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Steve Grad Out At PSA/DNA ??

Received an email from a long time collector yesterday telling me that Steve Grad is no longer working at PSA...

Can anyone confirm or deny ??

What are you guys hearing ??

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Permalink Reply by Paul on October 1, 2016 at 5:20pm

But in all seriousness I'm sure there will be other people trying to get some kind of authentication companies of the ground, as they may have done in the past. I read the people from racc were looking for people to authenticate stuff as well, but in there respect they would be better of issuing some kind of certificate for the ip community. They wouldn't be any good with Elvis and the likes of the Beatles etc.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on October 1, 2016 at 7:04pm

Do you mean did Grad leave because PSA is in trouble, Adam? Definitely not. PSA/DNA did about $5.5 million in revenue last year. But how will Grad's and Sobrero's exits affect their revenue, especially if they go into the authentication field? I don't know, but it won't help.

But how will Grad's and Sobrero's exits affect their revenue, especially if they go into the authentication field? I don't know, but it won't help.

As I understand it, Grad's 5-year contract with PSA/DNA was up for renewal and they were too far apart to renew. It wasn't just compensation.

I have a lot of respect for Grad, and for Joe Orlando, PSA's president. I wish they could have worked something out.

I don't know when Grad's new company will open, or if it's for sure in authentication. I think it will be, though.

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Permalink Reply by Joe W. on October 1, 2016 at 7:18pm

I'm a surprised that there wasn't a clause in his contract restricting him into going into the authentication field for a certain period of time.

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Permalink Reply by Xwiesy on October 1, 2016 at 7:52pm

Non competes are incredibly difficult to enforce. Steve Grad has a right to make a living.

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Permalink Reply by Scott Paul on October 1, 2016 at 7:22pm

One hopes if Mr. Grad opens a new company they will have the person that actually looks at the item sign and date the certificate or LOA. I do not like anyone signing a certificate for an autograph that they did not look at themselves and approve. That is the major reason I have not used JSA or PSA except for quick opinon and I quit that long ago. If I collected music or aviation I would gladly use Mr. Epperson or Steve Z. since you know if they sign it they have examined it. It would be good to have a company that specialized in entertainment autographs. I doubt that will happen, though.