GAI - best slab in the biz

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Posted By: Ryan Christoff

Later in the day I will post in detail about the absurd situation I am in after attempting to get a few cards graded by GAI. For now, I'll simply post an example of the magnificent job they did slabbing this card. They even managed to spell "Star" incorrectly on the label.

Keep in mind, this was one of several cards that were supposed to be graded as compensation for a card they lost. And now, after receiving this and 4 other cards that had slipped between the insert and the slab (out of a 9 card order) they can't understand why I would want a check for the value of the card they lost instead of having more cards slabbed.

I've given them every opportunity to rectify the situation, a process which originally began at the National many months ago. Later I'll be posting at length the specific details. For now, enjoy the wonders of Global slabification.

-Ryan

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Posted By: Julie

And conversely (but now that I think about it, probably just as bad), I bought a GAI 6 '53 Bowman Mantle from Shoebox, and it was so perfect, I couldn't see ANYTHING wrong with it: centering, corners, registration. Even looked at it under a loupe. I imagine consignor was ticked off at the grade and the price Shoebox subsequently charged.

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Posted By: T206 Collector

Wow. Given that they are so new to the industry, it is remarkable how well they screwed that one up. If they really want to approach PSA market share, they had better clean up their act right quick.

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Posted By: grilloj39

Again, a single instance in which a grading company messed up the slabbing process.

I have over 1,000 GAI cards in my possession and not one of them is slabbed incorrectly.

I have 1 bad label a "1972 Joe Greene" that should read "1971 Joe Greene" but that's it...one-tenth of 1 percent. I'll take my sample size over your sample size anyday.

I have several PSA c55 and c56 vintage hockey cards that are laying crooked in the slab due to the silly mylar they placed in the holder in which they thought that would do the trick as far as keeping the card straight in its holder.

Again, one badly slabbed card and now the "sky is falling for GAI."

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Posted By: B Kaz

Re-read the post, four out of nine cards submitted slipped out of the holder. I would run away as fast as I could if that happened to me. One chance to make a first impression.

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Posted By: slacks

Apparently the poster has had more than one instance of errors with GAI. But even if this were the first one, I like the idea of posting grading companies' mistakes in a forum like this.

Most regular readers of this board are able to put this complaint (which seems valid, by the way) in proper perspective, supplementing it with their own experiences and those of the other hobbyists who post here.

I hope this isn't too much of a stretch, but perhaps the grading companies are aware of these message boards and somebody will be taken to task for it, resulting in better quality control.

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Posted By: david

did they grade the card a 1.5 or is that the grade for their attempt to holder the card

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Posted By: warshawlaw

we should all focus on is what GAI does with the mistakes now. Do they follow the PSA model and deny, denounce and dissemble, or do they nut up and deal with it?

I had one problem with them (A slab was damaged in transit) and they handled it immediately and professionally.

Keep us apprised of what they do.

I am sure that people from the slabbers peruse this board and I am certain that our continuing to list the scoundrels here when they mess up is a good thing. Call it the power of the press.

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Posted By: Todd

If I read it correctly, more than half of the cards submitted were mis-holdered.

and this on the heels of them already losing your card, and "making it up to you" by providing a few free submissions. Thanks for the customer service. One might foolishly imagine that, having bungled your business once, they would take a little more care in seeing that you were satisfied the second time around.

I agree that card company errors should be reported here, and no, I do not believe the sky is falling. I will not flat out boycott this or any other grading service, but I want to see how they address their failings and shortcomings before I send any further significant business their way.

BTW, I also believe it important to hear from grilloj as to the great % of success he has had, so that perceptions are not overly skewed toward the negative.

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Posted By: botn

Adam makes a great distinction. GAI does own up to their mistakes when they occur and in many instances will go out of their way to make it right.

GAI and SGC are the only two customer service friendly grading services.

Greg

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Posted By: Julie

I've been forced to buy a number of cards in PSA holders--well,about 20 I guess- and I never saw one with a Mylar inside--including a couple of C55s. Didn't know PSA knew what Mylar WAS (if they think it's to keep cards straight in a holder, they don't).

