Their blunders ran the entire gamut - as you've stated.
One biggie? They had a habit of losing stuff in their own system. I have more than one friend have their pack submissions lost and never found. That's more than inexcusable.
mike >>
That still shouldn't affect the value of the stuff they've graded. I have yet to hear a specific instance of them really screwing up on grading. Their customer service and financial situation are not relevant to the quality of their grading.
I had a bad experience with PSA returning a card unslabbed claiming it was "recolored". The truth was that it had an ink mark on it. I was expecting it to come back graded with a "MK" qualifier. I know for a fact that the card was not recolored as I knew the card's history. So PSA makes mistakes as well.
<< <i>I had a bad experience with PSA returning a card unslabbed claiming it was "recolored". The truth was that it had an ink mark on it. I was expecting it to come back graded with a "MK" qualifier. I know for a fact that the card was not recolored as I knew the card's history. So PSA makes mistakes as well. >>
Well yeah PSA makes mistakes too..just a couple weeks ago a very respected board member sent in 7 trimmed cards "just to see" and they were all graded. He then destroyed them and showed pics as well. and a couple weeks before that another board member sent in 14 cards to BGS that were from psa slabs 5 came back restored..
PSA has a strong presence due to the registery and amount of cards that have been graded over the years if you want to start a set it's gonna be alot easier to find the cards in psa slabs than any other tpg. when you have 15 guys doin a set prices jump while the same card with same numerical grade in another tpg slab will get less attention...and like others already mentioned all the problems GAI has had as of late does not build confidence for collectors.
Information about a few of the head graders can be found on the GAI website. But I doubt the head graders do all the grading! Given the lack of volume of cards GAI receives for grading, many cards are probably graded by much less experienced and less qualified graders who we know absolutely nothing about; since the lead Principals are too busy getting eviction notices and being threatened with lawsuits.
And GumbyFan....asking legitimate questions about the qualifications of people you are paying to perform a service constitutes trolling only to the simpleminded!
Would you hire a plumber or contractor to work on your house or go to a doctor who wasn't properly trained and/or didn't have the proper licenses/qualifications? Didn't think so......
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
>I thought GAI was reputable for wax though, right?
I recently purchased a GAI graded 1986 Fleer basketball pack that was resealed. I opened the pack and cards were not in proper sequence, all different conditions, etc. Upon explaining this to the dealer I bought the pack from I was told the dealer has had similar problems with GAI graded packs and boxes.
So if I have a PSA or GAI or SGC slabbed card that proves to be trimmed, will any of these services refund my purchase price, buy my card back at SMR or equivalent market value or offer a credit for grading services for the loss? I mean, they are each an authentication service.
Would you trust GAI for modern cards? 2000 and later? It seems that there would be less chance for alterations with those cards.
I bought a 1961 Mantle All-Star GAI 8 and it crossed over into a PSA 8. I got the card for around $350, so I figured it was worth the gamble. I bought a 1994 SP AROD GAI 9 and it was clear to me that it wouldn't cross over because of a circular printing defect on the back.
I do wonder why anyone else would use them at this point. It's not like they are cheaper or easier to use than anyone else.
Comments
<< <i>
<< <i>As for your card, while you may have lined it up, doesn't mean it's not trimmed. Optical illusions can happen when comparing slabbed cards.
And then there's other alterations; soaking, rebuilt corners, and my personal favorite, spooning.
I LOVE SPOONING! Especially when it leads to forking!
"Jenna was dismayed when she learned that her "hot new boyfriend who loves 69" was not quite what she expected."
They blew it.
and, if you are happy with your GAI cards that is all that matters.
Just be prepared to have to sell at the same discount that you
have been buying them at.
Or, if and when the time comes to sell crack them and sub them at one of the other big three
graders.
But please don't say you know with 100% certainty that none of them have been trimmed.
Steve
Ron
Their blunders ran the entire gamut - as you've stated.
One biggie? They had a habit of losing stuff in their own system. I have more than one friend have their pack submissions lost and never found. That's more than inexcusable.
mike >>
That still shouldn't affect the value of the stuff they've graded. I have yet to hear a specific instance of them really screwing up on grading. Their customer service and financial situation are not relevant to the quality of their grading.
Steve
I can give a specific example. I purchased a 1955 Topps 1st graded Warren Spahn card graded by them as a 7.5
I cracked it out and subbed it to PSA and it came back trimmed.
PSA had no idea it was once in a GAI slab.
I sent it in a 2nd time......same thing evidence of trimming.
I'll send it in 1 more time and ......we will see the results.
Steve
is strong as opposed to those graded by GAI.
And that is all that matters.
Anyone that thinks that PSA is infallible is dreaming.
Steve
edit typo
<< <i>I had a bad experience with PSA returning a card unslabbed claiming it was "recolored". The truth was that it had an ink mark on it. I was expecting it to come back graded with a "MK" qualifier. I know for a fact that the card was not recolored as I knew the card's history. So PSA makes mistakes as well. >>
Well yeah PSA makes mistakes too..just a couple weeks ago a very respected board member sent in 7 trimmed cards "just to see" and they were all graded. He then destroyed them and showed pics as well. and a couple weeks before that another board member sent in 14 cards to BGS that were from psa slabs 5 came back restored..
PSA has a strong presence due to the registery and amount of cards that have been graded over the years if you want to start a set it's gonna be alot easier to find the cards in psa slabs than any other tpg. when you have 15 guys doin a set prices jump while the same card with same numerical grade in another tpg slab will get less attention...and like others already mentioned all the problems GAI has had as of late does not build confidence for collectors.
And GumbyFan....asking legitimate questions about the qualifications of people you are paying to perform a service constitutes trolling only to the simpleminded!
Would you hire a plumber or contractor to work on your house or go to a doctor who wasn't properly trained and/or didn't have the proper licenses/qualifications? Didn't think so......
I recently purchased a GAI graded 1986 Fleer basketball pack that was resealed. I opened the pack and cards were not in proper sequence, all different conditions, etc. Upon explaining this to the dealer I bought the pack from I was told the dealer has had similar problems with GAI graded packs and boxes.
I won't be buying any other GAI graded packs.
Robb
Now I have a card that I really am not sure of.
Steve
1975 mini's
1954 Wilson Franks
Are you saying that PSA won't?
Steve
I bought a 1961 Mantle All-Star GAI 8 and it crossed over into a PSA 8. I got the card for around $350, so I figured it was worth the gamble. I bought a 1994 SP AROD GAI 9 and it was clear to me that it wouldn't cross over because of a circular printing defect on the back.
I do wonder why anyone else would use them at this point. It's not like they are cheaper or easier to use than anyone else.