A possible future regarding the grading industry

jrinck

Some of the recent threads regarding individual people creating their own grading companies got me to thinking that if a person was knowledgeable and reputable enough, why couldn't they create their own grading company? While the odds of overtaking PSA would be slim, who's to say that such a person would even want to overtake PSA?

Suppose, for example, a highly knowledgeable and reputable expert in the field of pre-1900 cards decided to create a grading company that specialized in ONLY pre-1900 cards. Such an individual would probably be able to offer more consistent and accurate grading of such cards than PSA simply because the person's specialty is so narrow. A grader at a major house like PSA may have a specialty, but such a grader, to be cost effective, would have to grade all sorts of cards other than his or her specialty. For example, you could send in your pre-1900 stuff to PSA, but there would be no guarantee that the pre-1900 specialist would grade your cards. It could be that he's swamped with a 5,000 count submission of '85 Donruss at the time your cards come in, so your submission gets assigned to someone else, who while no doubt competent, is no substitute for the expert.

Personally, if there was a reputable expert in the business who specialized in only pre-1900 cards, then if I had any to grade, I'd consider sending it to this person other than PSA. As for resale value, as the reputation of the new person grew, you might find that the collecting world overall would put a "higher than PSA" premium on pre-1900 cards graded by this specialist. And it's not just pre-1900, there could be a whole slew of specialists that earn reputations for their areas of expertise. You could have your Cracker Jack specialists, your Goudey specialists, your 50's Topps specialist, and the list is almost endless.

It's kind of like how a Harley owner would most likely take his or her bike to a reputable shop that specializes in Harleys rather than a reputable shop that tends to dabble with everything. There's just no substitute for specialized and focused knowledge.

KallMaloneSay

I nominate Mr. Mint to handle such a task

calleocho

whenever a company depends on just one person, a single mistake by that person would taint everything regardless of wether it was an isolated event or not. ( e.g Martha steward)

shouldabeena10

Jrinck,

Ok, I'll do it. Send me all of your pre 1950 cards and a $9 per card grading fee and I'll get right on them.

Mike

jrinck

<< <i>whenever a company depends on just one person, a single mistake by that person would taint everything regardless of wether it was an isolated event or not. ( e.g Martha steward) >>



This applies to whether the company has 50,000 graders or even just one. All mistakes work to tarnish a reputation. The mark of a good business is to avoid mistakes in the first place. However, they happen for all companies, and part of maintaining or building a reputation lies in how the company handles the mistakes.

But I think I get your point, if Joe Bagadonus goofs and authenticates an N87, for example, that's really a reprint, then his reputation goes out the door in a hurry. It probably wasn't deserved in the first place if he can be prone to such mistakes, however. If PSA authenticates an N87 reprint as original, then they can probably weather the storm, although N87 submitters and buyers would take notice and be a little more vigilant of N87's graded by PSA--especially the scammers of the lot.

jrinck

<< <i>Jrinck,

Ok, I'll do it. Send me all of your pre 1950 cards and a $9 per card grading fee and I'll get right on them.

Mike >>



And what are your qualifications that make you better than PSA for pre-1950's cards? I won't submit to you unless I am confident that you provide a better service than PSA.

koby

I know you were using the pre-1900 only as an example, but I don't think it is worth anyone's time and effort to grade such a small population of cards. First, the pre-1900 cards take an extraordinary expertise and is worth more than the $6 to $15 that companies generally charge for grading and authenticating. In order to pay the grader's salary and cover overhead expenses, approximately 100 pre-1900 cards would have to come in through the mail each day. I don't think that anyone will get that kind of submittals for pre-1900 cards on a regular basis.

The money is definitely in modern cards and semi-modern cards. Especially if there is little difference in the prices charge for grading cards from different eras. Less time, effort and expertise is required to grade 1990 Leaf and 1969 Topps than various OJ and Mayo and other older cards. Same $6 to $15

Look at the volume that BGS has been able to grade in the short amount of time they have been in existence. If you look on ebay, BGS cards triple GAI and SGC cards combined. Focusing on grading vintage cards is a losing proposition businesswise. To narrow the focus to pre-1900 or preWWII is even worse.

shouldabeena10

<< And what are your qualifications that make you better than PSA for pre-1950's cards? I won't submit to you unless I am confident that you provide a better service than PSA. >>

I think just having my name on your cards would be a great selling point.... imagine every card you own saying "Should a been a 10" on the top of each holder!

Mike