Mears authentication

[sbfinley]

I echo David. I don't collect game used, but from everything I've experienced they are one of the most respected in the field. Mike has a valid point, some level of "homework" must be done if making a purchase (especially a large one), but there is also a place for TPA and TPG companies in this hobby as many collectors enjoy a wide array of items and don't have the time to become an expert on it all. Personally, if I was considering an items and it was authenticated by Mears I would be confident with it if everything else was up to snuff.

[mickeymao34]

I posed this question in Wilt thread but I think it is more appropriate here since the thread is titled and on topic with that auction house. Can anyone chime in to this question: How many of these A10's are evaluated and produced at the request of a AH vs collector request? To me there would seem to be a level of conflict of interest. IMO

[ooo-ribay]

IMHO, 99% of authenticating/grading is a scam. Wish I had thought of it.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

IMHO, 99% of authenticating/grading is a scam. Wish I had thought of it.

From personal experience Mears is in that 99% you mention.

[mickeymao34]

Originally Posted by bnorth

From personal experience Mears is in that 99% you mention.

Did you buy a "game used" jersey from them?

[WindyCityGameUsed]

IMO opinion their are no levels to “homework” either your doing it or you not.

As stated previous IMO best case scenarios involve COA's & LOA’s that are 99% used for rookies as a confidence boost and at its worst from what I have seen can be used as a tool to pass items that are not what they appear to be to the untrained eye.

I would also like to know the percentages of LOA’s generated at collector request (SMALL) compared to auction house request (LARGE).

IMO anything above an A5/6 should have to be 100% photo match and an A10 is the needle in the haystack rarer than industry leader ethics.

At this point in time is anyone that ignorant to think that any 1 person anywhere knows everything about thousands of different style jerseys?

As a collector you cannot afford to not be an expert in what you collect as you can trust no one when it comes to money.

[mickeymao34]

IMO the topic AH have made obvious mistakes in some of they're GU assessments whether on purpose or not-I"ll give them the benefit of doubt that it is a mistake. After all it is just a opinion letter. I believe they are on the belief that they are "thee" standard in the industry and by this only deems them the final say. Collectors are doing they're own research and seeing the discrepancies of what they publish. The scientific lengthy jargon gives the appearance of thorough research. For example the response post to the Magic Johnson jersey with a A10 grading, the poster specifically outlined techniques used to render that this piece is authentic and deserving of the grade. He used a pic that was blurry at best-again i will give him the benefit of doubt due to perhaps hastily posting a retort. Yet, IMO, for a AH that deems itself the leader of grading GU jerseys and its claims to utilize and have access to the best resources (ie/high quality photos) - why did he source a pic that was obviously NOT what he claims it was? Collectors are more savvy these days and do scour the internet to seek out what they seek. From this mistake, one could come to conclude that he had hopes to make it believable that it is indeed authentic. Seriously it doesn't even come close. I hope people do research what they spend they're hard earned money on and not acquire pieces based solely on reputation. Again I would stress that these questions need to be asked, especially from sources that are there to make a profit. This, I believe, is a topic that needs to be addressed to the industry as a whole-but it is the pink elephant in the room that no one wants to discuss.