SPORTS CARD RADIO (anonymus PSA "insider")

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by WhenItWasAHobby

I'm out already and have been for quite a while.

PSA will never redress the damages done unless a court orders them to do so. If the court-ordered redress is comprehensive, it will kill PSA either by financial liability or by industry reputation.

My best guess is that PSA will weasel their way out of comprehensive legal liability with a lot of bad press and card grading will go the way of Professional Wrestling. Some consumers will buy the cards out of blissful ignorance, while the more informed will make some twisted rationalization of indifference - basically because they can't help themselves.

PSA cards will continue to sell because I don't think grading and authenticating are the most important things to their customers. What is most important to collectors is the liquidity the PSA label provides. Even if a card is trimmed or misgraded, if you buy it in a 5 holder you can sell it as a 5 every time. That label is the closest thing to a Good Housekeeping seal of approval, and we all know that a good story trumps facts.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

PSA cards will continue to sell because I don't think grading and authenticating are the most important things to their customers. What is most important to collectors is the liquidity the PSA label provides. Even if a card is trimmed or misgraded, if you buy it in a 5 holder you can sell it as a 5 every time. That label is the closest thing to a Good Housekeeping seal of approval, and we all know that a good story trumps facts.

Isn’t that sad Barry ....why is this still true ?? We know their slab label is not accurate .....

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Isn’t that sad Barry ....why is this still true ?? We know their slab label is not accurate .....

Money.

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

PSA cards will continue to sell because I don't think grading and authenticating are the most important things to their customers. What is most important to collectors is the liquidity the PSA label provides. Even if a card is trimmed or misgraded, if you buy it in a 5 holder you can sell it as a 5 every time. That label is the closest thing to a Good Housekeeping seal of approval, and we all know that a good story trumps facts.

I think that Barry is right here. I truly believe that many many people are more focused on the fact that PSA has created "the coin of the realm" as it relates to selling/trading in the today's marketplace. They are a lot less focused on accuracy and legitimacy.

[drcy]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

I think that Barry is right here. I truly believe that many many people are more focused on the fact that PSA has created "the coin of the realm" as it relates to selling/trading in the today's marketplace. They are a lot less focused on accuracy and legitimacy.

However, it takes only a large percentage of collectors to not take it as the 'coin of the realm' for the values to fall.

I expect values to fall, and there to be a substantial change to the hobby pricing.

[kailes2872]

Originally Posted by drcy

However, it takes only a large percentage of collectors to not take it as the 'coin of the realm' for the values to fall.

I expect values to fall, and there to be a substantial change to the hobby pricing.

Do you see this with only high grade cards? It seems like that is where the split really starts between raw and graded. 4-6 seem to be similar price for raw vs graded - with a small premium for the slab. Or does the tail wag the dog? i.e. the price of the graded card sets the market and the raw is a % below the graded card?

[drcy]

I didn't say where pricing would change, or that it would be across the board.

I expect the changes to happen where the number grade is a major part of the price.