Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chad B on April 5, 2012 at 12:24pm

I am interested to here what they say. This should be interested.

I believe the cost associated with being a proper authenticator when you factor in cost of education, advertising, employees to process, time used to study items, etc. would be more expensive than the market would bear. It is much more profitable to be a COA mill, giving items a quick glance and passing them as authentic. In other words, it would be hard to stay in business doing things the right way.  

Permalink Reply by Richard S. Simon on April 5, 2012 at 12:27pm

The COAs in question here are In The Presence COAs. According to the PSA website that means an employee WITNESSED the autograph. No education is necessary, no time needed to study items. I don't know what was done here, though I have to admit I have suspicions. But I await an answer from PSA and an explanation. I will be happy to publish their answer as soon as I receive it.

Permalink Reply by Chad B on April 5, 2012 at 12:36pm

I was writing about authentication in general.

The specific COAs you mention pose special problems. I wonder how someone from PSA can conceivably state they witnessed the signings of everyone you mentioned.

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on April 5, 2012 at 12:38pm

DB said he contacted PSA, too, so hopefully they'll explain their policies and procedures to him. 

Permalink Reply by Richard S. Simon on April 5, 2012 at 1:28pm

That is outstanding. I certainly would love to see an explanation of this policy.

Permalink Reply by E.B.G. on April 5, 2012 at 2:48pm

You bring up an excellent point Richard. Unless PSA is on the street with their labels and computer how would they know that the Cindy Crawford photo that they saw Joe Blow get signed is the exact photo that is being submitted?

Permalink Reply by Richard S. Simon on April 6, 2012 at 5:18am

E.B.G. - these autographed photos do not go through a submission process. They are supposed to be certed on the spot, allegedly they are supposed to have a sticker placed on them within a moment of the item being signed. No submission, just eyewitnessing. They are either out there in the street with stickers and certs or something else happens with these items. That is what I am questioning here. Now, do you think that PSA is out there in the street with stickers and certs?

Permalink Reply by Steve Cyrkin, Admin on April 6, 2012 at 7:29am

Richard,

I have no idea of their process, but it's highly unlikely they would have stickers and certs on the street—if these are witnessed on the street. How would they handle the billing, paperwork and put them into the system? How would they put the DNA taggant on them? It's more likely they would put them in envelopes for each collector and seal them.

Permalink Reply by Steve on April 6, 2012 at 7:16pm

If they did that, then how would they know if someone attached the sticker to a forged photo of the same player.  Since a photo isn't taken of the item, they have no idea what it is attached to, only the name of the person in the photo.

Permalink Reply by Richard S. Simon on April 6, 2012 at 7:34am

I have no idea of their process either Steve, though I can make a guess.

That is why I posted this thread after it was removed from the other forum.

If my guess is right, and 12 years ago they did the same thing (with different people involved), then what they are doing is WRONG, totally wrong. I do have written proof of this happening 12 years ago.

And like you said it is highly unlikely they have stickers and certs in the street, even though that is what they try to imply with in ITP cert.

 

Permalink Reply by DB on April 6, 2012 at 3:56pm

certain comments were candidates for removal but when asked by the owner to identify themselves and they refuse & go on a rant - then they get what they deserved.

Permalink Reply by Chad B on April 6, 2012 at 8:48am

I just looked at their listings. Most currently do not state "In the Presence." They do have multiples of ITP from Clint Eastwood and Harrison Ford along with many lesser stars.

With my limited knowledge, most of the items look authentic to me.

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