel, are an issue, which I feel like that is what a portion of the higher end hobby has become. And if that grade is influenced by some sort of altering of the card, yet still receives a number grade, I have an issue with that.