PWCC Altered Cards Callout Thread - 1952 Topps Mantle etc

[MoreToppsPlease]

Originally Posted by signed79

I spent a lot of my free time this weekend inspecting PSA graded cards (the ones that I'm keeping) with a blacklight to detect alterations (a service I already paid them for) and then cracking the cards out with pliers and storing them in binders where they belong. I'll never buy another graded card and will never give them any of my money ever again.

Nothing wrong thinking this way.

Plus, you’ll have extra storage space now!

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by signed79

Graded cards still selling strong.

Most people don't know.

Canadians not paying.

Non sport collectors pay timely.

that is overall good news!

[3124508 on COMC]

CURRENTLY FOR SALE IN REA AUCTION LOT #1099
https://bid.robertedwardauctions.com...e?itemid=61916

[3124508 on COMC]

CURRENTLY FOR SALE IN REA AUCTION LOT #1099
https://bid.robertedwardauctions.com...e?itemid=61916

[3124508 on COMC]

.....

[3124508 on COMC]

CURRENTLY FOR SALE IN REA AUCTION LOT #1097
https://bid.robertedwardauctions.com...e?itemid=61914

[pip]

I see auction houses as part of the problem. That includes REA. It should no longer be business as usual for them--not if they are as concerned about their customers as they are for their consignors' bank accounts. There's too much trimmed and altered sh*t in circulation right now. Use your eyes, guys. Those 48 Leafs are really, really small.

Is anyone else as tired as I am of auction houses acting like there's not a real and growing problem? How can they continue to allow this crap to show up online and in catalogs? Do they not have anyone on staff who knows how to use a ruler?

[MoreToppsPlease]

Originally Posted by pip

I see auction houses as part of the problem. That includes REA. It should no longer be business as usual for them--not if they are as concerned about their customers as they are for their consignors' bank accounts. There's too much trimmed and altered sh*t in circulation right now. Use your eyes, guys. Those 48 Leafs are really, really small.



Is anyone else as tired as I am of auction houses acting like there's not a real and growing problem? How can they continue to allow this crap to show up online and in catalogs? Do they not have anyone on staff who knows how to use a ruler?

It seems increasingly quite possible that all or most hobby institutions were made to fleece their customers...

[MoreToppsPlease]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

that is overall good news!

Good news that people don’t know about grading fraud?

[3124508 on COMC]

Originally Posted by pip

I see auction houses as part of the problem. That includes REA. It should no longer be business as usual for them--not if they are as concerned about their customers as they are for their consignors' bank accounts. There's too much trimmed and altered sh*t in circulation right now. Use your eyes, guys. Those 48 Leafs are really, really small.

Is anyone else as tired as I am of auction houses acting like there's not a real and growing problem? How can they continue to allow this crap to show up online and in catalogs? Do they not have anyone on staff who knows how to use a ruler?

REA's going to have a bigger issue momentarily. It's not particularly good when an expertly altered card shows up in their own PSA submission.

[pip]

Originally Posted by 3124508 on COMC

REA's going to have a bigger issue momentarily. It's not particularly good when an expertly altered card shows up in their own PSA submission.

That doesn't surprise me in the least. Their company was founded by an unrepentant thief who used to rob libraries and they currently employ former clueless graders from a TPG who put a lot of really small, high-ticket altered cards in SGC holders.

[pspa123]

Originally Posted by pip

I see auction houses as part of the problem. That includes REA. It should no longer be business as usual for them--not if they are as concerned about their customers as they are for their consignors' bank accounts. There's too much trimmed and altered sh*t in circulation right now. Use your eyes, guys. Those 48 Leafs are really, really small.

Is anyone else as tired as I am of auction houses acting like there's not a real and growing problem? How can they continue to allow this crap to show up online and in catalogs? Do they not have anyone on staff who knows how to use a ruler?

I personally think Brian/REA have integrity, but as a general proposition far more bad cards have been knowingly put into the hobby by auction houses over the years than by our favorite ebay targets, at least dollar wise. Anyone who thinks that by boycotting PWCC and a couple of other ebay guys they are going to avoid altered cards is naïve.

