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PSA/DNA Quick Opinion - Multiple signed Items

Hi, Gang.

I wanted to tell you about my recent adventure with PSA/DNA Quick Opinion. I have only used the service a few times, but when I was reading through the terms and conditions on the PSA/DNA website, I noticed the following clause:

“It is fairly common for auction lots to contain more than one autograph. In fact, some lots may contain hundreds of them. In those cases, in order for the expert to opine on the autographs, each one must be available for viewing. The good news is that if the lot contains multiple autographs and each one is available via scan, our expert can review the entire lot for only $10.00 (or $7.49 for eBay auctions)! “

So, I decided to try this out. For the last 20 years, I have slowly put together a collection of 56 signed Magnum PI cards from the set produced in the early 1980’s. There are 66 cards in the original set, and I have 46 of them signed, with an additional 10 duplicates signed. They include cards signed by John Hillerman, Larry Manetti, Roger E. Mosley, and, of course, Tom Selleck. I have always wanted to have the group authenticated, so I decided to post an eBay auction for all 56 cards as one lot, and requested a PSA/DNA Quick Opinion. About a day and a half later an email arrived from PSA/DNA saying simply “Likely genuine”. I can’t tell you how happy that made me, especially when you think of how much it would of cost to get a QO on each card individually (56 x $7.49 = $419.44).

The question I have is - what if one of the signatures was not authentic but the other 55 were? I have heard that when multiple items are included in an auction being assessed, PSA/DNA will only give one opinion, either “Likely genuine”, if every item is deemed legitimate, or “Likely not genuine” if even one of the items is judged not authentic. If this is the case, then it may not be practical to create auctions with multiple signed items for PSA/DNA to opine on as, if the verdict is “Likely not genuine”, it is difficult to know if in fact one or all of the items are not legitimate.

I have sent an email to PSA/DNA asking their policy on multiple signed items and their Quick Opinion service to clarify these issues. I’ll let you know if I get a response.

Has anyone else had similar experiences with PSA/DNA?

Thanks,

Pete

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on September 19, 2012 at 1:23pm

I think it's fine for a lot to be removed from eBay if it fails Quick Opinion. That's similar to the EMR program. But I don't think they should suspend someone's account after 3 QO fails. An eBayer's lots should be reviewed before they're suspended for subjective authenticity concerns.

Permalink Reply by Peter Lougheed on September 19, 2012 at 7:38pm

Hi, Steve.

If you know a seller has many fake items up for sale, why not spend 3 x $7.49 on three QO for bogus auctions and get the guy suspended?

Could this work?

Would eBay take a long look at the seller's other items, too?

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on September 22, 2012 at 7:00am
If they suspend after three QO failures, it sounds like that may work, but I wouldn't recommend it. I think eBay needs to have a seller's listings reviewed before they suspend them.
Permalink Reply by Peter Lougheed on September 22, 2012 at 11:35am

I agree, Steve. I'm just wondering if PSA/DNA and eBay realize the power they give to individuals to police eBay listings themselves.

Permalink Reply by Brick Hunter on September 19, 2012 at 4:38pm

How often do items which fail Quick Opinion get removed from eBay? I know it's not every time. I have less and less good feelings toward QO.

Permalink Reply by Brandon Mysinger on September 21, 2012 at 6:37pm
I really have a problem with this scenario ( which is different than an EMR reporting ) because there is a question of "who" is the opinionator rendering the opinion(s)? Is the modern entertainment expert rendering opinions on a vintage Football or Baseball item? Is the vintage sports expert rendering opinions on presidential signatures?

Quick opinions rendered from someone behind the "wizards curtain" are not fair to the buyer or seller.

The EMR program is much different. Each EMR member must stand behind their opinions. It's no secret.

There is just something wrong with charging for a quick opinion when the opinionator is unknown and a buyer doesn't really know if the expert rendering the opinion is actually fluent in the genre reported.
Permalink Reply by DB on September 22, 2012 at 1:51am

Good points brandon.  Not knowing who the opinionator is doesn't stop just at QO though. Whether it's JSA, PSA or GA you get the card with the "owners" signature (except NASCAR it seems) more often than not.

The multi-signed item approach that you cite is the way it ought to be handled.  Problem with multi-signed is just that; multiple signatures needing scrutiny.

Case in point an NFL Football Helmet comes thru 4 different sets of eyes and each have the exact same spelling error of a player listed in the description & on the COA.  That spelling would have indicated this individual had never played for that team.  In turn it would have led to the conclusion it's a spelling error or a "disqualification". Some try to write-it off as an oversignt.  However, I frimly believe it was negligence and in fact leads one to believe that all signatures are not evaulated for a myriad of reasons.  The main reason is availability of exemplars -vs- availability of notable exemplars.

Permalink Reply by Peter Lougheed on September 20, 2012 at 7:16am

UPDATE: I still have not heard back from PSA/DNA.

Do they usually answer email sent to them?

Permalink Reply by DB on September 20, 2012 at 8:05am

as soon as they receive an;

& that is not always a given.  It can take several days.

Permalink Reply by Peter Lougheed on October 24, 2012 at 10:40am

After many email back and forth, I received the following message from PSA/DNA this afternoon:

"I apologize for the mix up, but yes if the authenticator feels even one is not
genuine then the whole lot will have the response of “Likely Not Genuine”. 
Please let me know if you have any further questions!"

Permalink Reply by Lou reves on October 24, 2012 at 12:02pm

Quick opinion is a scam to make money, they cant really tell without holding the item to look at, dont waste your money!

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 24, 2012 at 12:47pm

Louie,

I agree that you generally can't tell for sure that an autograph is genuine without inspecting it in person, because it could be a copy. But if an autograph isn't formed right, is a known preprint or autopen, or is signed on something that didn't exist when the subject was alive, can't you tell it's fake from an image alone?

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