Graded Rookies!?

Stingray

Has anyone ever bought from this seller. I would like some one to PM his mailing address. I do not work too far from there and would like to see if it is a store owner or not. I like how everyone of his cards are a 10. This person needs to be stopped, passing off this stuff as Gem. I know this grading company has been brought up before, so sorry ahead of time.

Link

Stingray

Brian48

Although I agree all this stuff is junk, I'm really not sure what can be done. Technically, I don't think he's done anything illegal, especially if he's grading and slabbing these cards himself. The assigned grades, just like grades from all the other reputable grading services, is a just opinion based on a personal set of standards. I tried really hard to find out who Graded Rookies is and personally, I don't think this company exists. At least not in the same sense as PSA, BGS, etc.. It's just some bozo slabbing his own cards in a basement somewhere.

Seraph

Why worry about a non-established, 2nd tier grading company that has no reputation to stand on or tarnish? I would deal with a new company only if its personnel were previously employed by PSA, SGC, or GAI. Note when GAI came on the scene, many were skeptical until they heard that GAI's founder was also the previous founder of PSA.

Stingray

I know I should not care and it is buyer beware on Ebay, but knowingly selling cards that you know would not grade better than a 7 from another card company as a gem mint 10 is just wrong.

Stingray

ctsoxfan

Any "company" is free to apply its own standards however they see fit. The difference is, a "10" from this type of outfit is meaningless, just like it would be if they called it a "20", or an "A+" or a "100" or whatever. The company behind the grade gives the grade its credibility.

Look at this Reese card, it basically has no left border - but it's a Gem Mint 10? Perhaps their scale goes to 50? Bottom line, there isn't much you can do about it, other than stay far away from unestablished grading sources, and post examples of their work here once in a while so we can make fun of them.

rana

As far as I can tell, this guy's cards are generally legit (he's no PRO, GEM, etc.), but he does grade completely differently from the more reputable graders (PSA, GAI, SGC, BGS). I cracked open a few of his slabs to see, and the cards seem generally 1-3 grades higher than PSA would give. I recommend everyone stay away from him unless you want to buy graded and then crack them for your raw sets.