PSA Set Registry Requests

FB

Guys,

I was just floating around the PSA website and happened to go in to the PSA Set Registry Request Page.
When the registry kicked off a year ago, the sets that were on there were 1965 Topps Baseball, 1970 Topps Baseball, 1972 Topps Football and so on and so forth. A few months after that - I believe that it was Halleygator who was the driving force behind the Hall of Fame Registry. Shortly after that - player and team set registry requests started coming in. These have all been great!!!!

But, as I've been going through some of the other posts, I'm realizing that as BJ has mentioned - there are 3 people working on the registry. The more we ask to have created - the more that has to be maintained, upgraded and watched over.

There are currently 108 different sets that have been created for the Registry that have 0 (zero) participants!!! There are 114 that have only one (1) registered set. And I'm guilty too... I'm the only particpant in the 72 OPC Baseball registry. And looking over the list of sets being requested - there are still some valid sets on the list and some others that will join the 108 when the are completed. Is this the best use of the valuable PSA Set Registry resources? Every moment spent working on a request for 1989 Topps Baseball (sorry 89 Topps fans) is time away from automating the registry for Pop report updates or other work that would benefit many more Set Registry participants.

What I'm looking for are some ideas on how BJ can seperate the wheat from the chaff - the real requests from the "oh wouldn't this be neat" whim.

Any ideas would be appreciated - Thanks.

NickM

I would give priority to registering real sets, as opposed to particular collecting fashions. As for actually having people register their sets once the set gets listed, PSA does send out emails to the requesters. I'm not sure what else they can reasonably do.

Nick

FB

I was thinking a credit card # that would be used to pay for work done if it didn't have 3 sets listed within the first month of completion.

Heck - if they created a Registry Forum Poll with all of the different sets on the request list and ask people to take part. The sets with the highest polling should be the priority.

I'd just like to see fewer niche requests - unless there are really 3 or 4 people planning to participate. I can put an entry in for "Starting All Star 2nd Basemen of the 20th century". If I could float it to the top - I could keep BJ busy for a month or more for something that I may or may not particpate in once its completed.

RayBShotz

Frank - Are you saying you want to pay PSA for maintaining your 72' OPC set?... pay or have the whole 72' OPC database deleted from registry?
I am sure PSA will have to address this one soon.
The next logical step for a "internet business" would be to eventually charge a monthly fee for registry services. I would not necessarily be an advocate of such a charge because I do believe that the registry in and of itself brings added business but you would have to ask yourself the question:
Do you get enough enjoyment out of the whole concept to make it worthwhile paying a nominal monthly fee to use all the registry services?
I am sure for many the answer would be "OK", with the key word being nominal.
Food for thought.
Interesting post Frank.
RayB69Topps

mikeschmidt

If they charged for the Registry -- I would only pay if all collectors registered their set (which would not happen).

Otherwise, I would perhaps pay once a year to look at it. Honestly -- I am happy with my sets for my own personal reasons. The competition can be fun and interesting -- but not so much so that I would pay to partake. I am a collector first -- and I don't need to pay a Registry to tell me how good (or bad) my sets are.

FB

Ray,

Actually, as I was trolling through the low pop sets - I noticed my 72 OPC so I figured I'd better address it before someone else did.

On the other side of the coin - the entries are really a subset of 72 Topps 1 - 525 versus 1 - 787 and I did the weighting on it. So, there wasn't much to be done beyond uploading it.

But, I really think that people can keep BJ busy for the next year coming up with new variations, subsets and sets where cards are graded 10 per month. If many of these new requests are for 1 person - either they should:

1. do the work themselves and hand it over to the registry staff
2. get a couple others to agree to participate
3. wait until their request gets a greater following

I'm all for new entries - but if I requested a Jesse Orosco Player set and got a couple of others to request it as well. There should be some way to ensure that we'll use it once its complete.

Just my 2 cents.

boggs301012

Some sets take more time for collectors to take the jump. I know of another Boggs set that was submitted over a week ago and it hasnt shown up. I know of another collector that will list his in the future. The player sets are "new" I was the First to get one and am proud of that and the work that was done. I always thank BJ whenever I ask something and havent complained when it takes longer. And it takes ahile to get the Raw cards. Go over them and then get the funds and then submit. I am submitting a few card for the 80's special it has taken me a week and I am still one or 2 days away from going to the postoffice with them. Bottom line it is going to take time....Build it and they will come.

Basilone

<< <i>There are 114 that have only one (1) registered set >>


Dont worry Frank...we're just waiting till we hit 75% before we register!

John

Alfiewt

I think PSA should require everyone that submits a request for a set to also supply a few cert. #'s from cards in their set. I'm sick of seeing sets added to the registry and then nobody adding a set. There are people who have waited a long time to be able to register their set, I'm sure they are sick of seeing sets added to the registry that nobody registers a set for. I have no problem with sets that only have one person registering a set. If you have a set that you have put alot of work into, you should be able to register it. It shouldn't matter how popular that set is.

theBobs

<< <i>I'm sick of seeing sets added to the registry and then nobody adding a set. >>



They are all waiting to hit 75% prior to registering the set. I think John already mentioned this...

Alfiewt

Frank,
Even though you have the only 1972 OPC set registered, I enjoy looking at it and seeing your progress. I think it's great that you decided to tackle the OPC set too.

There are a few sets on the request list (1910 T220 Mecca Boxing ,1887 Allen & Ginter N28 Misc ,1887 Kimball Champions N184 ) that I'm looking forward to seeing hit the registry, but most of the sets on the list are modern sets. I doubt that most of these sets have people that are trying to complete these sets in graded form. Other then two team sets, there are no pre 1980 baseball sets on the request list. (the N28 and N184 sets are multisport sets)

FB

Boggsie,

I'm hoping that you're right. I'd love to see more of the sets go from zero or 1 to even 2 or 3.

