Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by James Stone on October 30, 2013 at 6:39pm

Thanks for your opinion!

This is a PSA verfied Grant which IMO, looks similar, but again, I am new at this, and like you with the "t" it could be different.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ulysses-S-Grant-PSA-DNA-Signed-Album-Page-f...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James Stone on October 31, 2013 at 9:59am

Interesting, thanks for the analysis because I couldn't tell one from the other. I wish PSA would take 20 seconds to explain why they choose to reject things. I guess that isn't possible.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by VVinola on October 31, 2013 at 12:42pm

I actually have something I want to submit to PSA, but I'm one of those people who, just like you, likes to know the reason for someone's conclusion.  Is there an option to speak to or e-mail the person who did your authentication and ask for an explanation on why he accepted or rejected the autograph?  Please let me know so I can get an idea of the customer service level I am expected to receive.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mike Kaminski on October 31, 2013 at 3:40pm

If you actually send it in to PSA and they reject it, they send you back a letter stating all the reasons why they thought it was bad. He simply did a quick opinion which is not a comprehensive examination. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James Stone on October 31, 2013 at 6:29pm

OKay, I understand. For $10 it makes sense that they don't tell you why. Not to harp on this Grant signature, but I think PSA got it wrong. I hate to pretend like I know what I am talking about when I really don't but I've studied a lot of  PSA certified Grant signatures and I am just not seeing the issue. Yes, if you compare just two there is a difference between the waves and the points, but if you compare a lot of them, Grant will alternate waves and points. I just think the "expert" got it wrong. The top one in the pic below is the one they said was fake, the bottom two are PSA certified. I just don't see the issue. Not that I am trying to talk myself into buying it, I wont. I am just not sure how much stock I can put in their quick opinion. Comments?

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/5466/1bba.jpg

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by VVinola on October 31, 2013 at 8:38pm

I have a feeling that as a customer, you have the right to speak to the person who gave you the quick opinion.  I know, for $10 you're not going to get a written essay but you should be able to speak to somebody on the phone.  It's for their own good too.  Wouldn't it take much more effort for them to ignore you than to chat with you and be done with it?  And I wonder if you can get a second opinion from another staff at PSA.  Just say you want someone with more experience to give you a quick opinion just to make sure the first person isn't way off.  I obviously haven't done this before so I'm just speaking from a customer service point of view.  Keep me updated as I would like to know how they serve their clients.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James Stone on November 1, 2013 at 4:46am

I agree, they should write a small statement as to why they rejected. Obviously they have a reason in their head, so take 20 second to put that reason in the email. That is in their best interest. Because I know people who have been approved via quick opinion and then rejected when sent in. So they are out that money.

Permalink Reply by James Stone on November 1, 2013 at 4:45am

Okay, thank you! Appreciate it.

Permalink Reply by Randy on November 1, 2013 at 5:51am

The "Quick Opinion" is just that. It is intended to mainly detect obvious forgeries and is a useful tool for that purpose. They are spending a few minutes at most looking at the item for the price they charge. Also, they are not saying it is "Fake", they are just saying it is "Likely" that it is bad. 

You have to understand they would be extremely careful giving a thumbs up on a scanned image if they had any doubt because if they say "Likely Genuine" and you buy the item and then submit it for a $100 full opinion and they reject it, you will be ticked off. It does happen but probably not that often.

They once rejected a Mickey Mantle baseball on an Ebay auction I was running. I knew they just totally missed it and was ticked off but I went to a show and submitted it for regular authentication obviously without telling them they failed it on "Quick Opinion" and they authenticated it and graded it a "9".

They have opined "Likely Not Genuine" on other items I knew were authentic as well but that is the nature of opinions. They are not always correct. They aren't always correct even with the full priced authentication and their submission form clearly covers them in that case.

I haven't studied Grant's autograph but just based on the two you posted that they authenticated, I can see enough difference on the questioned one for them to have opined "Likely not Genuine."

Remember, forgeries are supposed to replicate the real signature. It takes a tremendous amount of study to detect the good forgeries from the real deal.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James Stone on November 1, 2013 at 6:58am

True, I understand what you are saying. I guess I just wish they'd take 20 seconds to type a small reply why something is rejected. Thats really all it would take. 20 seconds. How do you know it wasn't some guy making $7 an hour who doesn't like the color of the paper or whatever. Wouldn't you like to know why the quick opinion rejected Mantle baseball? What did they see on the quick opinion that they didn't like.....it would be nice to know. $10 is a nominal fee, but I think they could do that.