Notes from a former card Grader/Authenticator

[steve B]

I can't think of any grading/authentication place that doesn't have a sliding scale for pricing.

While 45 seconds seems crazy to us, to a pro at anything it's probably plenty of time for most items.
I had a couple items looked at by an expert at an international stamp shows "roadshow" type activity. The guy doing it was a long time dealer and probably expertiser, and did a basic authentication on both in under a minute. The explaining took longer, and I learned a lot. (especially that I might just know what I'm doing because I was right about both. )

Grading and a complete expertising might take a bit longer, especially the grading. But for most cards I can see it being a very quick process.
Should it be? I would like to think more time could be taken, especially on more expensive things. I think at 45 seconds, a lot of stuff like alterations could be missed.
But as it is everyone complains if it's"too slow" and also complains if it isn't what they think is correct, and especially if an alteration got missed.