What’s going on with TAG?

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by salsdali

PSA is corrupt and incompetent. The literal first card PSA graded was corrupt and it continued with Goldin and hasn't stopped because of the conflict of interest Nat Turner has as being a huge collector who grades with his own company.

So TAG doesn't have any conflict of interest? Working with WhatNot, mystery box companies, having investors getting cards graded for their PC, associating with AI art companies to slab sketchy products, and they have connections with the close circle of Sean Bassik. Don't pretend TAG is any different then PSA, SGC, CGC, and BGS. Every company has skeletons in their closet and TAG is no different.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by salsdali

and all this Reddit and discord stuff, so what?

can someone illuminate me how any of that affects a grade a computer algorithm gives a card?

That's the whole point, that NO amount of human interaction, shilling, etc from the outside can alter the grade, unlike PSA and the constant regrading (crack and resubmit).

Computer algorithms can be manipulated. Could TAG grade a card differently for an investor with a modification of their algorithm? With the BS that happens in the grading world and the "hobby," I don't trust any of these companies. I am glad you blindly trust TAG and put them on a pedestal of moral superiority. I have seen some of the people and companies TAG have been working with and the hobby would be better off without them, but TAG has welcomed them with open arms.

[collective]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

Computer algorithms can be manipulated. Could TAG grade a card differently for an investor with a modification of their algorithm? With the BS that happens in the grading world and the "hobby," I don't trust any of these companies. I am glad you blindly trust TAG and put them on a pedestal of moral superiority. I have seen some of the people and companies TAG have been working with and the hobby would be better off without them, but TAG has welcomed them with open arms.

Just like CGC with Sean Bassik and Jonathan Miller

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by collective

[/B]
Just like CGC with Sean Bassik and Jonathan Miller

Yup, I use CGC and it makes me sick. I just hope the person grading my card cares about their job and has experience. They have graded my cards fairly and that is all I can control.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

Yup, I use CGC and it makes me sick. I just hope the person grading my card cares about their job and has experience. They have graded my cards fairly and that is all I can control.

Don't use them if it makes you so sick, that's what you can control, not whether CGC grades it fairly.

[collective]

I believe CGC grades fairly. I just wish these grading companies would develop a spine and tell these known fraudsters and scammers no. Some things are more important than a quick buck.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by collective

I believe CGC grades fairly. I just wish these grading companies would develop a spine and tell these known fraudsters and scammers no. Some things are more important than a quick buck.

Yup, but this would never happen. If Backyard Breaks contacted any of these grading companies, even TAG, to slab cards for their mystery packs, they would be in a livestream laughing at Grant's "jokes."

[auburn35]

Originally Posted by collective

[/B]
Just like CGC with Sean Bassik and Jonathan Miller

I've seen the Bassik talk (even with TAG), but is there discussion on Miller also being connected to CGC? Would be interested in checking that out.
Same Miller from OCSI group?
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1315750

[YeahBuddy]

CGC for the win!

[collective]

Originally Posted by auburn35

I've seen the Bassik talk (even with TAG), but is there discussion on Miller also being connected to CGC? Would be interested in checking that out.
Same Miller from OCSI group?
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1315750

Same Miller.

[rfgilles]

https://taggrading.com/password

TAG website is being updated. "Be right back. Exciting updates are on the horizon"

[rfgilles]

From Hoi over at Discord

As of Feb 26

- Likely since the Deeppocketmoster's TAG video on Feb 13 (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGBlQKfyg0b) TAG has seen an unprecedented increase in popularity.
- They've seen a 700% increase in submissions
- The Facebook group (as of Feb 26) is at 6.2K members (4.2K increase in the last week)
- The Discord group (as of Feb 26) is at 3.7k members (under 3.0k two weeks ago)

Delays
- Turnaround time- Prior to this TAG was very good about hitting the stated turnaround times. People have now reported experiencing delays

- Sub Kits: Typically these will be sent out to you in 2 days. But they are experiencing delays because of a shortage of submissions kits and increased demand. They received a new batch on Feb 26, per customer support response.

- Customer support: Typically customer support responds within the day or by the next day. But it's been reported they have been receiving messages almost every minute. People have not been receiving timey responses as a result.

- Received status: Typically when packages are delivered to TAG they will be marked as received that day or the day after. Again their receiving department hasn't been able to keep up with the influx of packages.

