Love this thread. Gotta agree with Alan. Though I'll go out and buy other companies graded cards, I end up breaking them out and submitting them to PSA. Not so much because I'm a fan of theirs (I'm not particularly), but because I'm a creature of habit and consistency. Since they were the most prevalent and common form of graded cards in the late 90s when I started collecting my 1950 Bowman set, that's what I'd like to display my set as. As collectors of cards, we're all concerned about how a card 'looks'. And sadly enough, with all this business of grading (I like it simply because it's a money maker when I can submit a NRMT/MINT vintage card, sell it for a lot of money, and buy back a much cheap EX condition card) I've become a collector of the PSA holders as well- not just the cards themselves. Whew* which is why I'm downgrading my set to PSA 5s for the HOFers and raw VG/EX to EX for the others!
I jumped in late on this one and I've read some interesting statements. I agree that it's healthy for PSA to have some competition. If they didn't, we may still be paying $17 to have star cards graded and wait 3 months for them to arrive.
I don't know why people feel so threatened by GAI. They've done a few things right, but their biggest problem is getting hobby-wide acceptance and they'll have a hard time pulling away a lot of PSA Registry Members including myself.
People use a certain grading company for a number of reasons: grading expertise, guarantee on their grades and re-sale value of their cards. The last factor (re-sale value) is what has made PSA so strong in the vintage market and SGC and GAI have fallen far behind in this area -- in my opinion.
I also think Steve Rocchi has taken a lot more flack than deserved. First, he's responsible more than anyone else in the hobby for the graded card concept being widely accepted. When he started PSA, he wasn't the first grading company on the block, but he kept PSA going through some lean times and PSA was the first company to gain major acceptance in the hobby. There have been some stories about Rocchi's unethical conduct (most of which has come from a very dubious source). I've heard scary stories about SGC and Beckett too. Are they true? I really don't know. It's impossible to police any grading company so the bottom line is YOU have to have the final say if the holder matches the card. If it doesn't can the company fix the problem to the customer's satisfaction. I have bought GAI and SGC cards for cross-over purposes. The results were mixed, but it worked out OK overall. I even had GAI buy back a card and it went very smooth. Perhaps smoother than what I've heard with people's experience with PSA and SGC.
3 months was a great turn around...... My average was 6 and had a few invoices take 9 months.....and I live in Southern California to boot. A few years ago I felt completely taken advantage of by PSA. I guess this was the Rocci/Baker era of we give the dealer priority service and the collector dollar was from a 2nd class citizen. Quite honestly I didn't know who the players were at PSA, and I didn't care, I enjoyed the hobby for what it was. Now I have nothing against Rocci or Baker, but since they left it seems to be a more of a level playing field.
Erik
1972 Topps Baseball PSA 8 or higher/1978 Topps Baseball PSA 9 or higher.
Great catch. I wish I would have thought of it when I saw Mike B at the GAI table last month at the Ft. Washington show.
They must have reconsidered the concept of a rival registry. Maybe they are contemplating a co-op registry, where any GAI or PSA slab can be added. This would appeal to those set collectors who have both and do not want to spend additional $$ for re-holdering or crossover.
Scoop, this thread was actually brought to my attention. I was looking forward to an interactive registry but I do not understand for the life of me how a company can continue to say the registry will be live next Monday.
Same thing goes for their website. The shows are from 2003, and there is a lack of substance that even small time hobbyists have. I recently bought a few cards from PSA/GAI dealers and I wonder what they are thinking. One nameless person has been waiting for over 2 months to receive his membership. He just found out that it has been sitting on Danny's desk for a month. That was about 10 days ago, and he still does not have it - wow.
<< <i>.......how a company can continue to say the registry will be live next Monday. >>
<< <i>The shows are from 2003, and there is a lack of substance that even small time hobbyists have >>
I agree 1420. Reasoning would indicate that when things seem so obviously wrong, there might be things going on behind the scenes we are unaware of at GAI. They are doing damage, as we type, by not correcting such obvious issues.
I was willing to try their products, as I'm comfortable with 'the big 3 companies', but this continuing saga of outdated promises, times, and dates has left me wondering if I really want to bother.............
I talked to Mike Baker at the Hollywood Park show. He acknowledged that giving a time was the wrong thing to do. I was told that they are having problems getting the card values to total correctly. He said that they read all of the boards and are happy to see that they are mentioned. When some one has a problem that is posted, he said that they contact that person and try to get it corrected. The "pre-grade" that they do was an idea that someone posted on one of the boards.
My sources tell me there will be a big announcement on Monday. Or it may be the following Monday since this Monday is Flag Day and they may not want to overshadow that day of observation.
where a New Member (JERO) actually said, (referring to a GAI representative at a show) "she gave me a flyer explaining how they are starting their own registry including PSA, SGC, and GAI cards in one master registry"
If GAI or SGC would have the cards I am looking for in the condition I am looking for at the price I am willing to pay, I would be more than happy to have their cards. More often than not, however, I've struck out in several of those "wants".
