Troubling Auction Purchase

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Posted By: Jim Clarke

I will always remember a phrase that was made to me years ago from an auction company owner when I asked this question. "Do you guarentee this card to be un-altered even though it is in a holder"... His reply was "JC, let me ask you this question. If you got a card from anyone and looked at it, and found nothing wrong with it would you be happy with it?" Yes was my answer.. Then I said, if I found out later that I missed something like corners being built up, or a crease that came back after being pressed out for it to be graded, I would not. His come back was "that is why we use third party grading and all the sales are final on them" Which did not really answer my question if they would stand behind a card if the grader missed something as well.

It was very common practice in the 70's and 80's to fix and alter cards. Here are a few names of some surgeons.

Dr. Pavletic
Dr. Hager
Dr. Arnesties

There are more Doctors in the hobby, but these are the ones I know first hand...

JC