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Do we really think that with Mike Bakers history in the grading industry (already one failed company) and his close association with the hobby's biggest pariah since Bill Mastro, that the MBA sticker/grading thing will end well?

@KendallCat said:

@craig44 said:
@KendallCat

"Would love to see someone explain the downside to making more $ on cards and saving $$ by not subbing cards that are flawed."

A couple of thoughts.

1. As has been pointed out previously, the "service" provided by Mike as stated on his website is just not possible. The math doesnt math. I believe the reason he uses the figures "top 5%" and "top .01%" is to seem more authoritative. If he simply wrote that a gold stickered card "looks to us to be one of the best examples in the hobby", it would obviously not have the same gravitas as the much more authoritative "top .01% of the population." It is a sales pitch. and a fraudulent one.

2. Baker has a cloudy reputation. At best. I believe he was head grader at PSA when they graded the known trimmed wagner back in 91. he operated GAI grading. We all know about that outfit. I am not sure why anyone would want the guy who ran that place grading or opining about their cards now.

He has also brought Brent Huigens aboard in his new business. Why would you want to do business with anyone who freely associates with a person like Brent?

Is it because you may be able to make more money when you sell? Would that be why? That is sure how it appears when I read your last post.

I suppose it comes down to stuff before principles...

I think you are not only beating a dead horse on this one as others have stated, but you are making incorrect assumptions about people and their motives for what they do with their cards. First you have discussed his math and it not being possible as your first gotcha. Then you are making claims and questioning my reasons and reputation in the hobby and I am only in it for the money. Do you really want to go down that road, and I think you will find out very quickly what people in the hobby and on this board think of how I conduct myself and how i give back to the hobby.

When the MBA labels first came out and I saw them in Atlantic City several years ago I did not pay much attention to them nor use their service. I had no idea about them until I went by their booth at the National last year in Chicago and dropped off a few cards. What I found out from dealing with them is they are VERY professional and great to deal with on cards and providing advice on cards.

I don't think it is a stretch to say their service in our hobby and the industry is one of the best out there in regards to thoroughness, meeting timelines and deadlines, and overall customer service. We constantly read threads on here about grading companies, card companies, distributors... who are nightmares to deal with - this occurs daily. I was always told to judge people by how they treat me and my interactions with them, and to date I have nothing but very positive experiences with MBA and their employees and will continue to deal with them. Have you ever dealt with them on cards and their service directly? What I don't understand with your constant posting/beating a dead horse.

Is having a service with an expert in the hobby providing sound advice regarding cards and their condition a bad thing? Show me where for $10 a card and a 48 hour turnaround you can get this service?

Just like with PSA having a grade or evaluation of cards and the hobby overall assigning a higher grade to those same cards when is this a bad thing? I don't create the record sale prices, and if the hobby agreed with you why are record prices being realized on cards with silver or gold labels? People would not pay extra for a service that does not provide extra value.

Funny you mention principles above. What does it say about people who have posted multiple negative threads about the same topic over the past 3-4 months, and once the thread is open post 20%+ of all the replies in the same thread - in a thread you just started yesterday you have already posted 16 times - #obsession. Curious that If this thread dies like the one you created on the same subject back on January 5th are you going to start yet another thread on the matter?

All of these words, and yet you still did not address the very simple inquiries at the end of my post so I will ask again:

**___He has also brought Brent Huigens aboard in his new business. Why would you want to do business with anyone who freely associates with a person like Brent?

Is it because you may be able to make more money when you sell? Would that be why? That is sure how it appears when I read your last pos___t.**

To add, Mike himself has a shady reputation. You remember, starting his own grading company. Grading a bunch of trimmed cards. Said grading company failing...

Why would you want to hitch yourself to his wagon and use his services?

The only reason I can think of is monetary. You are a seasoned collector. You understand eye appeal. You do not need Mike Baker to give a 3rd opinion on a card you either already own or are looking to buy.

another question. If you believe Mike is the grading guru and his reputation is above reproach, why dont you cross all of your PSA slabs over to MBA slabs? Skip the stickers altogether and go straight to the slabs of the most trustworthy and qualified grader in all the land!

When we moved into our house about 5 years ago, slid to the back on the top storage shelf in the basement, we found a professionally shot 8x10 of the lady we bought the house from that was taken in the 90's. It was taken in Vegas and she is in sexy lingerie. When we bought the house, I thought, she probably had potential when she was in her prime (she's in her 60's at this point, which would put her in her mid 30's at that time) little did I know we'd find proof! Real funny part is, I went to high school with on of her sons back when the picture would have been taken.

We remodeled our kitchen this past fall. While a wall frame was exposed, my son joked that we should place a low grade T206 from my collection inside the wall so we can make the news in about 100 years or so. Imagine the shock of finding that in a house built in 2000.