I wouldn't mind building a mixed set, but for the hockey stuff I'm looking for, the supply in GAI amd SGC just isn't there.
Checked out the GAI website tonight. After 1+ years of work 2 registry sets are verified and 1 of the sets contains 1 card.
I guess its a start. No scans or explanation as to why a complete 1957 Topps set gets a score of 13?. Available sets can be viewed on the "rules" page. Baseball only.
collecting '67 & '75 red sox + baseball HOF autographs
Comments
I don't know why people feel so threatened by GAI. They've done a few things right, but their biggest problem is getting hobby-wide acceptance and they'll have a hard time pulling away a lot of PSA Registry Members including myself.
People use a certain grading company for a number of reasons: grading expertise, guarantee on their grades and re-sale value of their cards. The last factor (re-sale value) is what has made PSA so strong in the vintage market and SGC and GAI have fallen far behind in this area -- in my opinion.
I also think Steve Rocchi has taken a lot more flack than deserved. First, he's responsible more than anyone else in the hobby for the graded card concept being widely accepted. When he started PSA, he wasn't the first grading company on the block, but he kept PSA going through some lean times and PSA was the first company to gain major acceptance in the hobby. There have been some stories about Rocchi's unethical conduct (most of which has come from a very dubious source). I've heard scary stories about SGC and Beckett too. Are they true? I really don't know. It's impossible to police any grading company so the bottom line is YOU have to have the final say if the holder matches the card. If it doesn't can the company fix the problem to the customer's satisfaction. I have bought GAI and SGC cards for cross-over purposes. The results were mixed, but it worked out OK overall. I even had GAI buy back a card and it went very smooth. Perhaps smoother than what I've heard with people's experience with PSA and SGC.
3 months was a great turn around...... My average was 6 and had a few invoices take 9 months.....and I live in Southern California to boot. A few years ago I felt completely taken advantage of by PSA. I guess this was the Rocci/Baker era of we give the dealer priority service and the collector dollar was from a 2nd class citizen. Quite honestly I didn't know who the players were at PSA, and I didn't care, I enjoyed the hobby for what it was. Now I have nothing against Rocci or Baker, but since they left it seems to be a more of a level playing field.
Erik
Still no GAI registry
Groucho Marx
Great catch. I wish I would have thought of it when I saw Mike B at the GAI table last month at the Ft. Washington show.
They must have reconsidered the concept of a rival registry. Maybe they are contemplating a co-op registry, where any GAI or PSA slab can be added. This would appeal to those set collectors who have both and do not want to spend additional $$ for re-holdering or crossover.
OUCH
Same thing goes for their website. The shows are from 2003, and there is a lack of substance that even small time hobbyists have. I recently bought a few cards from PSA/GAI dealers and I wonder what they are thinking. One nameless person has been waiting for over 2 months to receive his membership. He just found out that it has been sitting on Danny's desk for a month. That was about 10 days ago, and he still does not have it - wow.
My stance has changed in the past two months.
<< <i>.......how a company can continue to say the registry will be live next Monday. >>
<< <i>The shows are from 2003, and there is a lack of substance that even small time hobbyists have >>
I agree 1420. Reasoning would indicate that when things seem so obviously wrong, there might be things going on behind the scenes we are unaware of at GAI. They are doing damage, as we type, by not correcting such obvious issues.
I was willing to try their products, as I'm comfortable with 'the big 3 companies', but this continuing saga of outdated promises, times, and dates has left me wondering if I really want to bother.............
What a shame, what a shame.............
BOTR
Always looking for Topps Salesman Samples, pre '51 unopened packs, E90-2, E91a, N690 Kalamazoo Bats, and T204 Square Frame Ramly's
Wayne
Old Vintage Baseball Cards
eBay Auctions
<< <i>The "pre-grade" that they do was an idea that someone posted on one of the boards. >>
MARTY -Sounds Good! I'll start the post w/ all free grades and a fruit pie per order, maybe they'll implement it.
Website: http://www.qualitycards.com
Always looking for 1957 Topps BB in PSA 9!
ON ITS WAY TO NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658
<< <i>Anybody hear anything today? >>
Believe it or not....
This thread started Yesterday
where a New Member (JERO) actually said,
(referring to a GAI representative at a show)
"she gave me a flyer explaining how they
are starting their own registry including
PSA, SGC, and GAI cards in one master registry"
I wouldn't mind building a mixed set, but for the hockey stuff I'm looking for, the supply in GAI amd SGC just isn't there.
Jerster
After 1+ years of work 2 registry sets are verified and 1 of the sets contains 1 card
I guess its a start. No scans or explanation as to why a complete 1957 Topps set gets a score of 13?.
Available sets can be viewed on the "rules" page. Baseball only.