GAI - CTD????

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Posted By: Anonymous

Curious. Can anyone share about recent rumblings as to the survival of GAI? TY in advance.
henry

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Posted By: Chris

I noticed that Gai and the authenticating service they provide did not show up at the Long Island National @ Hofstra. There was also a little chatter while I was waiting to get into the show about the no show.

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Posted By: Eric

I think it was stated on this board that they didn't show up at a PA show either.

I could be wrong, and if I am, someone can correct me, but I think I remember reading that.

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Posted By: jay wolt

Eric - Correct!
GAI did not show up at the Reading (Philly)show

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Posted By: Eric

Thanks Jay....I thought I read that somewhere.

So that's two shows.

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Posted By: rand

I dont know how they can stay in business when they are not being fed by the auction houses let alone private submissions. grading is a volume game and they certainly are not getting volume. one of the reason i think they have not done well is the lack of a Registry, even though they are accused of overgrading cards, there was no reason to pursue GAI holdered material. If they had a Registry and started it back when psa did theirs, they may be in a better situation by now.

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Posted By: Mike

I just got a bounced e-mail from the guy I deal with at GAI and can't access their website. Does anyone have any fresh news on the state of GAI? Thanks, Mike

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Posted By: peter chao

Rand,

I also think that BGS is more financially stable and is taking away a portion of GAI's market.

Peter C.

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Posted By: Rob Scales

Mike,

What does the bounce message say?

The fact that their Web site is down as well, is not a good sign.

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Posted By: Matt

Anybody try to call? Maybe their internet provider is having issues. But I'll agree that isn't a good sign...

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Posted By: Mike

Not sure exactly what the e-mail said but essentially it was returned as undeliverable which is never a good sign.

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Posted By: leon

Well, their site is down.....and their general phone number gives a busy signal. Both of which are not good signs. I just left a message for Mike Baker on his cell phone, which still says GAI on the message.....but this doesn't look too good.....I bet we know within a day or two what's going on. This darn internet thing really makes information travel quickly....regards

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Posted By: dan mckee

I thought Danny was one of the nicest guys in the world to deal with, always friendly and seemed like he cared. I wish all of them the best. Dan

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Posted By: dennis

site is down and out.

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Posted By: Phil Garry

All the no shows at the biggest card shows lately as well. I think that just confirms what everyone else is thinking right now.

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Posted By: boxingcardman

Looks like it's time to start cracking those slabs...

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Posted By: Bottom of the Ninth

We have been calling them for the last 10 days and left messages, when the telephone service was working. We have also left messages on Mike and Danny's cell phones. Does not look good at all.

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Posted By: Aaron Conyers

I have also left voice mails and e-mails in the last 2 weeks with no response.

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Posted By: Wesley

Anyone here still have some card at GAI waiting to be graded?

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Posted By: Anthony

I have a pack order they messed up, was just going to send it out today for them to fix. Think I"ll just wait and see......

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Posted By: Phil Garry

WOW!!! I had a couple of thousand dollars worth of items at GAI less than a month ago and the grading process just kept dragging on until I finally got tired of waiting and demanded that my items be shipped back to me ungraded. I received them back about three weeks ago. Glad I did!!!

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Posted By: Larry

There is no question that GAI has made a very important impact on our industry and I sincerely hope that they can get back to all of us soon, they are wonderful people...I hope this is a temporary situation.

Mike, Steve and Danny have many years of experience, knowledge and friendship in this industry and whether or not you have dealt with GAI or not, not having them around does not make it better for most collectors or dealers if their services are not accessible.

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Posted By: peter chao

Larry,

I don't think this is a temporary situation. If it was they would have responded to some of the calls and e-mail inquiries. Complete silence is not a good sign.

Peter C.

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Posted By: Dave Haas

I have had several items there for about 5 weeks. Talked to a "Darren" a rep who called me about my order about 3 weeks ago. He stated my order was to be shipped a week ago Friday. Called and left nasty message last Thursday regarding my order and received an email Friday stating my order was being shipped. Received second email Sat. from Quantum? saying my order was shipped thru them and should be delivered 11/8. We'll see.
It appears they are in their offices and not taking calls. It appears they are attempting to fulfill their orders.

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Posted By: Bobby Binder

We just did a deal with them and completed all the work on our end. Been trying for a week to get in touch with Steve with no luck at all. He told me it was a go about 3 weeks ago and would stink if they made me do the work and then burn me on it.

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Posted By: dan mckee

I have about a $375 credit remaining. Anyone want to trade it for a PRO or CSA grading credit??

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Posted By: Jimmy

GAI was not at the Boston show and most dealers knew they were out of business before the start of the show - the website is down. This all maybe temporary, but for now I just do not see them lasting. I have been getting a lot of GAI cards in consignments for my eBay auctions the last month.

Jimmy

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Posted By: Richard Dwyer

They're in the process of moving. Should be a press release tomorrow.

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Posted By: Dave V.

