Anyone looking at the T206s on REA?

[jhs5120]

Originally Posted by Bosox Blair

Good for REA! These "8"s look ridiculous and someone needs to say something. Seems it hasn't stopped bidders from putting thousands of dollars out there for these cards.

Anybody buying 100+ year old cardboard in 8s and 9s has to assume the very high risk that these cards are altered. With few exceptions (1915 CJ, E98 Black Swamp cards) the odds are very good that the cards have been doctored. That is why $0 of my collecting budget goes to this segment of the market.

Cheers,
Blair

I guess I'll have to disagree with this. As the industry-leading auction house, I find it distasteful that they are pushing altered cards onto customers. The note about the card being trimmed is hidden away in between the note "Four razor-sharp corners" and "a very highly graded T206 example". I promise you that half of the bidders did not catch the disclaimer.

If an AH was selling fake autographs with authentication, but they made a similar disclaimer would you praise "Good for them!". Probably not. REA should stop accepting these cards as consignment.

[ZachS]

Originally Posted by jhs5120

I guess I'll have to disagree with this. As the industry-leading auction house, I find it distasteful that they are pushing altered cards onto customers. The note about the card being trimmed is hidden away in between the note "Four razor-sharp corners" and "a very highly graded T206 example". I promise you that half of the bidders did not catch the disclaimer.

If an AH was selling fake autographs with authentication, but they made a similar disclaimer would you praise "Good for them!". Probably not. REA should stop accepting these cards as consignment.

I can see where you're coming from. My biggest concern would be that the next time these pop up there probably won't be a disclaimer at all. I don't think you can really blame REA though. In the end they're a business and businesses need to make money. At least they were ethical enough to put a note in the listing even though it could end up costing them money.

Good thing most of my cards are beaters.

[jhs5120]

Originally Posted by ZachS

I can see where you're coming from. My biggest concern would be that the next time these pop up there probably won't be a disclaimer at all. I don't think you can really blame REA though. In the end they're a business and businesses need to make money. At least they were ethical enough to put a note in the listing even though it could end up costing them money.

Good thing most of my cards are beaters.

These cards have been pushed through REA's auctions for a few years now; whenever they are resold via ebay/another AH it is ALWAYS without the disclaimer. If they are aware that the collectable is compromised, why accept the consignment? Why are they knowingly acting as the middleman in the sale of altered goods?

It just looks bad.

[Bosox Blair]

Originally Posted by jhs5120

whenever they are resold via ebay/another AH it is ALWAYS without the disclaimer...

This is my point. Hardly any other sellers/auctioneers will state that they don't agree with a high grade from PSA/SGC, but REA will.

I'd rather see the card sold by REA with an express disclaimer than have it sold by someone else with no mention of the possible trim.

Who knows how many consignments REA turns away by saying to a potential consignor: "yes, your card is in a PSA 8 holder, but we think it might be trimmed and we will not sell it without saying so"...and consignor goes down the road to the next place...

And I agree with REA - these are opinions. From the images, I agree with REA's view that these cards look trimmed. Others either disagree or don't care.

Cheers,
Blair

[Peter_Spaeth]

In my cynical opinion, people who buy T206s in 8s likely know most of them are trimmed and don't care. So while I think it's good that Rob discloses, at the same time it likely isn't costing him or his consignor much.

[baztacula]

PSA is run by clowns. Joe Orlando is a joke. Yes, they bought back over $700 worth of trimmed 1975 minis when I complained and sent them to Joe's attention. But then they BANNED ME from using their set registry after I spotted a bunch of obviously trimmed "PSA 10" 1975 minis (supposedly worth thousands) on eBay and alerted the seller. On my advice, He called Orlando, mentioned my name and blammo, I couldn't log onto PSA anymore because I was now banned. Apparently my refund check was "our little secret", like Mr. Joe groped me and I wasn't supposed to tell. That was about eight years ago and they will never get a dime of my business ever again. PSA can rot. Dav.id Baz.ini

[GregMitch34]

REA is also selling mint Ramlys while noting that they probably all stem from a guy who owned a sheet and cut them out himself--very neatly--in the 1970s. They are not labeled handcut by SGC....bidders do seem to be showing some restraint, not pricing them, so far, any higher than 7s and 8s....

[CMIZ5290]

Originally Posted by baztacula

PSA is run by clowns. Joe Orlando is a joke. Yes, they bought back over $700 worth of trimmed 1975 minis when I complained and sent them to Joe's attention. But then they BANNED ME from using their set registry after I spotted a bunch of obviously trimmed "PSA 10" 1975 minis (supposedly worth thousands) on eBay and alerted the seller. On my advice, He called Orlando, mentioned my name and blammo, I couldn't log onto PSA anymore because I was now banned. Apparently my refund check was "our little secret", like Mr. Joe groped me and I wasn't supposed to tell. That was about eight years ago and they will never get a dime of my business ever again. PSA can rot. Dav.id Baz.ini

Interesting David...I'm sure Joe is going to lose a lot of sleep....

[WhenItWasAHobby]

Originally Posted by baztacula

PSA is run by clowns. Joe Orlando is a joke. Yes, they bought back over $700 worth of trimmed 1975 minis when I complained and sent them to Joe's attention. But then they BANNED ME from using their set registry after I spotted a bunch of obviously trimmed "PSA 10" 1975 minis (supposedly worth thousands) on eBay and alerted the seller. On my advice, He called Orlando, mentioned my name and blammo, I couldn't log onto PSA anymore because I was now banned. Apparently my refund check was "our little secret", like Mr. Joe groped me and I wasn't supposed to tell. That was about eight years ago and they will never get a dime of my business ever again. PSA can rot. Dav.id Baz.ini

Welcome to the club.

Many years ago Joe Orlando made a very telling statement on the Collectors Universe Message Board . He said it was his belief that only 1% of the card collectors read message boards. So in other words, 99% of the collectors are completely unaware of the many problems involving PSA. So banning the complaining few of the 1% still doesn't amount to didley squat as far PSA is concerned and because of that don't expect any improvements anytime soon.