A question about MBA Second Opinion
craig44
Posts: 12,050 ✭✭✭✭✭
I understand the concept of a second opinion, but I have a question about how the second opinion is performed. I have many (thousands) of slabbed cards from the "big 3" companies. I have looked many times, ad nauseum, at these slabbed cards both in natural and artificial light. at all different angles, with and without magnification. short of removing the card from the slab, which I do not believe MBA does, i do not see how they can accurately review the surfaces, both front and back. How can they see micro-scratches, gloss imperfections, certain kinds of staining, or even slight wax stains through the slab? The plastic slabs just dont allow for it, that i can see, like holding a raw card angled at a light source would allow for. similarly, I cant see how MBA can truly inspect the edges of cards. I dont mean the "front" edges, I mean looking at the edges straight on. That is an important factor in looking for alterations like coloring/trimming.
perhaps there is some way to do this, but I cant see how when viewing the card from the limitations of a slab.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
Comments
Not sure. are they any different than the pwcc sticker with just going with the idea that if it’s in a case it’s not altered? I would guess so because they can’t 100% view the card right. I’m waiting for the next company that can guarantee the case,sticker,card, and have a 24/7 live feed of my card in the vault. I’m willing to pay up to a 100% storage fee per month for my Pokémon cards. I know a million others that might even pay more for that.
Some, not me
, might make the plausible case that an altered vintage card, that slipped through grading, might be more likely to receive a sticker.
OK yeah playing devils advocate a bit but stickers reward nicer presenting cards and an altered card often fits that bill
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)
that is a possibility I had not considered before. you may be onto something here. it is undeniable that there are altered cards in slabs. especially when unable to clearly view the edges because the slabs bumper is in the way and the correct angle to view is inaccessible.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
If it bleeds... we can kill it.
How can you tell from the edges out of curiosity?
For modern cut this year? I would guess you can’t. Older topps cards are different and the edges can tell a story. And t206s are tough 1 edge is different and rolled by the factory. Other 3 edges ehh hard to tell unless wavy
This sounds like "Card Collector Folklore".
Talk to old Joe over there by the pile of discarded penny sleeves and he'll tell you a tale about cut cards and how to spot em!
when you look at many cards in the holders, you will sometimes come to a quick realization..that card looks great or why is that card graded so high. as much as we complain (at least i do) about 4sc psa 9 and 10, i think MBA just looks at the card in its entirety to see how the card looks or is viewed by another grader. much like beckett putting a 10 centering on a card, mba reinforces that this card is a sharper better looking card than most of the that particular card and maybe even for the whole set.
you can view 20 1987 topps barry bonds psa 10's and come to the conclusion that maybe 1 had 10 centering. mba says its gold and that 10 would go for double probably. a reinforcement by a reputable person. doesn't sound dumb, but not sure how long his opinion will matter. 20 years from now it might or might not.
All valid points, but none of it matters. Just say what it is. A money push designed with a sticker based upon a reputable persons opinion that a card is superior. You gotta pay to play and I believe there will be players in this area of the hobby.
It seems to me, unless I am missing something that MBA is really only able to accurately review corners and centering. they cannot accurately review surface/edges/authenticity/recoloring/trimming/alteration while the card in encapsulated.
is the service predominantly to advise card owners to crack and resubmit in order to gain the higher grade?
Do they offer any type of guarantee to their reviews? As in, if they deem a card undergraded by 1 grade, do they have any type of guarantee that when resubmitted, it will increase? I am not so sure how they could do that short of a monetary payout if a card was rejected to to min grade or even worse trimmed/auth.
If the service is simply a second opinion on the quality of the centering/corners with no guarantee of any sort if a card is resubmitted, it seems a bit redundant, no? any seasoned collector/dealer can look at corners/centering to see which cards within a certain grade threshold are slightly better or worse than others.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
It's long overdue for CU (PSA and SGC brands) to embrace the utilization of AI and start giving rationale/insights to consumers on the WHY with respect to their grade. Not that AI needs to do all the grading but be use for standardization and insights on WHY - similar to TAG.
Conversely, what's the short-term point when demand is so high? Seems like a good excuse to up-sell someone would be my response for newly graded cards. For cards already graded, the ability to re-grade or re-holder the same card with more insights on the WHY makes them more money. Seems like MBA is a proof-point for it.
Erik
"AI" isn't the panacea you might think it is.
The use of panacea implies I made a remark that it was the solution for all woes without using it.
When in fact, I said "not that it needs to do all the grading". There's a balance between machine (call it M2M or AI) and human.
Erik
M2M is generally 'machine to machine' and isn't directly related to artificial intelligence. I get what you're trying to say here. Use technology. It's just not that simple. They are using LLMs for sure. I found out when I showed up at Destanie's place the other day with flowers... It was PSA headquarters. She's a dang robot!