if this is a gem mint card then i'm..........

gradeddream · January 13, 2005 9:42PM

a horses ass!

gai finest!

look at the 2 bottom corners!

charliehustle14 · January 13, 2005 10:28PM

Yuck! Those are nasty corners for a "MINT" card.

dontippet · January 13, 2005 10:30PM

From my experience with '87 Fleer Bonds, I would say this card would grade PSA 8.

Don

RipublicaninMass · January 13, 2005 11:29PM

GAI's biggest member

jrdolan · January 13, 2005 11:49PM

GAI will pretty much give a half-point bump to any PSA card for the asking (if you're one of the loyal dealers on that bandwagon), but that card isn't even PSA 9. I wonder if someone submitted it along with a bunch of crappy commons, so it looked gem mint by comparison. Standing alone, it looks like an 8.

bhl2359 · January 14, 2005 12:08AM

<< <i>a horses ass!

gai finest!

look at the 2 bottom corners! >>

ldferg · January 14, 2005 1:37AM

looks like some chipping or similar on the right side as well.

Brian48 · January 14, 2005 1:39AM

I'd like to see a better scan of it. I've seen corners like that on scans before that don't appear the same when viewing physically. From looks of it, all he did was take the smaller image and blew it up.

ctsoxfan · January 14, 2005 2:00AM

<< <i>GAI will pretty much give a half-point bump to any PSA card for the asking (if you're one of the loyal dealers on that bandwagon), >>

Unfortunately, this is true. Too bad for them, but this perception continually will haunt GAI in the marketplace.

To the seller's credit, he provides a nice big clear scan, otherwise you might not see how overgraded this card is until you bought it.

EagleEyeKid · January 14, 2005 2:32AM

This is not to defend GAI in any way,
but I've had 3 cards that were 9.5s that I received
back that had the bottom right corner that was bent
upwards and showed chipping (white). Of course it wasn't
there when I sent it in. Might have been during the slabbing
process especially with that black insert.
Actually, 2 cards were bottom right corner, and 1
was upper right corner.

I also have PSA 10 cards that have a little bit of white on the
tip of the corners that wasn't there when I sent it in as well.
Clearly would be a candidate for PSA 9. I agree the Fleer Bonds
is pretty ugly and undeserving of the grade, but it makes me
wonder if it occurred during the slabbing process. Also, is there
any recourse to recoup fair market value if they overgrade by
mistake or by mechanical error?

Brian48 · January 14, 2005 4:16AM

Yeah, I really hate the GAI holder. It's feels somewhat fragile. Regarding the black insert, it does create a nice presentation to some (not all) cards, but at the same time it creates a lot of play within the holder. I've seen loose cards in PSA holders before, but they're REALLY loose in GAI holders. Still, the type of wear on the corners seem to me they were there before. I've only one GAI graded card and thankfully, it appears to be properly graded as far as I can tell.

Stone193 · January 14, 2005 5:39AM

Hi Guys
Does anyone know first hand that GAI offers bumps on demand to "special" clients? If one reads the method and manner that cards are graded on all the websites, any deviation from objectivity could be construed as fraud. Based on what is being said, the owners belong in jail and not in business IMO.

I am not trying to start a war of words or anything but this is scary - very bad for the grading industry and its integrity.

I think it's time for me to go back to collecting Jerry Vale snow globes and Wayne Newton orthotic shoe inserts!

Stone

Brian48 · January 14, 2005 5:58AM

I've never read any actual reports of this either. Mostly second hand rants from various messageboards, but I've read the same with BGS and PSA. The worst I've heard is the tendency for GAI to miss trimmed cards, but in almost (almost) all instances, this was the result of pre-grading through the GAI holder. Taking the card out of the holder seems to grade fine.

I think the problem is mostly GAI's lack of customer support and less than perfect service that has angered a lot of people, not so much as the work they do.

SDavid · January 14, 2005 6:48AM

I've bought some modern GAI 9's recently (god they were cheap), and I have to say they all looked like high-end 9's from psa or bgs.

I can only guess that the card was damaged during the slabbing process or the scan is distorting the card's condition. If anyone is interested in the card, they should just email the seller. He's a nice guy.

ctsoxfan · January 14, 2005 8:14AM

<< <i>I've never read any actual reports of this either. >>

Not to further stir the pot, but where do you actually expect to read about this? These sort of things occur, and the way you find out about them is from talking to many dealers, collectors, and the like - and then drawing your own conclusions.

jrdolan · January 14, 2005 11:37AM

I don't think it's any secret that wvshoebox converted most of its inventory to GAI and received MANY half-point bumps in the process. Other dealers are said to have been recruited by GAI to convert and sell more GAI slabs, as well.

There have been tales from board members who attended shows where dealers took PSA cards to the GAI table and got half-grade jumps on the spot, some of them free or at greatly reduced rates as part of GAI's effort to increase market presence.

Profound thought of the day: What entices dealers to shift PSA stock into GAI holders, where the market value drops unless the grade gets bumped.

Disclaimer: None of the above was not witnessed by me personally, nor do I have a sworn affidavit from anyone to attest to these reports. Thus I must acknowledge that people who claim to have seen or known such things may have lied. No portion of what I have said may be reproduced or reprinted without the express written permission of Major League Baseball.

Stone193 · January 14, 2005 11:55AM

<< <i>I don't think it's any secret that wvshoebox converted most of its inventory to GAI and received MANY half-point bumps in the process. Other dealers are said to have been recruited by GAI to convert and sell more GAI slabs, as well.

There have been tales from board members who attended shows where dealers took PSA cards to the GAI table and got half-grade jumps on the spot, some of them free or at greatly reduced rates as part of GAI's effort to increase market presence.

Profound thought of the day: What entices dealers to shift PSA stock into GAI holders, where the market value drops unless the grade gets bumped.

Disclaimer: None of the above was not witnessed by me personally, nor do I have a sworn affidavit from anyone to attest to these reports. Thus I must acknowledge that people who claim to have seen or known such things may have lied. No portion of what I have said may be reproduced or reprinted without the express written permission of Major League Baseball. >>

Stone193 · January 14, 2005 11:58AM

All those who are having a problem with all this - how about joing my new club - because I am so confuuuuuuused.

if this is a gem mint card then i'm..........

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