PSA-A Cautionary Tale!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by japhi

Leon - I would agree on the price break. That said, do you think the president of PSA should be having his buddies send submissions to his attention? Also, if PSA will crack and review shouldn't this service be open to all submitters?

I'm not even a PSA hater - I'm actively putting together a mid grade hockey HOF registry set and buying graded cards like a mad man - but IMO there is too much money involved for the process to be so loose. Seems mickey mouse to me. I sell a financial product and we are completely isolated from our credit group, I'd suggest PSA isolate Joe from the grading process.

I don't believe fraud is occurring but if I was a stakeholder at PSA it would be pretty clear in a process audit that fraud, at some point, is likely to occur.

If the President of a grading company wants a customer to send a card to his attention I don't have a problem with that. I am not sure it's the best use of his time but that is not for me to say. It's a favor and an exception. So what? As long as when I send my card in, it gets fair and impartial treatment, and I get the service I paid for, I don't care. Unless there is fraud going on, as a business person, I just don't have an issue with it. I am far from an apologist and think some things could be different, but overall, I think PSA does a good job. I think the hobby is much better with them than without them.

I should add that I don't think the President of a grading company should have a say in a grade, so I do agree there needs to be some separation in that respect.

[japhi]

I agree PSA is overall good for the hobby but the President being involved in the grading process of submitter's he knows is a huge conflict of interest when you consider the amount of money involved and the small differences between grades.

Personally I'm not impacted as I don't chase the super high end. As someone that builds process for sales organizations I can tell you it is a huge liability for PSA.