More additions at PSA Autograph Authentication

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Klrdds

I also agree and it makes you wonder why not 1 but 3 of the most trustworthy and best dealers in the hobby would get out like this in such a rapid fashion and simultaneously . Maybe money really does talk ...unfortunately it never says much to me !

With the advent of the TPAs, one aspect of the expertise by which these guys made a living--being able to judge whether an autograph is good or not--became less and less valuable to them as dealers and more and more valuable to the TPAs. As a result, in the last 15 years, as the marketplace came to embrace, then require, TPAs, those lines have crossed for one dealer after another, and this latest flood of dealers becoming authenticators feels like some kind of demarcation. With everything slabbed at shows now, after all, dealers need only the ability to find and buy autographs at less than a price guide tells them they can sell it for, no other talent required, they could be vendors of anything. Auctions and eBay bypass the dealer altogether. For a guy like Keating, being a dinosaur in this new age got to be more and more frustrating until they finally made him an offer he couldn't turn down, and he went with the flow.

[Scott Garner]

Hank,
I appreciate you checking in and explaining this to us.
The fact that you are close friends with Kevin is helpful.

[Maddog]

I don't think this bodes well for the hobby.

Sure, PSA NOW has a team of real experts for authenticating but as we know, not everyone is a fan of slabbing and paying for a TPA.

Damn there were only 5 dealers I really trusted, now I'm down to 2?
Guess all I have now are Rich & Jim's next listings By the way, some Vintage Football autographs please

Does anyone see the possibility of someone filling the void? Hate to sound cynical (which I often am ) but I don't see too much professionalism or integrity in the hobby these days.

What is the average collector to do? We all know the amount of bad stuff out there and it's not limited to just the high $$$ items anymore. We want to bring new blood into the hobby but how can they learn if all the teachers are gone?

Thank Heavens for Net54.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by maddog

i don't think this bodes well for the hobby.

Sure, psa now has a team of real experts for authenticating but as we know, not everyone is a fan of slabbing and paying for a tpa.

Damn there were only 5 dealers i really trusted, now i'm down to 2?
Guess all i have now are rich & jim's next listings :d by the way, some vintage football autographs please

Does anyone see the possibility of someone filling the void? Hate to sound cynical (which i often am :d) but i don't see too much professionalism or integrity in the hobby these days.

What is the average collector to do? We all know the amount of bad stuff out there and it's not limited to just the high $$$ items anymore. We want to bring new blood into the hobby but how can they learn if all the teachers are gone?

Thank heavens for net54.

+100

[Klrdds]

Originally Posted by Maddog

I don't think this bodes well for the hobby.

Sure, PSA NOW has a team of real experts for authenticating but as we know, not everyone is a fan of slabbing and paying for a TPA.

Damn there were only 5 dealers I really trusted, now I'm down to 2?
Guess all I have now are Rich & Jim's next listings By the way, some Vintage Football autographs please

Does anyone see the possibility of someone filling the void? Hate to sound cynical (which I often am ) but I don't see too much professionalism or integrity in the hobby these days.

What is the average collector to do? We all know the amount of bad stuff out there and it's not limited to just the high $$$ items anymore. We want to bring new blood into the hobby but how can they learn if all the teachers are gone?

Thank Heavens for Net54.

I agree 100 %

[RichardSimon]

I have known those three guys for a long time and do trust them. All three have bought from me often.
However, my lack of trust for the PSA corporation is still there.
I do find it ironic that three dealers who would not use PSA have now been brought into their corporate structure. The corporation now endorses three people who would not endorse the corporation previously.
Talk amongst yourselves .
And I can understand the frustration that Kevin was feeling as Hank has described. Hi Hank, long time no see. I miss chatting with you. The Philly show was fun way back when.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

I have known those three guys for a long time and do trust them. All three have bought from me often.
However, my lack of trust for the PSA corporation is still there.
I do find it ironic that three dealers who would not use PSA have now been brought into their corporate structure. The corporation now endorses three people who would not endorse the corporation previously.
Talk amongst yourselves .
And I can understand the frustration that Kevin was feeling as Hank has described. Hi Hank, long time no see. I miss chatting with you. The Philly show was fun way back when.

Same here, Richard, that's one thing about shows that nothing else will ever replace, the human element. I never did a show that wasn't fun, and that's why. As for Kevin and PSA, he was OK with them, in fact his name was on every one of their letters. He just didn't like the fact that the predominance of the TPAs came to diminish the respect for his own expertise as a dealer. It would drive him crazy to have to respond to the increasingly common question: "It's not slabbed, how do I know it's good?" He fought it as long as he could, but I knew what was coming and who would show him the respect he deserved for his knowledge. For several years, I told him he was next, it was just a matter of time, and he would laugh. Now I'll say the same thing to you, Richard. You're next!

[Klrdds]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Now I'll say the same thing to you, Richard. You're next!

Richard I sure hope not !

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by Maddog

I don't think this bodes well for the hobby.

Sure, PSA NOW has a team of real experts for authenticating but as we know, not everyone is a fan of slabbing and paying for a TPA.

Damn there were only 5 dealers I really trusted, now I'm down to 2?
Guess all I have now are Rich & Jim's next listings By the way, some Vintage Football autographs please

Does anyone see the possibility of someone filling the void? Hate to sound cynical (which I often am ) but I don't see too much professionalism or integrity in the hobby these days.

What is the average collector to do? We all know the amount of bad stuff out there and it's not limited to just the high $$$ items anymore. We want to bring new blood into the hobby but how can they learn if all the teachers are gone?

Thank Heavens for Net54.

PM sent with a vintage football item I just got in.