<< <i>VBC, exactly who put PSA on the map...and who is now at GAI? I have no GAI cards and no real interest in them...but I think your statements are a bit off base. >>
I completely understand that and I know both Steve and Mike personally and they are great people but as for value of the cards PSA has been proven to be a solid company and GAI is still going through the motions. I am not saying that in 2 years GAI won't be better or worse, but as of right now it does not seem like it makes sense what he's doing unless he is doing the exemplar service.
I think the cards that are PSA 8/GAI8.5 will make an impact. Not good enough for a 9 but better than an 8. If these start hitting the market, look out.
jim do you have to take offense to everything? just because someone calls you on some this that and the other guy are switching cards to gai and my collection might lose value rumor doesn't mean they are making fun of you. if charlie did cross these sets why didn't you post on the sgc board?or here?
If one switches a set from PSA to GAI and doesn't tell PSA then it could stay on the registry. Also, couldn't they still upgrade the set too? Buy an upgrade, register it at PSA, then switch it to GAI. Keep each set alive...
Where have you gone Dave Vargha CU turns its lonely eyes to you What's the you say, Mrs Robinson Vargha bucks have left and gone away?
Charlie's 57 Baseball Set was never on the registry. And I don't know if the set at the National. I believe that Marshall also was crossing over his 57 set to GAI. I sold him a few of the tougher commons.
Buying 1957 Baseball PSA 8 or higher. Especially Checklists, and Contest Cards. Topps1957psa8set@aol.com
i would imagine that gai returns the flips to psa?i know sgc does. if psa actually takes them off the pop report and deletes them from a registered set is another story. that seems like too much work.
I'm just kidding around. Some of these posts are cracking me up. I love the ones about how the cards lose value once they go from the Psa to the Gai slab. I'm sure that's the case. HeeHee! And D. Young lost a lot of sleep over it too.
I have a question I'd like to pose to the more "in the know" people on this board. I do not consider myself very knowledgable in the finer details of the whole graded card industry, so here goes...
When I joined PSA in 1999, all I kept hearing was about the supposed backroom deals, lenient grading (the "0" debate), and the lousy customer service (resolving problems, long turnaround times, etc...) under the Rocchi/Baker regime.
Now these same two people start a new grading company, and PSA and SGC supporters/dealers are turning to GAI, and my question is why? Better holder? Better deals? Better grades?
Can a leopard change its spots, or don't the spots need to be changed?
Bernie Carlen
Currently collecting.....your guess is as good as mine.
Better Holder? are you kidding me--I have never seen a major collector care about the appearance of the holder.
Better Deals-Probably but do the leading collectors whose collections are probably worth $10 million or more really care?
Better Grades?? Maybe--I know one of the top 3 guys was not happy at all about his last batch of grades with psa.
How about--
1)Personal Relationships--Rocchi, Baker, Fisher go to great lengths to be friendly and to stay in touch with many of their dealer and collector friends. You talk to them about ALL PSA personnel and you do not get this feeling. Simply put, people like to do business with people they like.
2)Confidence that nobody is a better grader than Mike Baker. Even the famous Michael Wentz who is certainly no GAI fan thinks Baker's terrific.
Bernie...I was a PSA customer from 1997 to 2001...I now submit to GAI for the following reasons:
1) I not one to believe in rumors and heresay, the comments about Steve Rocchi and Mike Baker in the past (even when I was a PSA customer) had no bearing on my decision to keep submitting to PSA. I truly believe GAI has the most experienced graders in the hobby today which is my primary reason why I switched.
2) Customer Service: I wasn't happy with PSA customer service and I like the service provided by Danny Fisher and Mike Baker. I've never had a problem in dealing with them.
3) Price: I won't quote you what I pay for grading at GAI, but I do save money, and I do not have an unlimited expense as far as my hobby budget is concerned...this allows me to buy more cards.
The holder had no bearing on my decision, although I do feel it's second best in the hobby (only behind Beckett)....and I do not submit to beckett grading.
Hope this answers your question....coming from a collector's point of view.
Playball, I have to agree with you. In the past, all I heard was backroom deals and better grades under the Rocchi/Baker regime at PSA. I'm just a really small time guy but I've had a few cards that were in question. Since they're departure, the rumors have stopped and I've never had a card that I've had to question since them. My guess is that if the backroom deals theory is true, the people crossing over to GAI would be benefitting from it. Why else would they do it? Steve Rocchi is a really nice guy as far as I know so customer service could be the reason, but at the expense of 1000's of dollars. Maybe rich people think different.
As for Dmitri Young, he does have a wide range of cards. I've sold him low pop PSA 10's that definately wouldn't be considered monster vintage. I've also sold him raw cards so I'm pretty sure he submits himself or just leaves it all unopened.
Thank you. I can appreciate your decision and experience with the move to GAI. Like you, the rumors never stopped me from submitting to PSA.
Davalillo,
OK, fair enough. I guess comparing your experiences and other top collectors to mine is apples and oranges. I have exactly zero interest in becoming friends with people at a grading company. All I ask is an accurate, quality product that suits my needs. Do you think Rocchi, Baker, and Fisher would go to the same lengths with me (1 vintage set) as you (100 vintage sets)?
Why is Mike Baker considered the best grader? Is it because he is the best authenticator, and can pick out the tampered cards better than anyone else? Or is it because he is thought to put the proper number on the slab?
These questions may seem elementary, but I'm just trying to get an education.
Bernie Carlen
Currently collecting.....your guess is as good as mine.
Comments
and in that light, having 1 of 1 "dual" graded blue chip cards makes sense to me.
......especially with all the rumors/inuendo/evidence of grading inconsistencies by all the top companies.
