Curious As To PSA Policy On This - Hypothetical...
MattyC
Posts: 1,335 ✭✭
I am hoping that raising this potential issue can help protect both collectors and PSA from any possible future confusion...
I just noticed that on the PSA website, there is a fairly recent "shop" feature. You can click on cards in the SMR and links will take you right to active eBay listings. What I have noticed is that not all of these links are to authorized PSA dealers. Not all of them even feature PSA cards-- some auctions feature PSA in the title and are for cards from other grading companies. Clearly the algorithm in place for this feature is just searching for the word "PSA" and then the card in question.
Now, we all know PSA's policy (the very clear Rolex analogy) when it comes to seeking reimbursement for bad slabs: collectors should buy from PSA authorized dealers; PSA will not reimburse a collector who buys a fake or breached slab from a non-authorized dealer. This policy again is very clear and understandable, let us not debate this here.
My concern is this: could not an unsuspecting collector take it as PSA's approval of a seller or card or auction, when they were directed there from PSA's very website? Surely PSA would not lead collectors right into fraudulent sellers' hands. It seems to me that, if not from a purely legal standpoint, one could construe these links as "authorization" of the cards for sale.
Some poor guy could be looking for legit cards, come to PSA's site, see these links, and buy the cards-- then if he finds out he has a bad card or bad slab he turns to PSA and finds out that he should have purchased from an authorized dealer. Meanwhile this hypothetical newbie was led to the card because of trust in the brand, and through the brand's very own website and provided link.
Anyways, just a hypothetical and just looking out, but many of us saw the recent auction for an authentic opened slab and authentic flip for a PSA graded 52 Mantle. So we know good people buying bad slabs does happen.
I just noticed that on the PSA website, there is a fairly recent "shop" feature. You can click on cards in the SMR and links will take you right to active eBay listings. What I have noticed is that not all of these links are to authorized PSA dealers. Not all of them even feature PSA cards-- some auctions feature PSA in the title and are for cards from other grading companies. Clearly the algorithm in place for this feature is just searching for the word "PSA" and then the card in question.
Now, we all know PSA's policy (the very clear Rolex analogy) when it comes to seeking reimbursement for bad slabs: collectors should buy from PSA authorized dealers; PSA will not reimburse a collector who buys a fake or breached slab from a non-authorized dealer. This policy again is very clear and understandable, let us not debate this here.
My concern is this: could not an unsuspecting collector take it as PSA's approval of a seller or card or auction, when they were directed there from PSA's very website? Surely PSA would not lead collectors right into fraudulent sellers' hands. It seems to me that, if not from a purely legal standpoint, one could construe these links as "authorization" of the cards for sale.
Some poor guy could be looking for legit cards, come to PSA's site, see these links, and buy the cards-- then if he finds out he has a bad card or bad slab he turns to PSA and finds out that he should have purchased from an authorized dealer. Meanwhile this hypothetical newbie was led to the card because of trust in the brand, and through the brand's very own website and provided link.
Anyways, just a hypothetical and just looking out, but many of us saw the recent auction for an authentic opened slab and authentic flip for a PSA graded 52 Mantle. So we know good people buying bad slabs does happen.
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Looking to BUY n332 1889 SF Hess cards and high grade cards from 19th century especially. "Once you have wrestled everything else in life is easy" Dan Gable
Good question as to becoming authorized. I see the link to dealers but not how to become one.
"With over 500,000 PSA-certified listings on eBay each day..."
That definitely reads like PSA stands by all the links.
<< <i>PSA will not reimburse a collector who buys a fake or breached slab from a non-authorized dealer. >>
I didn't realize that PSA had a policy about reimbursing a collector for buying a fake or breached slab from anyone, even PSA authorized dealers. Where did you read that?
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
You raise a good issue. When I went down to PSA to have some cards reviewed a while back, I spoke to the rep who came down to meet me and I asked some general questions about slabs and what to look for in those that have been compromised. I was given some answers which I shared in a thread, and I was also told that the safest way to purchase legit PSA-graded cards is through PSA-authorized dealers. I was further told that if a purchase can be proven/documented to have come from an authorized dealer, then PSA would seek to remedy anything determined upon review to be wrong.
I took that last bit to mean they would make things right if an authorized dealer mistakenly, for whatever reason, sold a bad slab. Though you raise a good issue: perhaps their underpinning logic or assumption is that an authorized dealer would not under any circumstances sell a bad slab-- in that case their policy may be to not reimburse for a bad slab under any circumstance. Perhaps they just meant they would make things right if upon review the card turned out to have been altered and slipped past the goalie, so to speak. Because I did not ask point-blank if they would reimburse for a bad slab from an authorized dealer, it would be good to get that answer as well.
I guess this speaks to what a gray area this is; an official, clear policy on their site on the matter could and would clear it all up.