More additions at PSA Autograph Authentication

[packs]

I realize that but again that has nothing to do with the conflict of interest we're talking about re: autographs and authentication. PSA did not own the card. It would have been a different situation if a high level employee owned the card and then sold the card with PSA's grade. That didn't happen. But there are people with stellar reputations who do cert their own items for sale in their own stores. That is a conflict of interest to me. That model works for those people because they have great reputations and people trust them, but I don't think that model would work for the hobby as a whole because it would be easy to violate that trust.

[Lordstan]

I understand what you are trying to say, but you are getting caught up in a matter of semantics. Regardless of what you wish to call it, if a company knowingly authenticates something dubious like the Wagner, then it is a bad thing.

The term Certification of Authenticity is factually incorrect and that is where the real rub is. What does Certification mean? It's only an opinion that the item is real. Same thing for grading. The grade is their opinion based on a set of criteria, but it is still only an opinion. We all know how many times people will see cards the same grade, but are significantly different. NO ONE can certify in the way they the are implying, which is a type of guarantee, that an auto is authentic unless the certifier witnesses the item signed.

The are offering opinions. THAT IS ALL. So why is the opinion of the dealer selling of less value? Shouldn't they want to stand behind their product? It isn't actually good to have a dealer that is willing to put down on paper that they think the item is real and are actually guaranteeing something in that they will give money back should the item be fake. The TPAs aren't guaranteeing anything at all.

The value of any one opinion comes from 2 things. 1) your understanding of their knowledge of the subject and 2) you trusting that they opinion they are giving you is unbiased.
Well based on the number of mistakes, including obvious ones, and the fact that you do not know who is reviewing your submission, I think it is reasonable to question their expertise. Second, considering them knowingly doing things like slabbing and grading the Wagner card for their own corporate and personal benefit I think it is also reasonable to have some questions regarding their trustworthiness.
Obviously you feel differently. If you choose to trust the TPAs with items in your collections and items you buy it is certainly your right to do so.

What David said is the key,
"My philosophy is a collector shouldn't collect anything he can't authenticate himself."

If more people actually put in the time to educate themselves this whole discussion would be mute.

[packs]

I agree with your last statement. I remember not too long ago one of the TPG's started grading and auctioning their own materials and that rubbed some people the wrong way. That's the kind of issue I'm angling at when it comes to autos and dealers.