What is your opinion on TPA's?

[rand1com]

Originally Posted by theshleps

I have had the opportunity to know some of the top authenticators and spend time with them and learn from them. At last a few of them know alot more than me. many questions still remain
1- when we send something in we do not know which authenticators look at your item, how many look, how much time they spend looking.
if I knew only the top guys would look and take all the necessary time they need, I'd be great
.
Unfortunately that cannot be guaranteed as the demand for authentication outweighs the number of experts that do it for a living.
Again if you need to sell and use an auction house TPAs are required and PSA slabbed typically will go for more than the others. In some ways I wished we turned back the clock but that is in many things in todays world

I agree we do not know who looks at our items. And like you, I have a lot of confidence in the senior authenticators at all 3 major 3rd parties, but they have to hire trainees just like the card grading companies do and they are no better than anyone else who starts with no real knowledge. I know that the 3rd parties for the most part when they authenticate at shows send pics of most of the autographs(especially the high dollar ones) to the senior guys. Sometimes, they take the item back with them if there is any question. They really try to do their best and we all know they sometimes miss the mark. Overall, they have greatly improved the autograph market in my opinion.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by rand1com

I agree we do not know who looks at our items. And like you, I have a lot of confidence in the senior authenticators at all 3 major 3rd parties, but they have to hire trainees just like the card grading companies do and they are no better than anyone else who starts with no real knowledge. I know that the 3rd parties for the most part when they authenticate at shows send pics of most of the autographs(especially the high dollar ones) to the senior guys. Sometimes, they take the item back with them if there is any question. They really try to do their best and we all know they sometimes miss the mark. Overall, they have greatly improved the autograph market in my opinion.

+1.

[ThomasL]

I dont put much weight in them at all. I know collectors that have far better knowledge and comp libraries. Kevin Keating at PSA is a good judge IMO but I have no idea how you could know he looked at a submission or someone else. JSA is usually good IMO. Beckett is the worst (least reliable).

Again there are collectors that are far better judges so save your money

[theshleps]

Originally Posted by ThomasL

I dont put much weight in them at all. I know collectors that have far better knowledge and comp libraries. Kevin Keating at PSA is a good judge IMO but I have no idea how you could know he looked at a submission or someone else. JSA is usually good IMO. Beckett is the worst (least reliable).

Again there are collectors that are far better judges so save your money

Thomas I agree with your assessment and I put Bill Corcoran up there with keating and they at least when they evaluated my collection needed confirmation from both of them on the high dollar items

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by ThomasL

I know collectors that have far better knowledge and comp libraries.

Those guys must have some collections!

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

My time in this hobby predates the TPAs. I've also worked as a TPA and ultimately left that to deal in autographs. I miss the pre-TPA era, where much more emphasis was placed on personal responsibility and knowledge. Forcing us to fend for ourselves, it made us stronger and more independent. The reputable dealers were honorable if something they sold later turned out to be amiss. You quickly learned who to deal with and who to avoid, and it was your own damned fault if you continued to roll the dice with dealers of questionable repute.

Since leaving the TPA end of the industry many years ago, I've had practically no need of their services. I can sell my material without slabs, stickers and LOAs. Granted, the majority of what I deal in is not your usual Mantle/Williams/DiMaggio/Jeter, etc. I'm not suffering as a result of not spending undue funds for outside opinions; I'm perfectly comfortable with my own thoughts and feelings on the subject, thanks very much.

Granted, when it comes to big ticket, HOF items, you're going to maximize your potential profit by utilizing the services of a TPA. In those cases, the no-brainer solution is to simply talk to a sampling of your favorite auction houses to see who can make you the best offer for the sale of your material and cost to you (if any) for TPA authentication. Leave it to them and wash your hands of the often-convoluted, costly and lengthy TPA process when done on your own. Sit back and wait to collect your check after the auction. Keep it simple and keep costs and headaches down!

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by BillyCoxDodgers3B

My time in this hobby predates the TPAs. I've also worked as a TPA and ultimately left that to deal in autographs. I miss the pre-TPA era, where much more emphasis was placed on personal responsibility and knowledge. Forcing us to fend for ourselves, it made us stronger and more independent. The reputable dealers were honorable if something they sold later turned out to be amiss. You quickly learned who to deal with and who to avoid, and it was your own damned fault if you continued to roll the dice with dealers of questionable repute.

Since leaving the TPA end of the industry many years ago, I've had practically no need of their services. I can sell my material without slabs, stickers and LOAs. Granted, the majority of what I deal in is not your usual Mantle/Williams/DiMaggio/Jeter, etc. I'm not suffering as a result of not spending undue funds for outside opinions; I'm perfectly comfortable with my own thoughts and feelings on the subject, thanks very much.

Granted, when it comes to big ticket, HOF items, you're going to maximize your potential profit by utilizing the services of a TPA. In those cases, the no-brainer solution is to simply talk to a sampling of your favorite auction houses to see who can make you the best offer for the sale of your material and cost to you (if any) for TPA authentication. Leave it to them and wash your hands of the often-convoluted, costly and lengthy TPA process when done on your own. Sit back and wait to collect your check after the auction. Keep it simple and keep costs and headaches down!

Of course, not everybody likes, nor has any use for, TPA services. But it does seem the market has spoken decisively as to their utility. They have also broadened that market considerably, I'd guess.

[mrmopar]

There are always new people entering the market. Maybe it is the broader exposure of facebook groups, but it just seems to me that more and more people have entered in the last 3-5 years that know absolutely nothing. They rely on the certificates and authenticators and complete strangers opinions in online groups to guide them.

I am in a group that helps ID signatures and some of the stuff being posted is laughable. It seems to be people buying random stuff from thrift stores, garage sales, online market places, etc and then running over to this group to get the signatures identified, so they can probably turn around and sell for a profit, all the while not knowing a damn thing about what they are doing.

When you ask who signed a baseball that may or may not have a legible signature, but there there is a "HOF 62" or "NL ROY 1995" inscription, well I am not sure what I can say about your ability/knowledge that is anything other than disparaging.

I would have liked to see card makers get involved in the certified autograph craze sooner. I love that aspect of collecting more than just about anything anymore. We missed the boat (except for buyback cuts) on a lot of great players unfortunately, so I guess that helps to add comfort to signatures from guys like that who died before certification was a thing.