A Response To Mr. Hall - Cross-Posted From Set Registry Forum
mcastaldi
Posts: 1,211 ✭✭✭
I posted the following to the PSA Set Registry Forum earlier today. In his response, Mr. Hall discussed some generalities regarding forum policy and suggested that I attempt to contact him here in the Sports Cards & Memorabilia Forum or e-mail him directly. I feel that most of the questions I posed are still valid and remain unanswered. In an effort to maintain the dialog with PSA management regarding these concerns, I have cross-posted here per Mr. Hall's suggestion. If absolutely necessary, I will gladly conduct this correspondence with Mr. Hall via e-mail or telephone. However, I would prefer the communication take place here because I know many other people besides myself who share these concerns and are interested in the answers to these questions. -- MC
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Mr. Hall,
I think it's outstanding that you posted a message to the PSA Forums regarding the WIWAG problem. It eases many minds and answered many questions. However, I feel some important questions remain unanswered -
- What plans does PSA have to make it harder to swich cards in the holder?
- Can you provide details regarding exactly which cards WIWAG fraudulently circulated? Barring that, how can a consumer best protect himself from acquiring a card fraudulently encapsulated by When It Was A Game? Obviously, PSA will stand behind any card found to be fraudulent. But from a collector's point of view, how can we best protect ourselves from buying those problem cards in the first place.
If these questions are answered in the transcripts of the trial, I apologize for any redundancy. I'll be glad to look for them there.
There was a general theme in your post that deeply concerns me. You gave several examples of people being removed from the forum for having an anti-PSA agenda. I fully agree that people who libel or slander PSA or spread information that they know to be false should be removed. However, over the last two-plus years, the trend of PSA's handling of their forums has been to remove many posts that address legitimate concerns - and this is nearly always done without any comment from anyone at PSA/CU. Also, people who have persisted in the asking of legitimate questions that perhaps make PSA/CU uncomfortable have been banned from the forums as well. As a result, the management of the PSA forums has seemed pretty heavy-handed. At what point does expressing legitimate questions and concerns translate to an anti-PSA agenda? I have significant concerns regarding PSA's level of grading consistency and the quality control systems in place to ensure that consistency. Right now, I feel PSA could do much more in both of these areas. I know many others who share these concerns. If PSA's forums are not the best place to voice these concerns, I would certainly be open to suggestions as to how to address them to PSA and get the answers/reassurance I need. I would think it much more efficient to address them in the forums where the question can be answered once for many people - as opposed to taking the time to answer each person individually.
Again, thank you for taking the time to post some details about the Real Legends/WIWAG issue. I hope this is a sign of PSA/CU management continuing to take collector concerns seriously.
Regards,
Mike Castaldi
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Mr. Hall,
I think it's outstanding that you posted a message to the PSA Forums regarding the WIWAG problem. It eases many minds and answered many questions. However, I feel some important questions remain unanswered -
- What plans does PSA have to make it harder to swich cards in the holder?
- Can you provide details regarding exactly which cards WIWAG fraudulently circulated? Barring that, how can a consumer best protect himself from acquiring a card fraudulently encapsulated by When It Was A Game? Obviously, PSA will stand behind any card found to be fraudulent. But from a collector's point of view, how can we best protect ourselves from buying those problem cards in the first place.
If these questions are answered in the transcripts of the trial, I apologize for any redundancy. I'll be glad to look for them there.
There was a general theme in your post that deeply concerns me. You gave several examples of people being removed from the forum for having an anti-PSA agenda. I fully agree that people who libel or slander PSA or spread information that they know to be false should be removed. However, over the last two-plus years, the trend of PSA's handling of their forums has been to remove many posts that address legitimate concerns - and this is nearly always done without any comment from anyone at PSA/CU. Also, people who have persisted in the asking of legitimate questions that perhaps make PSA/CU uncomfortable have been banned from the forums as well. As a result, the management of the PSA forums has seemed pretty heavy-handed. At what point does expressing legitimate questions and concerns translate to an anti-PSA agenda? I have significant concerns regarding PSA's level of grading consistency and the quality control systems in place to ensure that consistency. Right now, I feel PSA could do much more in both of these areas. I know many others who share these concerns. If PSA's forums are not the best place to voice these concerns, I would certainly be open to suggestions as to how to address them to PSA and get the answers/reassurance I need. I would think it much more efficient to address them in the forums where the question can be answered once for many people - as opposed to taking the time to answer each person individually.
Again, thank you for taking the time to post some details about the Real Legends/WIWAG issue. I hope this is a sign of PSA/CU management continuing to take collector concerns seriously.
Regards,
Mike Castaldi
So full of action, my name should be a verb.
0
Comments
Step up to the plate and swing!
Mike where is this started post on the registry?
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These public forums are handled like many others I frequent...any posts that become inflamatory and/or bashing are typically deleted.
However, I would assume that if he asked you to email him directly regarding issues you have that were not addressed, I think that would be your best bet instead of continuing to ask the president and/or founder to read these boards waiting.
How many other company presidents take the time to personally address a public forum?
Mike and everybody,
I don't look at message boards too often, so you may want to email me direct at dh@collectors.com...or email PSA President Joe Orlando.
As for banning members, heavy-handedness, etc....I really don't think we are heavy handed and we actually do allow critical comments. In fact, we use them as a way to listen to our customers and Improving our service. I believe the posts from the guys we have booted are different, and actually their agendas seem pretty obvious to me. They contiually harp on the same issues, even when we answer them. They make up stuff...pure fantasy stuff...they lie...they are self-righteous. I think it's very easy to tell the difference between the "professional basher" and a real customer. Just use common sense. If you have a concern, post it and discuss it, and criticize where you feel it's warranted. It's OK with us.
