A Modest Proposal

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

LOL I appreciate it but it was never mine, I was asked to join someone who was in a position to start one. I'm hoping he follows through, but I think the start-up and marketing costs are daunting.

[wondo]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

LOL I appreciate it but it was never mine, I was asked to join someone who was in a position to start one. I'm hoping he follows through, but I think the start-up and marketing costs are daunting.

I hear ya, but that's my point. We see a "better" way, but we want someone else to bear the cost while we stand on our soapbox. Free market will determine service / price level.
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[bounce]

As of right now, I don't believe enough people are willing to pay for reliability in grading. PSA would never do this because it would cost them revenue, and the overwhelming number of collectors wouldn't be willing to pay more for the security.

I like where your thoughts are, but the economics just don't add up until there's some sort of "technology" element that makes it better AND cheaper.

[hcv123]

Scott - The idea would certainly leave the marketplace moving forward in better shape than it is in now - even with some of the pointed out "loopholes" and "imperfections". Far from perfect - but a large improvement.

Mark - The only weakness I see in your plan is the lack of numeric grading - There are too many in the marketplace that use the numeric grades as competition to be the best (think set registry and "buy the holder not the card) - take the numeric grading away and you lose that competitive factor which I believe is the one point of differentiation that has PSA so far ahead of the other grading companies. So, keep the numeric grading - add all of the other points of scrutiny.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Well it wouldnt be hard to get an 'extra sticker' that says that a 5k card or more past sales search was done to see if any possible altered card. The search can name all of the searches and name all the websites/auction etc that would check

I chose 5k as an arbitrary number

[bbcard1]

I don't do much with TGC. I have never submitted a card directly, own a few, but will generally crack them to put into my binders.

I think the answer is a new grading company with very high standards in terms of ethics and reasonable funding. That is doable. If a credible name was associated with it and the pricing reasonable, it could catch on. There are a ton of superior marketing angles that could be employed and technology to determine trims and centering could be integrated. It could be great.

If such a company were to be founded, the existing card companies would throw everything they could at them to discredit them. It would be an absolute sh•tshow.