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  #1  
Old 07-06-2009, 02:06 PM
spacktrack spacktrack is offline
Brian Dwyer
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Please see the below statement from Sean Skeffington, VP of Operations for SGC.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everyone,

We’ve been following the comments and questions on this issue closely, and while we cannot continue to address every question in this forum, we feel compelled to clarify a few issues.

Please understand that due to the nature of the dispute between Dave Forman and Mastro Auctions, we are not at liberty to make statements regarding the issue. What is important for us to communicate is that the dispute does not involve SGC as a company, and thus we cannot make any sort of statement, other than to express our hope that the two parties are able to resolve their differences.

However, in the course of the many online discussions, some questions about perceived inconsistencies in SGC’s company policies have come to light, and in the interest of transparency and trust, we feel compelled to comment.

First, in our continuing efforts to refine and improve our internal operations, SGC established a policy prohibiting any employee from submitting cards for grading. That policy was established in the second half of 2008. Prior to that, while there was no official company policy on the matter, it was a non-issue, since the number of cards submitted by employees was minimal. We established the policy on our own, to help eliminate the potential for impropriety.

Secondly, we feel it is important to note that as the owner of SGC, Dave Forman is not involved in the day-to-day operation of the company, and has never dictated grading policy or graded any cards submitted to SGC.

Lastly, as a grading company well-known for honoring its guarantee, we want to remind everyone that SGC continues to stand behind each and every card in an SGC holder. If, at any time, you feel that one of your cards is not accurately graded for whatever reason, we will be happy to review it for you at no charge, and as you all know, we have bought back misgraded cards in the past.

We feel that it is important to note that for the last 11 years, SGC has worked very hard to earn your trust and establish itself as the most knowledgeable, skilled grading company in the hobby. We are truly appreciative of the trust you have shown us, and we continue to work hard to earn that trust, every single day. While we understand many of the concerns that have been expressed here, we also ask you to remember that SGC still boasts the same commitment to accuracy, consistency, knowledge and customer service that you have all come to expect from us.

We appreciate your patience with our response. We also appreciate your understanding that due to the nature of this situation, we are not at liberty to discuss specifics regarding the dispute between Dave Forman and Mastro. If there are any additional questions that we can answer to help restore your confidence, please do not hesitate to call our offices.

Sincerely,

Sean Skeffington
VP of Operations
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  #2  
Old 07-06-2009, 02:29 PM
Matt Matt is offline
Matt Wieder
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spacktrack View Post
Please see the below statement from Sean Skeffington, VP of Operations for SGC.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everyone,

We’ve been following the comments and questions on this issue closely, and while we cannot continue to address every question in this forum, we feel compelled to clarify a few issues.

Please understand that due to the nature of the dispute between Dave Forman and Mastro Auctions, we are not at liberty to make statements regarding the issue. What is important for us to communicate is that the dispute does not involve SGC as a company, and thus we cannot make any sort of statement, other than to express our hope that the two parties are able to resolve their differences.

However, in the course of the many online discussions, some questions about perceived inconsistencies in SGC’s company policies have come to light, and in the interest of transparency and trust, we feel compelled to comment.

First, in our continuing efforts to refine and improve our internal operations, SGC established a policy prohibiting any employee from submitting cards for grading. That policy was established in the second half of 2008. Prior to that, while there was no official company policy on the matter, it was a non-issue, since the number of cards submitted by employees was minimal. We established the policy on our own, to help eliminate the potential for impropriety.

Secondly, we feel it is important to note that as the owner of SGC, Dave Forman is not involved in the day-to-day operation of the company, and has never dictated grading policy or graded any cards submitted to SGC.

Lastly, as a grading company well-known for honoring its guarantee, we want to remind everyone that SGC continues to stand behind each and every card in an SGC holder. If, at any time, you feel that one of your cards is not accurately graded for whatever reason, we will be happy to review it for you at no charge, and as you all know, we have bought back misgraded cards in the past.

We feel that it is important to note that for the last 11 years, SGC has worked very hard to earn your trust and establish itself as the most knowledgeable, skilled grading company in the hobby. We are truly appreciative of the trust you have shown us, and we continue to work hard to earn that trust, every single day. While we understand many of the concerns that have been expressed here, we also ask you to remember that SGC still boasts the same commitment to accuracy, consistency, knowledge and customer service that you have all come to expect from us.

We appreciate your patience with our response. We also appreciate your understanding that due to the nature of this situation, we are not at liberty to discuss specifics regarding the dispute between Dave Forman and Mastro. If there are any additional questions that we can answer to help restore your confidence, please do not hesitate to call our offices.

