There is a lot of negative activity going on in #TheHobby right now that is unsavory and unscrupulous.  Unfortunately, the more you read in forums and blogs or the more you listen to podcasts, it appears that an increasingly amount of blatant disregard for any code of ethics continues to rise to the surface.  With the daily discovery of more trimmed/altered modern day and vintage cards, it appears that further manipulation of the sale of these (mostly) graded cards, through the use of 3rd party online consignors and auction houses, are beginning to saturate the market.  Where there is copious amounts of money involved, fraud and fabrication will always follow as greed is a powerful drug.  Sometimes money is even more powerful than crack cocaine, methamphetamine or even heroin.  Money can represent power and success.  I work directly with a population which requires me to address these specific issues often so I see this type of behavior on a daily basis.  In my experience, people will continue to get away with as much as they can until they are caught and held accountable for their actions.  Even then, the truly lost souls will continue to perpetrate criminal acts until they are literally unable to do so because of incarceration/treatment, an epiphany to change or death.

I do not consider myself an expert in the hobby, but instead a student who continues to absorb information and expand my knowledge through self-education, networking with fellow collectors and meeting those directly involved in the industry at events such as The National, the Industry Summit or even local/regional card shows.  Over the last 4 years since I have returned to the hobby as a collector and a very small online eBay seller, I have been able to meet and get to know many individuals throughout the industry including:  breakers, card manufacturers, card graders and autograph authenticators, bloggers, podcasters, distributors, brick and motor owners, online entrepreneurs and most importantly fellow collectors.  This current state of the hobby involving the graded card scandal has many victims beyond the consumers who are purchasing these fraudulently represented cards at auction or through other online/in-person sales.  Reputations of companies, involved in some capacity, are being affected as well as the individuals within those businesses.  I’m not hear to judge or expose these companies as many other more knowledgeable and informed media have taken the forefront in that arena.  I just want to express that this fallout in the hobby will have a lot of casualties and repercussions … including some collateral damage to those associated or affiliated with any of the businesses implicated in this current scandal. There are a lot of good people in the hobby, but accountability has to be accepted and changes have to be at the forefront!

To sum this up, this new level of scrutiny in the hobby should make you think twice now before buying or bidding on high dollar graded cards online.  In person sales, such as at The National or elsewhere, will at least allow the consumer the opportunity to visually inspect the card(s) first for alterations or modifications before making a purchase. Unfortunately, the industry will probably see a dip in prices realized after auctions conclude until confidence and integrity is restored again with the system.  How long will it take for some semblance of trust to return?  As for us, we just started a PC on a recently called up second baseman for the Kansas City Royals, Nicky Lopez.  We have invested in some graded cards on eBay since all this questionable activity has surfaced.  We wonder if the “card doctors” are really worried about a mid to low-range MLB prospect and doctoring up his card to attain the perfect grade and possibly a small profit?

We are hoping not, but never assume anything … right?  Obviously, the higher the potential sale and value garnered from a card, the more opportunity that a card could be considered for altering and modifications inadvertently missed by a grading company during submission.  However, we do have to remember that the amount of cards (so far) being brought to the public’s attention right now is only a very small fraction in the totality of graded cards that have been slabbed and entered into the population over the last 30 years or so.  Here lies the question … how many more are there?

Again, use good judgment and exercise caution when going after high-end graded cards for now.  We all know prices have soared to outrageous levels over the last couple of years and the hobby is still probably trying to figure out where all of this “new” money is actually coming from.  Another topic for another day.

TCB-

Marlin

(SpartyHawk Cache)

May 31, 2019

 

 

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