TAG's response
- I (not TAG) implore everyone to be patient with these growing pains. It's a good problem to have for a small and growing company. Below is based on what we've heard from TAG mainly in the discord server.
- Staff have been working extra shifts to try to catch up
- They are hiring more workers
- They are working on increasing capacity by leasing more space in their building (offices are currently being used as storage space)
- They will build more of their custom grading machines


TAG is the future but this is a good sign of TAG gaining recognition but they will need some time to ensure they build out capacity while still maintaining the quality we all expect.

[discodanman45]

With CGC bulk taking longer and SGC slammed, TAG should be seeing increased business. Grading is insane right now and I am getting many cards in new slabs for well under raw values. People are grading and losing serious money right now. The hobby has lost st it's mind right now. Every $1 card must be verified for authenticity, graded, and put in a huge piece of plastic!

[EscapePlan]

Just sent a card to TAG to test it out. My collection is all PSA but looking to change it up as I’m fed up with the high cost and inconsistency. I also think TAG has the best looking slabs in the business right now with CGC in second and PSA third. Too bad I sent the card in during their busiest time apparently.

[Rcoronoman]

TAG really needs to work on their non-existent customer service if they want to survive this sub onslaught. They ran off their moderators on the discord and rely way too heavily on Hoi to provide any updates (and he’s amazing but not affiliated with them in any way). They don’t respond to messages on discord, their customer service rep on their website (JC) is short tempered and argumentative, and they don’t communicate anything publicly. Like this website shut down, a normal company would have put out messages leading up to this, TAG just takes the site down randomly.

I used to be a huge supporter of theirs, but at this point I’m just hoping they fail. They don’t have the structure to succeed as they ramp up demand. Hopefully someone else buys them out and incorporates their tech into their grading, otherwise, the QR codes will just be dead links in a couple of years.

[anusinha]

im guessing they are getting tons of pokemon right now, with PSA being really slow

[rfgilles]

A 700% increase isn't explained by other companies being slammed, particularly SGC given they do little TCG.

Maybe some people actually like TAG. No it has to be "astroturfing".........

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

A 700% increase isn't explained by other companies being slammed, particularly SGC given they do little TCG.

Maybe some people actually like TAG. No it has to be "astroturfing".........

Or people are being influenced, like Hoi said in your post.

"Likely since the Deeppocketmoster's TAG video on Feb 13 (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGBlQKfyg0b) TAG has seen an unprecedented increase in popularity."

Or people like this, that received 37K views in the last week. Title of the video is "Why You Should Grade Your Cards with TAG (the Bull Case)"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekt39NEqKvQ

It is not hard for a company to see growth like this when they were grading 6000 cards a month. However, the 700% growth, which is also not validated through any statistics, is just because of collectors. Yup, you must be right!

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

Or people are being influenced, like Hoi said in your post.

"Likely since the Deeppocketmoster's TAG video on Feb 13 (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGBlQKfyg0b) TAG has seen an unprecedented increase in popularity."

Or people like this, that received 37K views in the last week. Title of the video is "Why You Should Grade Your Cards with TAG (the Bull Case)"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekt39NEqKvQ

It is not hard for a company to see growth like this when they were grading 6000 cards a month. However, the 700% growth, which is also not validated through any statistics, is just because of collectors. Yup, you must be right!

Not sure what your point is. People are watching videos on TAG and are using the service because of it? Scandalous.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

Not sure what your point is. People are watching videos on TAG and are using the service because of it? So?

Are they using the service because they want transparency in grading or are they using the service to pump the price of their cards up? I wish it was transparency, but I have been in this hobby long enough to know the majority of people that are jumping into TAG because of the good old $.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

Are they using the service because they want transparency in grading or are they using the service to pump the price of their cards up? I wish it was transparency, but I have been in this hobby long enough to know the majority of people that are jumping into TAG because of the good old $.

Again what is your point? Why do you think most people use PSA?

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

Again what is your point? Why do you think most people use PSA?

Which makes TAG no different than PSA.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

Which makes TAG no different than PSA.

If you say so.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by rfgilles

If you say so.

I thought your whole point of TAG was to be transparent and for collectors. Now that influencers are flashing $$$ signs and people seem to be using them to flip cards, you are now impressed by their submission numbers.

[rfgilles]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

I thought your whole point of TAG was to be transparent and for collectors. Now that influencers are flashing $$$ signs and people seem to be using them to flip cards, you are now impressed by their submission numbers.

I'm only excited for the increase in users among those interested in transparency and/or who are collectors.......[that's sarcasm so you don't miss it]

What a weird bone for you to pick, but not surprising. Should I be upset their submissions are increasing?