PSA SCG & BVG Graded Cards

[Leon]

1. Not sure at this point but at least at BVG you can talk to a grader.
2. All cards are suspect to me, even in holders. Or I could just turn a blind eye to the blatant fraud the TPGs aren't catching.

Originally Posted by evangeleblanc

As a part of my job, I inspect cards for authenticity. Obviously, all raw cards are looked over to a degree (naked eye, loupe, halogen light, etc), but I have seen examples of cards that have been altered recently in a way that is obvious to the naked eye, yet they still reside in a holder from one of the "Big 3".

My question is two-fold:
1. Which of the grading companies (if any) can I trust to spot an altered card?
2. Is there any trust given recent events or in general, or should I simply inspect all graded cards the same way I would raw cards?

Thanks in advance

[buymycards]

What type of job do you have that requires you to inspect cards?

Go to the Blowout forums and research the many threads on card trimming. My rough estimate is that of the cards that have been outed, PSA has 70%, Beckett 20%, and SCG 10%. Of course that probably also roughly reflects the market share of each company.

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1290614

This thread and many others.

[evangeleblanc]

Thanks all for the feedback everyone! If I understand correctly, I guess the consensus is that I should just inspect the cards regardless of their encapsulation, since grading companies miss things all the time.

I work for an auction house that sells sports cards, so one of my responsibilities is to identify fake and/or altered cards if that is sufficient explanation for why I am asking.

[Paul S]

Uh, could you establish your credentials?

[perezfan]

If he has integrity, a reference book, decent vision, a ruler, a blacklight and a microscope, then he's far ahead of the game. Much better credentials than what we have currently.

Best of luck!

[BigBeerGut]

Originally Posted by Paul S

Uh, could you establish your credentials?

Why does this person need credentials ?

Who are you Paul?

MD

[perezfan]

I'd really like to know the "credentials" of the self-appointed experts at PSA.

Whatever those credentials are, it's not helping the hobby. Their biggest credential seems to be the ability to climb in bed with "preferred" submitters.

[Johnny630]

It's really sad.... my belief is the grading companies, especially the big one on the west coast continues to thrive and blow out their numbers because most people will not pay a fair value for a vintage card unless it's slabbed. I hear so many guys say I hate to but I have to grade said card with PSA they don't sell for S in other holders or raw. Right Wrong or Indifferent that's the real, for the most part. It's not a hobby to many, it's a business or flip. Grading was supposed to the authority in determining whether a card was altered or not. Trust your eye over theirs..never trust or buy a slab buy the card.