PSA Management Changes

vdavalillo

I would like toget a sense as to what other veteran collectors think about the management changes at psa. A couple of veteran deales have told me they thought it was due to cost cutting but my experience tells me you don't let go of your president and head grader unless there is something else at work. And a management change could have implications for the grading of cards in the future.

thegemmintman

Vdavalillo - that's a good topic of for discussion, but I would suggest posting it on the Sports Cards & Memorabilia Forum Board. We'll meet you over there. This board is really more for PSA Registry concerns.

vdavalillo

I thought that anything that pertianed to the grading of cards was fair game here and since I thought that this had implications for card grading and thus the building of graded sets it was appropriate.

aconte

vdavalillo,

I think it is definitely something to keep an eye on. On some
of the other forums it has been discussed that the loss of
key individuals at Psa could impact the quality of the cards
being graded especially vintage. I believe there has been talk
that those that left may form a new grading company and have taken
some of the key graders of vintage.

If so this would impact the quality of vintage cards being graded
and the completion of sets for the registry.

aconte

thegemmintman

It seemed like you wanted to discuss PSA's management changes and cost cutting. That doesn't really seem like a Registry topic. You made no mention of how this might be connected to the Registry, but if you think it's relevant then let's talk about it.

Not everything related to the grading of cards would go to this board. If it has to do with PSA set building then sure it can go here.

HECK55

vdavalillo - Your name looks a lot like a fellow 53 collector! I don't know about any management changes at PSA - my computer bit the big one a couple of weeks ago and I am out of the know right now (borrowing my daughter's right now). My recent experience with the management at PSA left me feeling that their standards for grading will uphold their future reputation and that the management I delt with 01-18-2001 will try to work with even collectors such as ourselves and not just the big time dealers! I sent a 53 Topps common in and it came back with a tag for a Koufax card. The number when checked for verification came up as the correct 53 Topps card. I sent it back to PSA for correction and got it back except now it was lowered a grade. I sent it back again - they called and said that was what the card graded - not the higher grade I had before - "that" was the Koufax grade I was told. I argued that the verification showed it as my 53 card not the Koufax and the serial number was in line with all the others I sent in on that submission. I was told that they were sorry but they could not put the higher grade on that card when it was not equal to that grade by their standards. I was not pleased about loosing a grade and now I have to go back and change it in my registry set. Ivan is who I delt with - he offered me several options for PSA to make their mistake right for me - all of which were more than fair for me. I was not pleased with loosing a grade on my card but I do feel like PSA was trying work with me and maintain their standards at the same time. Ivan is a good person to work with if you have a problem - maybe no one else on here will have a problem like this. Rick

qualitycards

HECK - I liked the fact that PSA did the right thing and had the card graded correctly as opposed to giving you a higer grade to keep you quiet. Integrity is why I chose PSA, So I'm glad you understood their decision as well.

DAVILLIO -
Welcome to the board. Saw you on the '54 Bowman registry. I think the new grading company will not fare so well. Even though they have credible people behind them. Sort of like "too little - too late". Between my collection and my inventory, I have 3,000 PSA cards, why would I suddenly switch gears now? Their price structure will probably be in line of all the grading companies and even if cheaper, that not an inducement on my behalf. I just prefer to have uniformity in what I collect & what I sell, and PSA is still the best in my book...jay

vdavalillo

Two comments based on what has been said:

1)I agree that former management was more interested in major dealers than large collectors.

2)What concerns me is that companies do not let go arguably their two most important people for cost cutting. Usually steps like this are taken over disagreements in future direction or policy. While it may seem hard to believe that new management at psa could change their grading standards, as someone who has a fair amount of money tied up in psa cards I am a little apprehensive that somehow new management could take steps that would not be in the best interests of those who have a significant investment in psa cards. Probably my concern is misguided, but in case anybody knew the real story I would be interested.