What would happen if PSA went out of business?

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by PowderedH2O

Actually, I didn't use any examples. You are confusing me (the OP) with someone else. That being said, how about a more recent example? Blockbuster Video. Did anyone see their demise coming in the mid 1990's? They were booming! Today, they are gone. Mismanagement happens. What about a scandal? Businesses close for many reasons. PSA is not foolproof. Likely soon? No. But, certainly not far fetched.

right Baseball is a business too.... scandals have happened as well in baseball I believe.............like I said you can pose the question if you want about if PSA went away, but I can also bring up what if baseball went away...if one is silly to say, so is the other for the same reason...or neither one is silly to bring up....that's fine by me..

[SAllen2556]

Isn't it reasonable to assume that technology will one day put PSA out of business? I don't find it difficult to imagine the day that a scanner will be capable of more accurately grading a card than the kids over at PSA. After all, isn't technology as responsible for putting companies, and entire industries, out of business as much as anything else? (including Blockbuster!)

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by SAllen2556

Isn't it reasonable to assume that technology will one day put PSA out of business? I don't find it difficult to imagine the day that a scanner will be capable of more accurately grading a card than the kids over at PSA. After all, isn't technology as responsible for putting companies, and entire industries, out of business as much as anything else? (including Blockbuster!)

technology is taking away umpire decisions in the game with instant replay....there was a recent baseball game exhibition where computer called balls and strikes..no more umpire....maybe the players will be replaced with technology as well...

[ValKehl]

My guess is that of the 3 major TPGs, SGC is the most likely to disappear, after having been acquired by Beckett.
Val

[drcy]

Artificial intelligence may someday start collecting baseball cards too, as soon as it gets the collecting bug chip.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

My guess is that of the 3 major TPGs, SGC is the most likely to disappear, after having been acquired by Beckett.
Val

Acquired? That would be news to Beckett, I think.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Leon

Acquired? That would be news to Beckett, I think.

Leon, I'm merely forecasting the future!
Val

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by Leon

Acquired? That would be news to Beckett, I think.

That would also be news to the SGC employees

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

That would also be news to the SGC employees

In situations such as this, the employees are often/usually the last to know. Of course, I was just postulating when I prophesied that SGC would be acquired by Beckett. But, think about it. I sense that Beckett is an organization that is keen to grow - SGC, not so much. Beckett is a leader when it comes to grading modern cards, but is a distant third place when it comes to grading vintage. The easiest way for Beckett to remedy this and to grow this segment of its business is to acquire SGC (and retain SGC's grading staff). This makes all the sense in the world, to me.
Val

[AGuinness]

Originally Posted by SAllen2556

Isn't it reasonable to assume that technology will one day put PSA out of business? I don't find it difficult to imagine the day that a scanner will be capable of more accurately grading a card than the kids over at PSA. After all, isn't technology as responsible for putting companies, and entire industries, out of business as much as anything else? (including Blockbuster!)

If PSA is the company to employ that technology, it wouldn't go out of business, though. It would probably reduce it's workforce of kids...

[T205 GB]

Originally Posted by SAllen2556

Isn't it reasonable to assume that technology will one day put PSA out of business? I don't find it difficult to imagine the day that a scanner will be capable of more accurately grading a card than the kids over at PSA. After all, isn't technology as responsible for putting companies, and entire industries, out of business as much as anything else? (including Blockbuster!)

FYI there is already a company in the works to employ that technology. That is all I have to say for now

[drcy]

It's another 30 years minimum before robots will be able to do the authenticity smell test of cardboard.

[packs]

If PSA went out of business everyone would go back to the arbitrary system of grading we all loathed before TPG's. One man's NRMT is another's EXMT and so on. You need a TPG to even out everything. Of course that TPG doesn't have to be PSA.

[ls7plus]

They, like the gasoline engine, aren't going anywhere in our lifetimes.

Larry

[doug.goodman]

Wow, what a thread.

Most of the points I would make have been made, to me the best one regards a certain trimmed card that "started" it all.

Before you correct me, note my use of quotation marks, I don't need a history lesson regarding the people who get paid for their opinions.

What would happen if the people who get paid for their opinions went out of business? I think the world would be a slightly happier place.

But that's just me.

And Al.

And Robert.

And...

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by drcy

It's another 30 years minimum before robots will be able to do the authenticity smell test of cardboard.

30 years? Today we have retinal scans, 3D printers, even iPhones with fingerprint recognition, etc. It's actually hard for me to believe that the technology does not exist today to measure a card's printing resolution, cardboard stock, level of gloss, centering, topography for creases, and all the other elements that would authenticate and grade a card.

[begsu1013]

said technology detecting surface issues would be the key component and the reason scanners can't be employed to go the entire length of the field.

ya still need the monkeys in one way or another...

eta: now dance monkey!