Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Roberts on April 19, 2013 at 8:25am

I don't mind them telling me NO its not real - but when I pay them a premium fee on an authentication.  At least I deserve an reason WHY they think its not real, instead of the form letter that they send to everyone.

Very very stupid practice that at least PSA is doing.  I will never use them again. 

I have used JSA at shows and they go out of there way to explain the problems they have with even a $15 authentication when they say its no good..  That is why I am pro JSA.

Mark

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Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on April 19, 2013 at 3:07pm

Mark, as I replied to Chris you guys are making great points about third-party authenticators not being specific in their opinions about why an item is not considered by them to be authentic but I think that they probably want to keep tips away from the forgers.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on April 19, 2013 at 3:03pm

That is a great point Chris.  Perhaps they should be specific in their opinions about why an item is not considered by them to be authentic.  I would imagine that many in the collecting community may side with them not being specific because their explanations may give forgers some tips in their future endeavors.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on April 19, 2013 at 4:02pm

Hi guys

I understand that people want to know "why" something is fake and receive a deailed explanation, but its not as easy as it sounds.

First, most run of the mill fakes are bad because they just don't look right. It's like trying the explain to someone the difference between blue and purple. If your eye isn't trained to know what it is supposed to look like, all the explaining in the world isn't going to make a difference.

Secondly, providing a point by point analysis in writing would be very difficult and time consuming. Would you be willing to pay $100+ for the items you are paying $25 for today?

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Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on April 19, 2013 at 4:29pm

I agree Mr. Zipper.  As far as I am concerned a third-party authenticator is nothing more than a second opinion.  My opinion is the first.  If I am sure of an item I will not bother to send it in but if I am a little unsure then it may look a little "purple" to me and if the item is sent back as not being authentic I will not be surprised.  I will probably understand that something was not right about it when it was originally sent.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Zarelli on April 19, 2013 at 4:50pm

I think of the never ending Mantle threads that have dozens if not hundreds of examples of real and fakes and the difference is as clear as a bell. Yet, many people still can't see the difference.

So how is some TPA going to able to explain it to someone's satisfaction in a letter?

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Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on April 19, 2013 at 4:53pm

Exactly.  They won't be able to.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Roberts on April 20, 2013 at 6:45am

I am talking about providing information why something is not real when you pay $100 or more for the authentication. Worried that the information would be used to help forgers -I don't agree with that.. You might as well try and shut down ebay and the Internet.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Shepherd on April 20, 2013 at 10:45am

Good point.

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Permalink Reply by Carl Ryan on April 20, 2013 at 8:17am

As far as TPAs stating point by point what is wrong, that probably just wont happen. And while i sympathize with those who want to know exactly why something is bad, it wasnt part of the TPAs contract, and thats what we have to remember. Most who get frustrated with the TPAs not telling exactly what is wrong with a piece, are the same people who have paid to have them look at the item. Which in a way is ironic.

For those who pay to have an opinion from a TPA, they pretty much know what they are getting into. The process is pretty well spelled out, and the TPA states what you will receive back once the item is authenticated. So before an item is submitted, the submitter actually knows what will happen if their item comes back bad. They know they wont get a point by point on whats wrong. If the sumbitter chooses to submit an item for say 100 bucks, the submitter knows that if its not authentic they will never see that money again. So from those aspects, the submitters really cant complain about what they got back.

But as far as complaining about what would be nice to have in the future, then i totally agree. It would be very nice if the TPA offered this with their services. IN some cases, a valid explanation may not be able to be given as Zipper pointed out, but in those instances when it could be given, it would be nice to have. I have paid their 75 buck fee for a few items and luckily they passed. I have had a few 50 dollar items fail and it was very disappointing. But what can you do, i paid the fee, so i knew what i would get if it was not authentic.

Thats how i look at it. iT would be a great service to have if possible, but right now unfortunately its not. So at this point you have to acknowledge that you may loose the gamble with no info given.

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