Mastro Auction Descriptions

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Posted By: E, Daniel

Hi Paul,

I totally understand what you are saying.
But I don't feel like this is some big moral crusade or other.
It's simply about industry standards.
I also don't agree in the least that there are common alterations that a 'vast' majority are in agreeance to, newly described as 'tier one' alterations (I actually kind of like that effort Leon ), and others that are in a completely different basket. I think it would run a lot closer to 50/50 in opinion on this board re erasing pencil and any other 'minor' doctoring - and that's among a small heavily enthused board of longer time collectors who have become somewhat hardened to the realities of alterations in the hobby. Move outside our niche group, and I would be surprised if numbers didn't run closer to 90/10 against ANY kind of card altering in the wider collecting community. Certainly undisclosed altering is frowned upon in all the other major antique collectibles. You don't buy a 350 year old french cabinet that's had it's doors replaced and get told buyer beware or it's just as good as original if you couldn't tell the difference yourself.....not when you're sold something in 'original unrestored' condition. If they step up to the plate honestly and completely detail any and all restorations they are aware of, and thus expect no more that 25% the price of an un-altered example, then everyone makes their decisions fairly.

And to be honest with you (and myself) I'm under no delusions that setting a clean unambivalent standard against altering cards would end the practice, or that stocks would be erected and the tomatoes ripened in anticipation at nabbing the do-ers. However, its just like life. I tell my kid NEVER to hit his sister, even though I know he will on occasion when I'm not looking, and even when I am .
You just set the rules to be ones that seem right, and honest, and hope the majority go with the flow and do the right thing.
As it is, with the enormous amiguity as to what is even acceptable in altering cards, clearly the field would seem open to all to have-a-go-and-make-some-dough as the keys to asylum are not even pretended to be hidden.

That said, I'm with you. All my cards in SGC holders and I'll keep sending my business where I feel the guarantees are best.


Daniel