Why do we even need TPGs?

[Snapolit1]

If I am going to spend real bucks on a card I want a TPG opinion that it's authentic. As counterfeiting and just plain old copying gets more and more sophisticated, I just don't trust myself eyeballing something. Particularly scans of something. People on this board who know a lot more than I do debate all the time whether a scan looks authentic.
Like the kid in the deli doing the quick swipe of the $100 bill . . . . .
And, yes, I realize they make mistakes too.

[Prof_Plum]

I've only had cards graded twice in the last 5-6 years. This most recent submission was for insurance purposes and for whomever inherits the cards. It might be worth their while if they stopped for a moment and had second thoughts before trashing a card of some guy they've never heard of, if it's encased in plastic.

[Cozumeleno]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

If I am going to spend real bucks on a card I want a TPG opinion that it's authentic. As counterfeiting and just plain old copying gets more and more sophisticated, I just don't trust myself eyeballing something. Particularly scans of something. People on this board who know a lot more than I do debate all the time whether a scan looks authentic.
Like the kid in the deli doing the quick swipe of the $100 bill . . . . .
And, yes, I realize they make mistakes too.

Same - and I'd add that I also like the protection of slabs on expensive cards. They certainly are not foolproof when it comes to authentication but if I'm buying a card over $500 or so, there's an added level of assurance for me.

Not to mention that high-dollar slabbed cards are much easier to sell.

I'm mostly a raw collector myself but there are advantages to TPG-gradedx cards.

[Snapolit1]

If someone is trying to sell a rare card and hasn't gone to the trouble of slabbing it, but wants to tell me how great it is, I suspect strongly something is amiss.

[T206Collector]

Grading provides a level of assurance that is unobtainable from the seller of the card, even with 1,000 pictures.

[kmac32]

In general, I could care less about what grade a card has and it is all about appearance. I slab my cards for display and to protect the cards. It does also help when I go to sell the few cards I sell.

[perezfan]

Could care less, or couldn't care less?

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Could care less, or couldn't care less?

I'm amazed at how many people get this one wrong. Saying you could care less suggests that you do care.

[steve B]

I'm guessing most of you started collecting after TPGs became common?

If I can't see a card in person, a really good scan will tell me all the important stuff. The slabs provide a bit more protection when they're done right. When they're not? They're worse than a plain box.

I can only think of cynical reasons to need a TPG.
Most dealers pre-tgp were at best poor graders, at worst deliberately misleading. Many were good, but the average weekend card show dealer wasn't.

Having tpg commoditizes the collectible, meaning it can be sold to a collector who doesn't know much. All they need to know is what the card is and the grade.
That's both good and bad.
The good is that a lot of people especially people with money may want to collect but don't have the time to learn much about the cards they'll be collecting. Having TPG means they can do that comfortably and that raises prices for all of us. (Also both good and bad)
The bad is that TPG has created an entire generation of collectors who have limited knowledge and experience at handling the stuff they collect.

TPGs are far from infallible. And while I've graded a few cards to make things easier on the family someday, I've also come to have far less faith in them all around.
One can't tell a fake from real even when given a list of points identifying the fake.
Another covers either a mistake or unintentional damage by altering the card and reslabbing it.

And that's not on really obscure sets.

Seriously, I'll trust myself over that sort of place every time.


Steve B

[ullmandds]

card prices would be nowhere near where they are now without grading...not sure if thats good or bad?

[packs]

Scans can always be manipulated. IMO TPGs ensure some kind of balance between buyer and seller. If you're a seller and you tell me your EX is the EX standard, I'm not going to buy that because you're trying to sell me something. You need TPG to ensure that there is some distance between the seller and his card, even though we all know people / houses get preferential treatment.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

card prices would be nowhere near where they are now without grading...not sure if thats good or bad?

It's a very bad thing. I could see a small premium over a raw card but the prices those magic plastic holders bring is crazy.

[ajquigs]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

If I am going to spend real bucks on a card I want a TPG opinion that it's authentic. As counterfeiting and just plain old copying gets more and more sophisticated, I just don't trust myself eyeballing something. Particularly scans of something. People on this board who know a lot more than I do debate all the time whether a scan looks authentic.
Like the kid in the deli doing the quick swipe of the $100 bill . . . . .
And, yes, I realize they make mistakes too.

I agree with Steve. I generally collect mid-grade or lower and I'm pretty good about buying the card and not the holder in that respect. Still, when I'm spending $100 or more I like having someone more knowledgeable than I say it's authentic. Even though they're not perfect, their eye is vastly better than mine.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by ajquigs

I agree with Steve. I generally collect mid-grade or lower and I'm pretty good about buying the card and not the holder in that respect. Still, when I'm spending $100 or more I like having someone more knowledgeable than I say it's authentic. Even though they're not perfect, their eye is vastly better than mine.

eventually any cards of any real value will get a third party on it like an insurance company to value the cards in case they are lost etc.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

eventually any cards of any real value will get a third party on it like an insurance company to value the cards in case they are lost etc.

That's another decent reason to have them. I don't know for sure, but I believe an ins co would accept a graded card and the current average from someplace like VCP for value in place of a more formal appraisal.

Steve B