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My Take On Authenticators

There are so many authenticators now it’s hard to keep up with who is better than who. It seems to me that PSA/DNA is no longer the same company without Steve Grad. I’m not saying they aren’t experienced just that they don’t have the names we’re used to. JSA still has James Spence (Also formerly of PSA) of course but they have lost others to their own new businesses. Beckett is the new power player in the business with Steve Grad heading them up. SGC (Larry Studebaker Formerly JSA) and CAS ( Mike Root Formerly JSA and SGC) are new players as well. Right or wrong it seems resale is better currently on PSA, Beckett, And JSA but I’m not sure SGC and CAS aren’t better... They are certainly cheaper since they’re fighting for business. It will be interesting to see on the coming years if any of the big three crumble without some of their former known and reliable names and if the new guys can wedge their way into what seems to be a pretty exclusive monopoly. As for myself I always look at what I’m buying first regardless of authentication, However I think most people in this hobby (Including myself) tend to stick with what we’re comfortable with even if they’re not the same company they used to be....

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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on March 28, 2018 at 6:50am

Just my opinion. TPAs are just a corporate solution to give uneducated collectors a false confidence in order to sell product. Their opinions are no better and, in some cases worse, than an experienced collector.

What a racket.

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Permalink Reply by Steven Hutchison on March 28, 2018 at 7:07am

I don’t disagree with you. It has it’s positives though with resale but it can go the other way too. If one of these authenticators ever have a scandal like GAI our stuff could ultimately end up being worth less just because of a sticker.

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Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on March 28, 2018 at 4:00pm

Only positives it has is for resale. To many very casual collectors to ruin the brands. Once these places sticker a forgery many consider it authentic forever. These TPA's have harmed the hobby equally as bad as the forgers have. All these TPAs are now in the payroll of many large volume dealers who have very shady pasts and very questionable autographs. EBAY full of these dealers.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on March 28, 2018 at 4:09pm

+1 I hate these stickers as much as I hate a false sense of security, and I will not buy, sell or recommend anything vandalized with free advertising. The placement is frequently very distracting and, far from being subtle (or accidental), it often disrupts the composition (and eye appeal) of the photograph etc.

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Permalink Reply by Steven Hutchison on March 28, 2018 at 4:14pm

I often wonder about some Ebay dealers myself. If they have a “Blank Check” so to speak with certs or if there are actually TPA fakes? I have never and never will purchase anything on there where the dealer says “This isn’t the actual photo but it will be just like this one” regardless of the promised TPA. I need to evaluate the signature myself.

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Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on March 28, 2018 at 5:05pm

Some of them do. These TPA's fly out to these dealers and authenticate privately with them. I've seen where a single authenticator from both PSA and BAS authenticate literally hundreds of autographs in a hotel room in a single night. Happens all the time. I call BS on that.

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Permalink Reply by Eric Keith Longo on March 28, 2018 at 2:43pm

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Permalink Reply by goodcat on March 28, 2018 at 7:43am

from my understanding through certain reads, Steve Grad and Beckett are "NOT" in the top most respected authenticators these days. In fact... If it has a Beckett cert, I will always ask for further opinions.

But I will give Joe's answer a +1

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Permalink Reply by Steven Hutchison on March 28, 2018 at 8:08am

Psa and Jsa have the same reputations also! I hear good and bad from all of them. I don’t prefer one over the other really. I’m familiar with PSA because I take things to them sometimes at a yearly autograph signing in my area.

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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on March 28, 2018 at 8:14am

Beckett, PSA, JSA try to do the best they can. Mistakes happen and, unless they become a conspiracy to commit fraud, they will survive. This is a hobby that relies on opinion. Still, a good autograph will sell itself eventually. These certs are designed to protect sellers and give the potential buyer confidence. Real or imagined.

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Permalink Reply by Rick Meyer on March 28, 2018 at 4:04pm

i won't buy anything with a Beckett sticker. Authentic or not. I think Steve Grad is the most over rated authenticator in the business. He's not as good as people think he is. He's all about money and volume. Look at all the bad BAS stuff. They are a joke.