SGC's Response

[Archive]

Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Dave, thanks for the careful response.

After reading that, doesn't Doug have some explaining to do? Basically, Mastro has come out on a public forum and confessed to altering cards in order to increase its bottom line - even if it is against at least one grading company's policies, one of only 2 companies that Mastro primarily deals with. Doug, because you're so concerned about me having nice things to say, I'll say this: I really feel strongly about SGC and am happy that they will try to catch the altering you do on cards.

Look, I find that usually the greediest people are the ones more likely to cut corners. I have never had a problem with people trying to make as much money as possible. But I think what turned me off to Mastro were a) the ridiculous reasoning behind the catalogue fee which solely focused on "rising costs" and "the need to maintain a first class auction"; and b) the sneaky move in raising BP AFTER consignments were received and contracts signed. Not surprisingly, Mastro admits now that it does at least some form of SGC frowned-upon alteration to cards it receives for sale.

I suspect Doug will come back and probably swear off any more alterations in the future and I will respect that if he does such a thing. I also respect the fact that he had the balls to come out here and admit something that he had to know was unpopular. Frankly I'm amazed that he did such a thing. I wonder what Mastro's lawyers are saying to him now. Finally, I would ask that Mastro email all of its clients and indicate which lots in the upcoming auction have been touched in any way by their hands other than to take them out of the envelopes sent by consignors.