[bbeck]

I just caught this thread and I might as well get a spot on the thread list. I actually purchased two cards from Carterscards in their last auction. A PSA 8 Beckley Fan Craze (a very weak PSA 8) and a 1914 SGC 60 Cracker Jack Schalk. I would first preface that the reasoning by Carterscards and his accusations regarding Todd Schultz (who I do not know) seem very implausible and insulting. I debated the GAI stuff in Carterscards auction because I have crossed very early GAI stuff with 100% success (6 for 6 with 3 bump up grades and one bump down, 2 remained the same) I was just unsure whether this was truly very early GAI stuff and how to tell from the flip numbers. The flips were old style. When GAI first branched off with Mike Baker as head grader, Rocchi convinced some high profile collectors to transfer some of their high end cards out of PSA holders and into GAI holders, creating many of the first graded designations. I am sure many transferred back (did all?). He also provided some great incentives with dealers at cut rate pricing to submit their cards to GAI. So, obviously many perfectly legitimate GAI cards exist. GAI had some credibility and that is what some collectors still bank on. Today, it is a total crapshoot regarding what will cross and what will not and most realize this is the chance they take when bidding on GAI. As a devil's advocate, what if I attempted to cross the Schalk (it is a really solid SGC 60) over to PSA and they said it was trimmed. I would not go back to the seller and ask for a refund. Granted this is not a true apples to apples comparison as both grading services still have strong credibility in the market. But what if I were such a pure PSA guy that I did not want any of my cards in SGC holders and PSA says it is trimmed. I could resell it on ebay but would I have guilt that it is a trimmed card? After all, PSA said trimmed, who cares what SGC thinks, I believe PSA. All 3 grading services GAI, PSA, and SGC are and were imperfect. Some more than others. I took the shot on some higher end GAI cards and was lucky I guess. But I did have the knowledge that the cards were truly from the infancy of GAI. If the cards had come back trimmed I know I would not have gone back to the sellers. I also sent all 6 cards in raw (which would have probably voided any returns anyhow) as I knew PSA would look at them with a slanted view otherwise. I think the bottom line is, GAI cards are a risky venture. The original seller of the card (Carterscards) took a shot when he purchased the card (or maybe it was consignment) and who knows whether he tried to cross it. But I cannot fault him for selling a card that SGC now deems as trimmed and not accepting a return. I think we take our shot with GAI cards. Carterscards took a shot on the card. Where does he go if it is returned and where does the food chain end with this card? GAI does not even exist anymore, they are now Global Authority with a new holder. The company has no guarantee on the buyback of old GAI cards. In the end, I agree with Paul Gallo's comment-send it to PSA for another opinion. I do not think you can fault Carterscards, he was not the trimmer if the card was truly trimmed. He sold a graded card by a company who had credibility at one time but is now suspect. The buyback guarantee does not pass along to him because the company no longer exists. As a final note, I believe the buyer will win the paypal case (as long as the card is in the GAI holder) anyhow, as paypal sides with the buyer 99.9% of the time and the time frame is short regarding the purchase.-Bob Beck