Is GAI still in business?

garnettstyle

Been awhile since I heard anything about this company.

secretstash

No. Been quite a few years.

Brick

I believe they are going to unveil their registry or something on Monday.

coinspacks

i think bankruptcy in 2009

addicted2ebay

I remember selling when they were back in 05/06

It was a 94 sp A-rod 9 Mint for $350 lol

dtkk49a

@Brick said:
I believe they are going to unveil their registry or something on Monday.

Where? When?

garnettstyle

@coinspacks said:
i think bankruptcy in 2009

They moved the business to iowa after 2009. I remember seeing the new global authority labels.

AANV

@Brick said:
I believe they are going to unveil their registry or something on Monday.

The ISA pop report is coming soon, according to their website. Can't wait.

garnettstyle

They have a website?

1951WheatiesPremium

I'll probably get some details wrong BUT...

GAI started out pretty good - they were an early, decent competitor of PSA. However, after some time, they got sloppy - trimmed and altered cards were slipping thru too often, cards being way over graded (8s slabbed 10, etc). At some point, they were overwhelmed. They shut down and not everyone got their cards back. People were told not to worry and that the issues were being fixed and the company was being rebranded. GAI became Global Authentication (?) and started with an illconceived plan and new system of grading and many of the same problems happened again. So, be careful buying their product and buy it with the understanding that unless you can establish when it was graded that the slab may be meaningless when it comes to what's inside.

I can also contribute a first hand account to back this up: a while back, I bought a slabbed GAI 1958-1961 Jay Publishing Photo Mickey Mantle. It had the designation of 'First Graded' and was an 8.5. I recognized their mistakes and had it crossed to SGC (who I often use for oversize issues). Wrong grade, wrong description (I knew what it really was), but I was still pretty happy with the end result:

1951WheatiesPremium

Original:

Despite not being precisely what it said (and with Jay/Team issues, GAI is not the only one who made/makes mistakes), it was still a pretty high grade and authentic item. I believe '1st graded' is usually a pretty good sign that it's from earlier in their company's history of grading and has a better shot of 'holding up'.

And again, there are varying accounts and experiences - this is mine. I would simply add that - like all cards - use what you can to negotiate and (as always, and especially in this case) buy the card, not the holder.

Hope this helps.

AANV

I really liked the way that GAI encapsulated the Mantle with a crinkled Mylar covering. it really adds to the vintage feel of the card.

1951WheatiesPremium

@AANV said:
I really liked the way that GAI encapsulated the Mantle with a crinkled Mylar covering. it really adds to the vintage feel of the card.

LOL

For what it's worth, it presented better than in the picture...

ReggieCleveland

Dang, Brick beat me to the Monday comment. Well played, sir.

Arthur

1951WheatiesPremium

I was looking at some old posts and realize I never posted this link. Mostly for laughs at this point, I guess, but I have put in a few certs and gotten some info from it. I don't think it's complete but it's something...

https://www.globalauthentics.com/certcheck/main.asp

secretstash

@1951WheatiesPremium said:
I was looking at some old posts and realize I never posted this link. Mostly for laughs at this point, I guess, but I have put in a few certs and gotten some info from it. I don't think it's complete but it's something...

https://www.globalauthentics.com/certcheck/main.asp

Im surprised the website is not down and even functions. Who is paying for this I wonder?

1951WheatiesPremium

I think this was one of the first steps the guy who tried to save GAI (as Global Authentics) did to help try to save the brand. I suppose it will go down eventually but maybe some of you will be helped. There's a little work you have to do but again, it helped me a few times...

dictoresno

@1951WheatiesPremium said:
I was looking at some old posts and realize I never posted this link. Mostly for laughs at this point, I guess, but I have put in a few certs and gotten some info from it. I don't think it's complete but it's something...

https://www.globalauthentics.com/certcheck/main.asp

from the bottom of that website...

"Please note that Global Authentics LLC is not the same company as Global Authentication Inc (a California Corporation) that went out of business in 2009. Global Authentics LLC is providing legacy GAI CertCheck data as a courtesy to GAI's customers but has no affiliation with GAI or globalauthentication.com."

1951WheatiesPremium

I remember reading a very detailed article about the GAI company (and related though 'separate' companies) somewhere - but it was a while back.

royalbrett

There was a hardcore collector of a very popular Phillies player who could tell you all about it.