<< <i>VBC, exactly who put PSA on the map...and who is now at GAI? I have no GAI cards and no real interest in them...but I think your statements are a bit off base. >>
I completely understand that and I know both Steve and Mike personally and they are great people but as for value of the cards PSA has been proven to be a solid company and GAI is still going through the motions. I am not saying that in 2 years GAI won't be better or worse, but as of right now it does not seem like it makes sense what he's doing unless he is doing the exemplar service.
<< <i>and in that light, having 1 of 1 "dual" graded blue chip cards makes sense to me. >>
Anyone can get a PSA/GAI 9/9 grade. I want a 9/6.5 or a 7oc/9.5.
Now these types of dual grades would really be valuable!
CU turns its lonely eyes to you
What's the you say, Mrs Robinson
Vargha bucks have left and gone away?
hey hey hey
hey hey hey
I hear BMW is offering a "King's Ransom" for anything with a split of 3 grades or more.
I do agree with the point made that high profile collectors switching to GAI will lead to more doing so.
Jack Straw is trying to knock me again--I am just telling you what I heard and believe to be true--I am not trying to prove it.
Wake up Jack--Charlie switched 1948 Bowman to GAI and I believe had 3-5 other sets graded by them.,,....do I have to spell everything out for you????
if charlie did cross these sets why didn't you post on the sgc board?or here?
ON ITS WAY TO NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658
Wayne
<< <i>Charlie's 57 set was displayed in gai holders at the national in front of the gai area. It was very impressive.
Wayne >>
Is this Charlie's duplicate set? I thought Charlie's #1 1957 set is still in PSA holders.
the national was what july?and we are just now hearing this?
ON ITS WAY TO NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658
CU turns its lonely eyes to you
What's the you say, Mrs Robinson
Vargha bucks have left and gone away?
hey hey hey
hey hey hey
aconte
Here is the Exemplar service
GAI Exemplar
ON ITS WAY TO NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658
I'm just kidding around. Some of these posts are cracking me up. I love the ones about how the cards
lose value once they go from the Psa to the Gai slab. I'm sure that's the case. HeeHee!
And D. Young lost a lot of sleep over it too.
aconte
GAI does not return the flip, at least that is what it seems like according to the webpage.
CU turns its lonely eyes to you
What's the you say, Mrs Robinson
Vargha bucks have left and gone away?
hey hey hey
hey hey hey
I have a question I'd like to pose to the more "in the know" people on this board. I do not consider myself very knowledgable in the finer details of the whole graded card industry, so here goes...
When I joined PSA in 1999, all I kept hearing was about the supposed backroom deals, lenient grading (the "0" debate), and the lousy customer service (resolving problems, long turnaround times, etc...) under the Rocchi/Baker regime.
Now these same two people start a new grading company, and PSA and SGC supporters/dealers are turning to GAI, and my question is why? Better holder? Better deals? Better grades?
Can a leopard change its spots, or don't the spots need to be changed?
Currently collecting.....your guess is as good as mine.
Better Holder? are you kidding me--I have never seen a major collector care about the appearance of the holder.
Better Deals-Probably but do the leading collectors whose collections are probably worth $10 million or more really care?
Better Grades?? Maybe--I know one of the top 3 guys was not happy at all about his last batch of grades with psa.
How about--
1)Personal Relationships--Rocchi, Baker, Fisher go to great lengths to be friendly and to stay in touch with many of their dealer and collector friends. You talk to them about ALL PSA personnel and you do not get this feeling. Simply put, people like to do business with people they like.
2)Confidence that nobody is a better grader than Mike Baker. Even the famous Michael Wentz who is certainly no GAI fan thinks Baker's terrific.
1) I not one to believe in rumors and heresay, the comments about Steve Rocchi and Mike Baker in the past (even when I was a PSA customer) had no bearing on my decision to keep submitting to PSA. I truly believe GAI has the most experienced graders in the hobby today which is my primary reason why I switched.
2) Customer Service: I wasn't happy with PSA customer service and I like the service provided by Danny Fisher and Mike Baker. I've never had a problem in dealing with them.
3) Price: I won't quote you what I pay for grading at GAI, but I do save money, and I do not have an unlimited expense as far as my hobby budget is concerned...this allows me to buy more cards.
The holder had no bearing on my decision, although I do feel it's second best in the hobby (only behind Beckett)....and I do not submit to beckett grading.
Hope this answers your question....coming from a collector's point of view.
Silver Coins
e-bay ID: grilloj39
e-mail: grilloj39@gmail.com
As for Dmitri Young, he does have a wide range of cards. I've sold him low pop PSA 10's that definately wouldn't be considered monster vintage. I've also sold him raw cards so I'm pretty sure he submits himself or just leaves it all unopened.
John,
Thank you. I can appreciate your decision and experience with the move to GAI. Like you, the rumors never stopped me from submitting to PSA.
Davalillo,
OK, fair enough. I guess comparing your experiences and other top collectors to mine is apples and oranges. I have exactly zero interest in becoming friends with people at a grading company. All I ask is an accurate, quality product that suits my needs. Do you think Rocchi, Baker, and Fisher would go to the same lengths with me (1 vintage set) as you (100 vintage sets)?
Why is Mike Baker considered the best grader? Is it because he is the best authenticator, and can pick out the tampered cards better than anyone else? Or is it because he is thought to put the proper number on the slab?
These questions may seem elementary, but I'm just trying to get an education.
Currently collecting.....your guess is as good as mine.
Crazy stuff!!!
Website: http://www.qualitycards.com
Would they go to the same lengths for you as me--of course not--if they could get me to convert my 125 sets to gai it would be a major event.
On Baker--both of the things you suggest. I also believe that Sean Drinkwater is better than anyone that psa has.
Congrats again on that 1940 Play Ball set--very impressive and a true vintage set.
Jim