Posted By:
Kevin SaucierPeck - thanks for the vote of confidence. Becoming a grader would not be a problem but I don't want to sit in a blacked out bunker and relinquish half my current salary (or more). My proposal to Joe was to join PSA’s senior team and stop the high-end altered cards (both in terms of card value alterations they are unfamiliar with) from getting slabbed.
Peter - Correct many would not want to know because ignorance can be bliss. Then again, some do. What they do if the card does not pass would be totally up to them. It would mean either the card more than likely or definitely doctored or there was just the slightest bit of doubt. Either would not pass in IMO. Keeping in mind some cards would be too tight to render an opinion or my individual interpretation would be different than that of the original grader. The news may not always be horrible...although often it would.
A slightly different scenario would be an auction house or dealer running an auction wants to be reassured that what is being sold in slabs is not tainted. A second "unbiased" opinion on selected cards might add to the auctions integrity and increase the value of each item. It's one thing to say you run a straight auction with in-house checks and balances and suspected graded cards being returned but IMHO it would speak volumes it that in-house opinion was outsourced.
Another scenario, two collectors want to make a high value transaction but the deal would be on stand-by until the card was given a second opinion. The deal can be finalized based on the subjective (or objective) factors.
Again just thinking out loud.
Kevin Saucier