[pip]

Originally Posted by pspa123

I personally think Brian/REA have integrity, but as a general proposition far more bad cards have been knowingly put into the hobby by auction houses over the years than by our favorite ebay targets, at least dollar wise. Anyone who thinks that by boycotting PWCC and a couple of other ebay guys they are going to avoid altered cards is naïve.

Some but a limited amount, depending on the circumstances. I recall one such situation where the world's smallest 1934 Goudey Gehrig was declared "all good" by Mr. Dwyer. He must have learned a lot from Rob.

[ken161]

Originally Posted by pip

I see auction houses as part of the problem. That includes REA. It should no longer be business as usual for them--not if they are as concerned about their customers as they are for their consignors' bank accounts. There's too much trimmed and altered sh*t in circulation right now. Use your eyes, guys. Those 48 Leafs are really, really small.

Is anyone else as tired as I am of auction houses acting like there's not a real and growing problem? How can they continue to allow this crap to show up online and in catalogs? Do they not have anyone on staff who knows how to use a ruler?

Hobby publications haven't been any help either. The latest Beckett Vintage has several glossy full-color pages of high grade slabbed cards from the major auction houses. Nary a word about all the altered cards outed. Just articles entitled "One for the Record Books."

[chezball]

Has REA been informed about the above cards?

[3124508 on COMC]

Originally Posted by chezball

Has REA been informed about the above cards?

I'm still working on posting more.

[3124508 on COMC]

CURRENTLY FOR SALE IN REA AUCTION LOT #1045
https://bid.robertedwardauctions.com...e?itemid=61862

[superdan49]

PSA Cert #:40814463

1957 Topps #407 Mickey Mantle/Yogi Berra Yankees' Power Hitters PSA 6 to PSA 8 (w/ PWCC-PQ sticker)
Alteration types: Corners sharpened
Set Registry status: In a user's private Registry

Sold on 12/11/2017 as a PSA 6 by PWCC to whitman111 (Gary Moser's eBay ID) for $285.00
Consigned to PWCC and sold on 7/10/2018 as a PSA 8 for $2,950.00
Final price: $2,950.00
Value gain: $2,665.00!


This card was purchased by Gary Moser's whitman111 eBay ID as a PSA 6 and reemerged as a PSA 8 bearing a PWCC Premium Quality sticker. The top two corners were noticeably sharpened by the card doctor, as you can see in the detailed image of the top edges below. I consulted with a longtime dealer who believes the corners were lightly pressed to expand them and then filed to a point. Regardless of the method of the doctor, this is fraud.

Please note: This card was sold as a PSA 8 a second time by PWCC on 3/13/2019. It is from that auction that I took the PSA 8 scans due to their higher quality.

PSA 6: https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1587582
PSA 8: https://www.pwccmarketplace.com/items/1688788

[pip]

Originally Posted by superdan49

That PSA 8 is begging for a black light.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by pip

That PSA 8 is begging for a black light.

do it!

[pip]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

do it!

It sure would be interesting to watch a video of a collector or social media type at the next National Convention as they went from one table to the next and used a black light on all the graded cards. The dealer reactions alone would be priceless.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by pip

It sure would be interesting to watch a video of a collector or social media type at the next National Convention as they went from one table to the next and used a black light on all the graded cards. The dealer reactions alone would be priceless.

Don West, errr Gary V should do it!

[pip]

Better yet, go to the musuem where Ken Kendrick has his collection on display and pull out a black light. Think any of the cards will pass? Can you imagine the potential liability for PSA? Or go to PWCC's vault display if they're still around next year. I bet they wouldn't let you anywhere near it....for obvious reasons.

[MoreToppsPlease]

Originally Posted by pip

Better yet, go to the musuem where Ken Kendrick has his collection on display and pull out a black light. Think any of the cards will pass? Can you imagine the potential liability for PSA? Or go to PWCC's vault display if they're still around next year. I bet they wouldn't let you anywhere near it....for obvious reasons.

A Jackson Pollock painting!

[Bruins1993]

Originally Posted by pip

What percentage do you estimate is altered in those cases? I'm going for 91% (32 out of 35 fully visible).