What would happen if TPG went out of business?

[glynparson]

There are a lot of altered and bogus cards now. Things were much worse in the early 90s for trimming and vastly over grading. TPG is flawed but a legitimately honest TPG would be great, in my opinion, for the hobby. There is just to much baggage at all the existing companies in my opinion to be that TPG.

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by glynparson

There are a lot of altered and bogus cards now. Things were much worse in the early 90s for trimming and vastly over grading...

Absolutely! Cards with worn corners were run through paper presses and then cut back down to size, making them NMMT, or better, to the uneducated eye. There were a fair number of dealers specializing in such cards at that time, even to the point of regularly advertising in SCD and appearing at many major shows. You had to examine cards with a loupe at shows, looking for razor sharp edges and/or pinched corners as tell-tale signs to protect yourself, even during the early years when PSA came on the scene. TPG solved a great portion of that problem, and will always be here, in some form, although it may evolve.

There will always be a premium for quality--if you want your cards to appreciate in value, buy rare and significant, in the best condition you can find (with the era being relative) or afford. That said, you will still have to buy the card and not the holder. If the slab slip says NMT, and it doesn't have good eye appeal to you, chances are it won't appeal to the next guy either if and when you eventually sell!

Best, guys,

Larry