Darren's Rovell take on PWCC, etc.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Mark17

Scott, someone with the integrity to even see the conflict of interest is exactly who is needed to head up such an effort. I'll bet you could come up with an ethical policy that could firewall your existing business and your efforts with a new grading service. For starters, never grade your own cards, never auction cards your new grading service has graded, and etc.

Eventually, being in on the ground floor of a grading service that is committed to catching alterations using the best, most current technologies, and constantly improving detection methods, would be more profitable than your current business (and probably more rewarding, being part of a solution to this huge problem.)

Look, if wealthy politicians can put their assets in a blind trust and continue to make policy decisions that have huge impact on their portfolios, you could do it much simpler by separating your inventory and auction material from the stuff you grade.

Any successful new TPG will need experienced card dealers, and the fact you are even concerned about the conflict tells me you have the ethical makeup necessary.

I appreciate the thought, and even considered the "not selling cards the company graded" route. The problem with that would be if the grading company became successful and developed a reputation for missing very few altered cards, and my company refuses to sell them. My own success in one venture would actually harm the other venture. Not to mention having to turn down consignments with cards from the grading company. There's just no way to make it work that I can see.

The party that approached me is one of the most honest guys I've met, and I was incredibly flattered that he though enough of me to ask. I'm hoping he finds a path forward with someone else trustworthy, and frankly more knowledgeable than me. I know a lot, but it's a drop in the bucket in comparison to many I've met on this board. I'd be spending a LOT of time on research for some of the more esoteric items as they came in.