Quote:
Originally Posted by Hankphenom
Fair enough. But just because I was looking for anyone who would make such a serious accusation as that the TPGs are in collusion with their biggest customers to game the system in their favor to show at least a modicum of backup for that claim doesn't mean I wanted to do a lot of homework to develop an opinion of my own. That burden should be on those answering the question in the positive, a very serious charge, indeed. And I would still be interested in some details in this thread about how this all works, i.e., is it just the very biggest AHs and dealers among all the big ones? are they paying extra for these preferences, and if not how are the TPGs benefiting from activities that could sink their entire business if this became widely believed? Why would collectors continue to participate in a game they thought was rigged against them and costing them tons of money? I don't see it, I just don't. Isolated examples? Sure. Endemic to the hobby? Then why does such a corrupt hobby continue to exist, if not flourish?
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To answer your last question, because, as I like to say, stuff trumps all. This hobby for many if not most people has become all about the numbers on the flip. The more slabbed cards are out there with high grades, the more money everyone makes. Take care of your best customers, and they will keep coming back. Do you think if PSA had not taken care of high volume modern submitters it would have been able to displace and crush Beckett which at one time was the market leader in modern? People submit to make money. People make money by getting higher grades. Back in the day, vintage grew the same way. Do you really think all those 8s and 9s filling up the set registries are pristine cards from virgin sets?