Card Improvment: Ethical? Yes or NO?

[Bamacollection]

Barry- I see your point. I also believe that alot of the high end collectors, especially regisrtry guys, could care less how the card became said grade. I think it's more about competition with them. Kind of like killing a monster white tail in a petting zoo...you can leave the zoo part out of the hunting story and still show your buddies the deer. The cards have become little holdered trophies for the cardboard safari hunters. Just look at the "Holy Grail"...

[barrysloate]

I'm not sure the registry people would be all that happy if they believed that what they were buying was altered. That has nothing to do with competition. Nobody likes to feel they are being ripped off.

[FrankWakefield]

Well now they'd not exactly be ripped off, the card slab still has the grade on there that the registry collector was concerned about.

[Bamacollection]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

Well now they'd not exactly be ripped off, the card slab still has the grade on there that the registry collector was concerned about.

Exactly! Unless they crack the card out, it still retains the grade and value. The slabs have become a bomb shelter for alot of cards. How many times have you re-submitted a rejected card and had it slabbed either by the same company or a different service? Do you disclose that the card had been rejected prior to being slabbed or do you think "I knew I wasa right" and sell without disclosure?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by FrankWakefield

Well now they'd not exactly be ripped off, the card slab still has the grade on there that the registry collector was concerned about.

I have to agree with Frank on this one. Since the difference between an 8 and an 8.5 or 9 is so minimal I too think it's more about the number on the slab than the card in the holder, for the registry collectors (maybe I am wrong but this is how I see it). Hopefully they would even agree. After all, the cards in those grades are almost exactly the same. Any layperson could barely, if at all, tell the difference. Heck, I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable but can barely tell an 8.5 from a 9.....regards

[barrysloate]

Dick- correct me if I am wrong, but on the memorabilia side of the board didn't you discuss you have a product that removes ink from baseballs, as well as one that removes creases from cards?

[DICKTOWLE]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Dick- correct me if I am wrong, but on the memorabilia side of the board didn't you discuss you have a product that removes ink from baseballs, as well as one that removes creases from cards?

Barry, I can remove ink from baseballs- but I won't, this is my process, all that was ever intended was to remove a bad autograph- however as I said there is to "evil" out there, so why ??. I would be better to leave this alone, as far as my solvents for wrinkles, I have my chemistry from 16 years, nothing is sold, again if there is a crease with paper broken, the crease remains always. I never sold anything and never will. . My solvents are used for glue,tape,contact cement, indents, cards that are warped. NO CREASES thank you again Sir

[Rob D.]

I'm just glad I don't seek to acquire the "finest examples extant" of a card.

The sea of mediocrity in which I swim feels a bit more warm and soothing today.

That said, I still trust no one.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Dick, what's the biggest grade bump you have attained for someone, at least as far as you know?

[botn]

Dan,

Very impressive investigation! Also quite amazed by the quality of the work performed on those cards. Scary time to be a collector if what you truly seek is original and authentic material.

Greg

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by botn

Dan,

Very impressive investigation! Also quite amazed by the quality of the work performed on those cards. Scary time to be a collector if what you truly seek is original and authentic material.

Greg

Aw shucks what's a little trimming and corner work among friends?

[DICKTOWLE]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Dick, what's the biggest grade bump you have attained for someone, at least as far as you know?

Peter, I really don't know, but if you have a T205 that a "dealer painted all the corners to cheat a customer the card would be "A". If the card were to grade with the integrety in place above a "A" with now chipping on the corners that is truly a blessing for a customer because that would be the real grade. Most of my customers are collectors just tring to remove junk. Thank you Peter

[Peter_Spaeth]

Nice example Dick but perhaps you should have offered this one instead.

I just completed a Mickey Mantle rookie for another prominent dealer down in Florida. It had terrible stains on the back and we got the stains off. He said the card would probably get a “lock 8.” But it wouldn’t get it with the stains on it. He’s as happy as a bullfrog.