What is Your Opinion About Grading?

[Tcards-Please]

Originally Posted by Leon

Alan- I removed your double posts. No worries...


For the record BVG Does offer an authentication ONLY service for cards that are not altered in any way and they don't receive a number. The only problem is that AUT cards now have a black mark against them because of perception and a lot/most folks don't know of their service, so if you get it done folks might think something is wrong with the card when it isn't. regards

Leon,
It would be great if BVG could distinguish between an Altered Authentic and an Authentic that would normally warrant a numerical grade. I think the easiest way to do that since they have numerous altered cards already encased is to list the ones that could receive a numerical grade as "AUT -No Alteration".

Just my .02 cents

r/
Frank

[Leon]

Originally Posted by T's please

Leon,
It would be great if BVG could distinguish between an Altered Authentic and an Authentic that would normally warrant a numerical grade. I think the easiest way to do that since they have numerous altered cards already encased is to list the ones that could receive a numerical grade as "AUT -No Alteration".

Just my .02 cents

r/
Frank

Hey Frank
Since their Director of Grading is a good board member maybe he will take it to their committee and make that happen. I see no downside and ALL updside. Next time he and I go to lunch (we go every now and then) I will ask him, and a few of their other graders, about it. Great idea...

[ChiefBenderForever]

I think many traditional collectors had a hard time accepting the whole grading thing and some never will. I know I did, but after getting screwed on many overgraded raw cards and even a few fake ones I started to pick up graded examples. At first I cracked them all out, and many people still do. Atleast if you buy a graded card and crack it out you have a pretty good idea of what the card is supposed to be. It's sad you have to buy a graded card to crack it out because you can't trust a sellers description because everyones opinion varies and all the cheeseballs out there. Now it's gotten to the point where if you don't know the seller, and the card isn't graded you have to really wonder if there is something wrong with it, esp with pre war stuff. It is what it is.

[tedzan]

Nicely done, however, your 2nd Q....."I think TPG is important but it definitely needs an overhaul".....is somewhat ambiguous.
Although, it has garnered the highest response (36%), I would not view this response as a totally affirmative support for TPG.
Due to the operative wording in this question...."definitely needs overhaul".

If all those that responded to this one were further queried, I can bet you that a certain percentage of them would revise their
vote in favor of your #3 question.

Therefore, it is incorrect (and unrepresentative) to combine the current results of Q's #1 and #2 to suggest that 53% favor TPG.

At best, this poll indicates that there is a 50-50 split of those who favor TPG versus those who have serious problems with TPG,
or downright dislike TPG.


TED Z

[ChrisStufflestreet]

I can't vote. I don't collect TPG cards and would likely free any cards I do pick up from their plastic tombs, but I don't really hate the concept. Which could mean that I've learned to live with them, but that's not an entirely accurate assessment either.

It is what it is.

[barrysloate]

Ted- I agree with you that there is some ambiguity regarding choice #2. I'm sure some who voted feel TPG only needs a few small tweaks, while others think it is a big mess- and everything in between. I didn't put a great amount of thought into the questions and only wanted to conduct the poll as a general survey. What is clear to me is a large number of collectors are not completely satisfied with it. I only hope the graders are reading this (I'm sure they are) and continue to work to put out a better product.

[teetwoohsix]

I voted for option # 1 because it is a grading service.Not only will they let you know if it's been altered,restored,trimmed,etc., they will give it a grade,according to their criteria,and slab it for you. So, I feel they have a system in place that works,for the most part. If you like raw cards, by all means, collect them that way!!! No one is forcing you to do otherwise.

Am I saying the system is perfect with no flaws? NO. As has been said before,it is people doing the grading,so of course it won't be perfect.

It seems like the biggest issues are consistency,crossovers,people not getting the grade they expected,pop reports (not being accurate),and what grading has done to the prices.I could've easily picked option #2,because they do need to improve (tweak) some things- but what else would be better than a ten point grading system? If you only used Authentic or Altered,you would still have dealers saying "this card is EX to Mint",,only to have the card arrive and be VG.There is no better safegaurd when buying over the internet than buying graded cards-and most of the stuff we collect has to be bought over the internet,or at card shows in other states.How many times do you want to get burned? If it were a perfect world,and there were no scam artists, maybe we wouldn't need anything more than a protective case,right?

There is no wrong answer on this poll,it's all about preferance.I don't always agree with a grade on the slab,or how one TPG's 4 is another's 3,etc.,but no one is forcing me to use them either.You should be buying the card and not the grade-just use the given grade as the example.And if all cards mean to you are a $$$ sign,well...................

Sincerely,Clayton