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Posted By: grilloj39

Julie...my c55s and c56s do not have borders to keep the card steady in its holder...they have mylar. These undersized cards are in a holder designed for the standard-sized card.

This is quite common with PSA...Not only for c55 and c56 but for other odd-ball sized cards as well. (i.e. 1973 kellogg's).

I do not mind mistakes by a grading company presented on a forum as well. Obviously GAI made a mistake with this customer but they are a fine company---tops in my opinion.

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Posted By: brian p

Sorry Ryan that you have had so much trouble with this grading company (have to admit, didn't read the whole story because I am not that interested in grading company topics), but I think I might have a reason the Star Player card worked its way out of the cutout insert...Star Player cards are almost paper thin. I imagine any company's slabs would prove fairly inadequate to contain this type of thin card.

Of course this does not excuse the rest of their poor customer service. Just thought I would offer an explanation why this card would have shifted so much in its holder.

Brian

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Posted By: Ryan Christoff

Brian,

If you scroll down on the full story I posted a link to scans of a few other cards that were in the same batch.

-Ryan

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Posted By: TBob

The last batch I received had a shattered slab missing the top left upper edge and part of the left border and 4 of the 11 or 12 cards were free floating just like Ryan's. They were E94s, hardly paper thin. This had never happened before and I am wondering if they hired someone new who is sloppy or what?

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Posted By: brian p

It certainly sounds and seems like this company is getting slopping with their slabbing. I was not trying to punch any holes in your story...it sounds as if you have a dozen different reasons to be incredibly upset with this company.

My comment was just to point out that the Star Player cards are very thin, and that I can understand how difficult it would be to keep them from sliding around in a holder. As Bob mentioned, he has recently graded E94's 'floating' within their GAI holders--I personally find coffin swimmers very visually unappealing--so obviously there are problems concerning the design/sealing of their holders (not to mention their customer service--best of luck in resolving this mess).

Just out of curiosity Ryan, since I am totally unfamiliar with Cuban cards, are the two floaters you have pictured in your link on thin, regular or thick stock?

Final thought--after hearing this story, and others like it, a collector really should consider why they are getting their cards graded. Perhaps these grading companies are fine if you are interested in maximizing the dollar amount you will receive upon resale, or to authenticate cards if you are an inexperienced collector or unsure about a particular issue, and perhaps to protect them (although a screw down holder will do just as well). To an experienced, non-financially motivated collector like myself, it's just not worth either the money involved, the hassle, or the potential that your cards will get 'lost' or damaged.

Just my anti-slab rant,

Brian

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Posted By: warshawlaw

because I felt screwed every time I got a card back in one of them. My collection was pretty evenly divided between PSA and SGC slabs, for the slabbed cards. When the set registry thing started, I had to decide where to take the sets I had a realistic shot at completing. I have busted out my PSA graded boxing cards and had SGC redo them for my sets precisely because of those ugly-ass baggies.

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Posted By: Julie

.. I had one on a OJ Kelly I bought--card was just swimming in it! But the PSA 2 Cobb greenbackground was properly fitted. Since both holders are long since trash, I can't say which was slabbed first (not sure I could anyway, but maybe).

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Posted By: grilloj39

I have 80+ card shipment that's in grade verification from GAI...from 1910-1911 c56s/c55s, 1951 parkhurst, 1933 ice kings, a couple of clemente cards, and 54 topps hockey that I should get anyday now.

I will most certainly make a post to let everyone know where their any errors in card placement or text on the labels.

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Posted By: Pcelli60

I had 6 graded this summer (04). All "rattlers". Somebody at GAI cant use a ruler! A 7 slipped out of the holder in transit, and it was a T205 with a sensitive border. Really think about it before you send them you cards...

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Posted By: warshawlaw

I purchased two 1954 Bowmans they 6'd that are as perfect as any I've ever seen. I have no idea what they were thinking, but I am afraid to crack them out and afraid to send them to another grader in the holders because of the crappy rep their holders have for staying under control. Maybe I'll bring them to the National for on site regrading.