PSA Autograph Rarity Scale

[RichardSimon]

An autograph registry, just another marketing ploy by PSA, just what the autograph hobby needs. "My ---- is better and bigger then yours."
This is a gimmick by PSA, something to increase the interest in the registry.
They looked around the office one day, pointed to an intern and said draw up a rarity scale. After he said "huh?" they explained to him what they wanted.
So he put a number next to every name.

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

An autograph registry, just another marketing ploy by PSA, just what the autograph hobby needs. "My ---- is better and bigger then yours."

Yep. "Registry Sets" based on a weighted scale is the same thing that was done for coins and comic books. It also helps create brand loyalty because to participate in the registry, the item has to obviously be slabbed and graded by the company running the registry.

Registries need a grading component to work, and I am sure this is why autograph grading has been introduced in addition to basic authentication.

What the hobby really needs is rich guys bragging on chat boards... "My Babe Ruth ball graded an 8 and yours is only a 7! Get a life, LOSER!!"

[RichardSimon]

If PSA's hands were any deeper in some collectors pockets they would have collected even more money .

[jbhofmann]

BOB FELLER 1.00


seems high.

[tazdmb]

Originally Posted by jbhofmann

BOB FELLER 1.00


seems high.

That is for an unsigned item

[Klrdds]

For what it is worth ( and that is probably nothing):
The weighting of "rarity" is done as we know by PSA , and only by their standards of weighting whatever that may be, because in my opinion and as we all know there are errors in their weighting scores. What is known is that a Babe Ruth ,for example, carries with it a weight of 10 for the set registry no matter whether the signature is on a GPC, 3X5, photo, ball, etc. Now then the autograph grade is a separate issue, and has no bearing on set registry total...that is solely dependent upon only having the item. The value of the item is mainly based on the autograph grade from PSA, medium, etc...
This is where PSA can get you if you are a collector by charging to grade the autograph and also put it in the set registry for comparison to other collections similar to yours.
Personally I do not care to have my set registered , it is no big deal to me. I would rather save the money to buy another item.

[swarmee]

Fundamental misunderstanding in this thread: PSA didn't generate the list or the weights. Whoever requested the registry created the list of names, and submitted a list of whatever weights they suggested. PSA pretty much rubber stamps those lists. To add a player to a list or change a registry weighting scale, PSA will send a message to long-standing members of that registry set with a poll on whether to add/subtract/modify the registry.

So what you're all claiming PSA thinks, is actually what a couple guys who collect those autographs thinks, not really PSA.

[HexsHeroes]

Originally Posted by Klrdds

. . . Personally I do not care to have my set registered , it is no big deal to me. I would rather save the money to buy another item.

Kevin, I like the way you think. I could not agree with you more.