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[WhenItWasAHobby]

Originally Posted by botn

I do not feel the Gehrig in question is trimmed, other than possibly the upper right which was filed down due to the excess paper. I feel what we are seeing is simply from someone using too much force to press down the lifted paper. I would have to see it in person to know for sure but that is my impression. Grading companies should catch alterations that are obvious but shouldn't we be more pissed off at the people altering the cards? I mean it is a ton of fun to beat up on PSA but how about the FBI taking a look at some of the obvious card restoration that goes on? It is one thing to get a card bumped but another to change it's appearance in order to get it bumped.

I have said it for years on this board. All cards are at risk of being altered if in so doing their value increases enough to justify the time involved. Lessor condition high dollar cards are as susceptible to altering as the high grade material.

Greg,

That's probably a very accurate assessment of what work has been done. Clearly all of the surface damage to the paper stock, especially on the back edges has been flattened out. But what in my opinion should have raised red flags to any grader is that the upper frayed corners are squared off, which clearly isn't natural wear for a low grade card.

Yes, it would be great if law enforcement cuffed and stuffed some of these low-lifes, but on the other hand if PSA was competent in detecting these significant card alterations, the card doctors would be out of business and move on to some other means of making money.

Yes, I agree with you that it appears the card doctors have a "no card left behind" mentality. If money can be made on a card, regardless of the condition, then as this thread has revealed, cards will be worked on to increase their value. This debunks the myth that buying low grade cards is safe hedge from being defrauded.

[botn]

Originally Posted by WhenItWasAHobby

Greg,

That's probably a very accurate assessment of what work has been done. Clearly all of the surface damage to the paper stock, especially on the back edges has been flattened out. But what in my opinion should have raised red flags to any grader is that the upper frayed corners are squared off, which clearly isn't natural wear for a low grade card.

Yes, it would be great if law enforcement cuffed and stuffed some of these low-lifes, but on the other hand if PSA was competent in detecting these significant card alterations, the card doctors would be out of business and move on to some other means of making money.

Yes, I agree with you that it appears the card doctors have a "no card left behind" mentality. If money can be made on a card, regardless of the condition, then as this thread has revealed, cards will be worked on to increase their value. This debunks the myth that buying low grade cards is safe hedge from being defrauded.

Dan,
PSA has a policy, sure SGC does as well, that if a card gives the perception of having been altered, it will not be holdered. That is the reason why cards with factory cuts but are below factory sizes do not get encapsulated, so yes PSA should have rejected the Gehrig merely on the appearance as it does not look natural.

Grading companies should be able to detect alterations but truth is many alterations that can raise a card many grades will never be detected when done right. Just like in professional sports the athletes using PEDs are 2 steps, or more ahead, of the guys trying to catch them. If guys are not going to stop altering cards and grading companies cannot detect them then that leaves it up to law enforcement to make some examples. Plenty of guys out there making millions a year messing with cardboard but seems shill bidding is the crime du jour.

The value of a card, not the condition, determine if it is a candidate for altering. Has always been that way.