I'm mostly an autograph guy and I called GAI's office three or four weeks ago and I asked them if Justin was still working there because I had heard rumors he had left. They told me he was still working for them, then I looked on the chat forum he moderates and there is a thread stating that he left in July. Here is the link to that:

http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_forum2/showthread.php?t=410

From what I understand the majority of their business was from autographs, now they don't have a authenticator and Keith their pack grader is no longer there. So who was looking at the stuff submitted to them?

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Posted By: Richard Dwyer

Yes, Keith is gone. Dunno about Justin. They have someone new doing the pack grading.

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Posted By: leon

I got a somewhat worried email today from a board member....saying he has a very expensive wax box being graded and still with GAI. I told him I thought there was a 99% chance he will be ok....Whatever happens they are good folks and I am sure will take care of business if there was/is an issue....I am sure most of them still would remain in the hobby even if something happened to GAI. A move seems logical although it would be nice to put some info out about it, if it did happen....regards

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Posted By: brian

"So who was looking at the stuff submitted to them?"

Wasn't this their latest authenticator?

<br/>

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Posted By: Bobby Binder

THey are moving again? Did'nt they just relocate to San Clemente from Irvince a few months ago?

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Posted By: Richard Dwyer

They're moving within the same building. They'll be back up and going within the week. Like a said earlier, there should be a press release tomorrow. Nothing to worry about.

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Posted By: Larry

Richard-

How do you know this information and that they are just moving is correct and why was web site removed with no phone forwarded message???? I actually had a submission that was earmarked for GAI at Hofstra...Has anyone actually spoken to Mike or Danny ?

I sure hope you are correct...they are great guys....

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Posted By: JimB

Why does physically moving cause their website to go down?
JimB

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Posted By: JimCrandell

Count me in the group that thinks Mike, Steve and Danny are great guys and that they make it. Last time I spoke to Mike he was talking about opening an east coast office. Unfortunately he cancelled unexpectedly our dinner a month ago in Cali.

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Posted By: dennis

don't all businesses shut down their websites and disconnect their phones when they move?

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Posted By: Dave F

Dennis,

I would agree. Why would you want to be bothered by customers if your moving boxes down the hall in the same building? Disconnecting the phone and internet are grade A moves

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Posted By: Kevin Saucier

"Has anyone actually spoken to Mike or Danny?"



Yep, talked with Mike both last night and this morning.


Kevin Saucier

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Posted By: JimCrandell

So whats the scoop.

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Posted By: finec

Apparently, the recent reports of Global Authentic's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Turns out the California-based grading company is simply relocating its corporate headquarters according to a company official.

On the Beckett site this morning

******

Card grading message boards over the last few days have been abuzz with rumors of the company shutting down, citing, primarily, that the company's phones and Web site no longer work.

"We're OK," says Steve Sipe, the company's VP of Business Development. "We're moving offices. We're in the same office complex, just six doors down."

The physical relocation of GAI's servers, Sipe says, has led to a temporary shutdown of the company's Web site. He says the site should be back up within 24 hours.

According to Sipe, the company is moving because the church that acted as GAI's next-door tenant is expanding.

"The guy who wrote The Purpose Driven Life runs the [Saddleback] church," Sipe says. "It's a monster church and they need the space. It actually worked out for us. The square-footage price is better and it's actually a better office for us."

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Posted By: Matt

Something is fishy....

Why would they cancel all their show appearances? Why wouldn't they return phone calls?

What customer service company relocates and shuts down operations for a week or more and doesn't tell its customers ahead of time?

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Posted By: Chris Counts

The mystery around GAI doesn't surprise me. Like several posters, I've found the GAI staff to be friendly and knowledgable, but they're terrible at returning calls ...

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Posted By: John Basilone

Where is the church? Old address?

http://tinyurl.com/ysccc8

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Posted By: Mark L

yeah, they never responded to my calls or my emails last summer, when they were supposed to be up and running. At the time, it was a problem because they sent my cards to the wrong address (their fault) and UPS insisted that only GAI could rectify the situation.

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Posted By: Rob Scales

One has to wonder what's going on over there? Mail and Web servers down for multiple days because of an office move in the same complex? That's not right.

If this is the case, these guys obviously do not care about their customers/prospective business.

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Posted By: Dave F

Merely a question here....I'm hardly an expert an GAI or any other company for that matter other than the one I work for....but the "silent" method GAI has moved into....in my field of business anyway, this could mean a buyout. Could that possibly be the case here? And no, i'm not starting that rumour...just asking the possibility...even if its not the case, at this point you have to wander if that wouldn't be in their best interest.

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Posted By: Kevin Cummings

I sent an email a week or so ago about a grading question I had and Mike Baker answered the same day.

According to their website, the church offices are at 232 Avenida Fabricante, Suite 101 - right next door to GAI.

http://www.saddlebacksanclemente.com/

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Posted By: Rob Dewolf

As someone who never has gone to the Beckett Web site, I honestly don't know the answer to this question:

If "Card grading message boards over the last few days have been abuzz with rumors" about your company's demise, would the Beckett Web site necessarily be the avenue you'd use to tell everyone to remain calm, all is well?

Wouldn't you designate someone from your company to take an hour, make a few posts and let the message boards that are abuzz know what's going on?