Sincerely,

Sean Skeffington
VP of Operations
Thank you for clarifying.
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  #3  
Old 07-06-2009, 02:41 PM
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Peter_Spaeth Peter_Spaeth is online now
Peter Spaeth
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As long as I am playing the ass**le cynic in Jeff's absence ()
1. If there was no issue then why change the policy?
2. Does the policy apply to family members?
3. I also note that Sean does not dispute anything Glyn said.
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  #4  
Old 07-06-2009, 02:51 PM
Wesley Wesley is offline
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Thanks Sean and Brian for the clarification. I am not cynical like the East Coast guys, but here are other questions that can be raised:

1. How many cards did SGC grade on behalf of David Forman from the time he took over the company until one year ago?

2. Is there any way to identify cards graded on behalf of SGC owners or SGC personnel?

3. Did the graders know that they were scrutinizing cards that belonged to their coworkers in the next cubical?

4. Did SGC owners and SGC personnel have to fill out submittal forms and place cards in CardSaver I's?
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  #5  
Old 07-06-2009, 03:06 PM
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tbob tbob is offline
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and (to add to Wesley's list):

5) Were cards owned by Forman's brother (who is reported here to be a seller of cards) graded by SGC?
6) Did the graders know that these were his brother's cards before grading (a follow-up on Glyn's comment)?

As to the issue of the actual graders at SGC, I have (like others) disagreed on occasional grades received in the past but have always found the guys who grade to be top-notch and very cordial when I have met them at the National.
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  #6  
Old 07-06-2009, 03:21 PM
wondo wondo is offline
John Wondowski
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I gotta believe that when I walk up to the SGC booth at a show, fill out an invoice and give them my cards that the grader may/can see me - especially when a grader comes out and asks a question.

Anonymity is not the issue, favoritism is. One might argue that anonymity guarantees non-bias treatment, but I say that professionalism is more likely to lead to equitable grading. It comes down to trust; everything else is like living is Neverland (apologies for the MJ reference). I trust the three big grading companies.
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  #7  
Old 07-06-2009, 05:35 PM
botn botn is offline
Greg Schwartz
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Not sure I have any more of an issue with Dave having cards graded by his own company, SGC, than his having cards graded with PSA. My trouble is that Dave should not be dealing cards any longer. If he did submit cards to SGC I would like to believe they were graded in accordance with SGC's polices. My fear is that he was supposed to have divested his collection or at the very least stopped selling cards so it begs the question as to how far he went. Yet this clearly is not the case and not what the public was lead to believe. It is Dave's company. As I asked yesterday, what are the checks and balances that are in place? What prevents Dave from grading his own stuff?


Greg

Last edited by botn; 07-06-2009 at 09:27 PM.
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  #8  
Old 07-06-2009, 06:41 PM
JamesGallo JamesGallo is offline
James Gallo
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spacktrack View Post
Please see the below statement from Sean Skeffington, VP of Operations for SGC.

Secondly, we feel it is important to note that as the owner of SGC, Dave Forman is not involved in the day-to-day operation of the company, and has never dictated grading policy or graded any cards submitted to SGC.

Sean Skeffington
VP of Operations
This is what I have been trying to get out through out this thread and perhaps it was lost in the length of Sean's comments.

Dave does not impact any grading, he does not grade, therefore if you trust the graders then it is a non issue.

Peter, I am not saying I know any facts that is the problem, just because Glyn made one comment about the issue does not mean that all the facts have been presented. I assume we won't hear anything further from Glyn so as to avoid him opening up any other pandora boxes. I don't believe Glyn was doning anything else but commenting on his view of things and certainly was not trying to do harm although some may have turned it into that.

I agree there are a lot of other questions but since we don't even have the most basic facts
1) what did Dave have graded
2) did he sell cards he had graded
3) what he bought
4) what he sold

I don't see how anyone can come to the mind set that Dave and SGC did wrong.

As I said I will stand by SGC because even if a grader did happen to know a card was Dave's I don't think they would have acted any different and that is what I expect, want and pay for.

James G
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  #9  
Old 07-06-2009, 06:56 PM
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Peter_Spaeth Peter_Spaeth is online now
Peter Spaeth
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Depending on the level of detail in the Complaint, we MAY know soon at least what lots Dave purchased that he didn't pay for. I doubt we will ever know what he sold, or what he had graded, or the true extent of what he bought.

To me, creating the appearance of impropriety, even if there wasn't any actual impropriety, is sin enough, particularly in this business. I am sure others will share that view and others like yourself will not, which is fine.
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