Thanks,
David Hall
I have a 1994 Stadium Club Members Only Nolan Ryan card, Cert number 30914233, that is graded a PSA 8. I felt that this card deserved a 9. Is there anything I can do?
Just kidding. Thanks for taking the time for us small fries.
<< <i>If you have a concern, post it and discuss it, and criticize where you feel it's warranted. It's OK with us. >>
I did that and Joe was pissed. I wont bring up the thread but he admonished me for putting it on the forum. After I stated I will email about the issue he made his statement.
James
<< <i> How many other company presidents take the time to personally address a public forum? >>
It's nice to see that this one cares and does.That's why in his forum he's able to address general collector's and customers concerns in one shot.Mike's got some valid public discussion questions worth a public venue to tune into that would be benneficial to others here and beyond who have no immeadite need to directly bother a very busy President who has bigger fish to fry.I respect that of someone and respect the fact that Mike openly and honestly and civily composed questions that many of us have. Maybe he can share that with us when the time comes but then again he has a life too.
This is what I posted earlier:
Hi Mr.Hall, just a little fish here....
I look forward to tuning into your posts on the matters in question.
Ever since PSA was introduced to me 5 years ago,I think. Not only have I learned a ton of things from your customers who post here but every card owned by me since is most likely in a PSA holder. Bad experience with other product good experience with PSA and PSA's method of "Keeping it real" convinced me that this is the grading and authentication company I should shop for and trust in the hobby without any doubt.
I have not spent a lot of money directly with PSA but between dealers and submitters I have with PSA in general.I still will, but I hope that anything that does go wrong ( even for the best companies and individuals in the industry) that Mike's basic concerns speaking for the "Average" collector are worth your time to respond.He cares and so do we.From the little fish like myself to the most passionate collector with as deep of pockets as George Steinbrenner.
Signed,
Just a concerned hobbyist
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In my initial post located in the Set Registry Forum, Mr. Hall responded saying, "I don't look at this forum too often, so you may want to try me on the sports memorabilia forum...or email me direct at dh@collectors.com." {emphasis mine}. At 11:03 this morning, Mr. Hall edited his response in the PSA Set Registry Forum to remove the highlighted portion. And promptly copied that response verbatim to the post here. I cross-posted my questions here in the Sports Cards & Memorabilia forum in good faith, based on his suggestion that I do so. That he has apparently changed his mind and would rather answer these questions via e-mail correspondence leaves me rather confused. If that's the way he wanted to address the questions at hand, I would rather he said so from the beginning. As it is right now, it seems to have become something of a game.
Because that seems to be his current request, I will gladly e-mail Mr. Hall with my as yet unanswered questions.
Regards,
Mike
I just don't look at the message boards very often. Anybody can email me anytime at dh@collectors.com.
David
I must have misread your response as it read prior to your edits. I will e-mail you directly over the weekend.
Mike
To me, it seems like this question has been avoided repeatedly by Mr. Hall. I think he basically told his consumers what they wanted to hear.
Well, it now seems they are indeed handling it better and we are all greatful for it.
GG
Thanks in advance!
Signed a loyal PSA/baseball/card collector.
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James
After some miscommunication in the forums a couple weeks ago, Mr. Hall did specifically request that I e-mail him directly with my concerns. I e-mailed Mr. Hall late in the evening on Wednesday, 9 February. Sadly, I have not received a response from Mr. Hall as yet. Perhaps he was busy with the Hollywood Park show this weekend. That said, I'm not used to waiting a week for a response when someone tells me to e-mail my questions to them.
Mike
I am looking forward to the results to this important discussion.
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Robert,
I'm definitely in love with the bass player.
David
<< <i>Robert,
I'm definitely in love with the bass player.
David >>
BOTR
She goes by the name "Sugar",David.
I'll be happy to send you the CD she autographed and kissed with bright red lipstick in case she becomes famous.
Again,I look forward to tuning into the matter at hand.
Meanwhile,enjoy the mad beer drinking left handed Punkabilly bassplayer in vinyl and fishnets.
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i think mike questions were eloquently put and devoid of any malice. i think they deserve an appropriate response. mike may have been the one asking the question but they reflect what's on the mind of guys investing with the PSA name. probably, many more than the vocal minority that hangs around here.
I agree
*Harassment doesn't work.
*Professionalism doesn't work.
*Simple is made hard.
*Hard becomes non-existant.
*Questions have few answers.
*Answers make more questions.
*Collector's have little.
*Dealer's have lots.
*Knowledge moves on.
*Hello Mr. Newbie!.
*Everything is history.
*History repeats itself.
*BOTR
<< <i>I'm definitely in love with the bass player. >>
Mr. Hall,
No offense intended, but I have been watching this message board for 2 weeks waiting for a response and is this all I get? I collect my sets in psa cards, I'm a member of psa, and I guess I was hoping for more.
Wayne
Yeah. . .well, my amps go to eleven. If you'd rather not answer my questions, all you have to do is say so.
Mike
I think he did answer your questions. Very proficient too, as it was summed up in one small sentence.
BOTR
James
Does imagery like that really belong on a family forum?
Mike
<< <i>Boggs> "Maybe he hooked up with the bass player." >>
<< <i>Does imagery like that really belong on a family forum? >>
I didnt put any images in your head. And to answer yes. That is very tame comparred to alot of other stuff.