Ray - nope - not looking to pay for it. The set registry has been the reason that commons grading has jumped dramatically. If the registry went away or was too high priced - commons for the most part would stay ungraded. Maybe if the fee included some additional services (insurance maybe) or if the fee was some minor amount ($20 per member - not set - per year) I'd be willing.

John, PSA1965 - I've heard enough about the 5 free grades to last a lifetime. To be honest - I wish that they just did away with it. Heck - it cost $13.50 to get the 5 free gradings shipped back! Thats almost $2.75 per free graded card!

And Alfiewt - I think that you've hit upon something. Anyone requesting a new set has to supply 3 cert numbers from that set for it to be even considered.

dom

Frank, you sure took your sweet time putting up (84D) Larry Herndon. What could possibly have been more important?

boggs301012

FB low and behold that other Boggs set appeared. At least there is 2 sets going.

Vargha

I think PSA should require everyone that submits a request for a set to also supply a few cert. #'s from cards in their set. I'm sick of seeing sets added to the registry and then nobody adding a set.

My thoughts exactly -- you beat me to it. How about an additional condition that it be 10 cert #'s and PSA will load them in so that when the set hits the Registry it already has a participant? The set owner can provide the set name and description via e-mail so it can be "copy and pasted" into the Registry.

calleocho

i thought PSA had some new rules that will eliminate many of the current problems... if i remember correctly it was something to the tune of eliminating some registered sets due to inactivity in a period of time (6 months). my guess would be that some sets would get yanked if no one registers a set.

some sets are just not that popular...so there might be just one set registered ... i think that it would be nice for the collector to showcase his/her set regardless of how popular the set itself is.

also i started my set w/ just one card , mostly to try it out and now i have over 7 % complete.

time itself will get rid of those sets w/ no registered sets or very few % complete.

i hope they wont get too picky over this... not everybody has vargha- bucks and sometimes it just takes a while to complete a set.

i would to see psa countinue to take a very simple approach to the registry...i would hate to carefully read the fine print on every new rule.........................Ethan

LuxuryWines

I agree I f you want to register a set the person requesting the set has to submit 10% or more of the set in cert#'s or in submission forms to get that set registered. Furthermore if a person requests a set and does not register they should not be allowed to request new sets until they register the original set.....

RayBShotz

Frank - As Alfiewt pointed out; I too like to track the progress of sets such as your 72OPC. I would hate to see PSA take it down because of infrequent additions. Your 72' OPC set was partially the inspiration for my 69' OPC set beginnings. As you did, I supplied the weightings to try an ease the prep work for PSA. Because these OPC cards are so difficult to come by in decent condition and so infrequently are offered on ebay my additions will be slow to this particular set also.
I'm with you on the free grading issue; enough said, let it die.
By the way, let me know when I can expect to enter my Jesse Orosco cards in your requested set......Oh you mean you changed your mind......Its what?........ Screwball Throwing Lefthanded Relievers who Pitched Into Their 40's Set........Great Idea !!!! :-)

RayB69Topps

FB

Ray,

If I remember the conversation correctly, then the plan was to remove all SETS from the registry that were not above 10% AND didn't have any updates over the last 6 or 12 months. So, I believe that my 72 OPC is safe for the moment. Plus, I have a raw 72 OPC set that I've been upgrading for about a year that I may bust up and start sending in for the next 60, 70 and 80's special.

It wouldn't make sense to "take down" registries for specific sets just because no one has entered anything yet. They've already done the work. I'm betting the reason that they're thinking of removing the stagnant low percentage sets is for storage. If you click on a my 71 set - I'm currently at 4% or 5% but it still has to show 752 cards whether I have 30 of them or 700 of them. So, I'm betting that they're storing the same size file for every set - the only difference is how much of the contents is blank.

NickM

Vargha - there are Fleer basketball sticker sets listed that consist of 11 cards total. Your standard would mean that people would have to have virtually the complete set to list anything.
There is also one important vintage set (1951 Topps Current All-Stars) which consists of 11 cards, with 3 of those cards being almost impossible to find. Without looking at a population report, I doubt if PSA has even graded all the cards from that set. While that set hasn't been listed, it has been requested. A 10 certification # requirement would essentially eliminate the ability of anyone to list that set.
I do like the idea that if you have requested a set and not listed your set after that set has been added, that further set requests from you be ignored.

Nick

Vargha

How's this for a great response? Thanks again BJ!

David,

I gave this suggestion some serious thought and felt that it really was an idea with merit. I have been getting a lot of bogus requests lately and although requiring 3 cert nos. will not totally elminate the problem, I feel that it will greatly reduce it. The request form has been changed to reflect the 3 card requirement.

Thanks for the great idea.

BJ

carkim

Vargha,

Nice job...I hope this helps.

Carlos

carkim

NEW FORM>>>


Please check the Set Registry to be certain your requested set is not already online. Fill in the form completely, listing the year and company where applicable in the Set Description field. Example: 1952 Topps, 1986-87 Fleer, Mickey Mantle Player Set, etc. Please remit one form per set. In order to add a set to the request list, you must supply the certification numbers of three PSA-graded cards that you own and will be adding to the set once the set composition is online. You will be notified by email when the set composition in online. Thank you.

Category: Baseball Basketball Football Hockey Miscellaneous
Set Description:
Your Name:
Your Email:
Certification #1:
Certification #2:
Certification #3:


Link to new form.

Alfiewt

Great job Vargha

Hopefully now we won't see any more sets like 1967 Topps Test Discs (only has 2 cards graded in the entire set) added to the registry, so sets that people are actually collecting get added instead. Plus, no more people requesting whole sets be added so the can list just one card.