What Is All This About Grading Stamps?

I've been reading lately about this PSE (Professional Stamp Experts) both here on SCF and other stamp forums.
And it's not a good read.

When I see examples like this on ebay I begin to wonder
and scratch my head in disbelief.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/1158-SUPERB-...200407744810

So you take a minimum value common as dirt, discount postage US stamp,
spend 10 bucks to have it "graded" by the PSE "experts"
and try to peddle it for $24.95 + $3 shipping.

Wow unbelievable. Who would buy this stuff. There just can't be
any collectors out there that stupid.

I mean look at that stamp.

Who cares if its perfectly centered on top of the fact
that the perfs are lousy, looks like some where cut
with scissors.

So far this thing appears to be afflicting mainly America.

I wonder, will it spread?

lithograving....so grading is not for you???
It is for some people....
why belittle what some collect???

I don't think he's belittling anybody. He seems to be pointing out the obvious; that somebody came up with a way to make common postage stamps something that they aren't.

I wouldn't buy it anyway, even if perfect, graded or not. Any seller may ask what they like for a stamp, and it seems there are enough buyers susceptible to marketing nonsense like 'grading' and plastic 'encapsulation' to be parted from their cash in exchange for common cheap stuff presented in this manner.

Terry

The coin market collapsed and the slabbing & grading helped pick things up.

As for stamps I do not think this is a good idea. This will be a fad that dies. As more and more stamps are slabbed the scarcity will diminish and prices will plunge. These are speculators not collectors.

Of course, some grades will be scarce and some collectors will have an appeal toward a nice,clean graded stamp so I am ok with whatever pleases. With stamps no slab for me. I will grade my own. As for coins, if I were to buy a better coin it would be slabbed & graded. The state of the two hobbies and my knowledge or lack thereof dictates my actions.

No offense to anyone but, "A fool and his money are soon parted." Was true 100 years ago as it is today. Though I can't say too much because of a recent and perhaps foolish purchase myself.

There are many reasons for a "foolish" purchase. It's a first time seen item, it fills a hole, it's perfect in every way, it's an impulse buy, it's to prove a point to these "experts" and more I'm sure.


Art

kevin504, what I'm saying is basically that I can't understand
why anyone would pay $25 for a stamp worth 4c postage at best
just because some "grading" expert claims it is SUPERB

If that is belittling someone then so be it.

They printed 125 million of this commemorative.

Even if 95% were used up for postage that leaves possibly 6.25 million mint copies still out there.

Actually this topic has been beaten to death on these forums many times, just punch it into the search.

Actually when I put in PSE or grading stamps I don't find
anything specific to what I asked in my first post.

Maybe they beat it to death down under but I haven't seen it
here.

I agree with the call , that it is a FAD and will catch many people holding graded material as prices fall.

The market for post 1930 graded stamps collapsed a few years back. Before that there were endless threads about the subject. There will always be some people who want to be able to say that "my collection of certificates is better than your collection of certificates".

A couple of years ago I had the good fortune to attend a seminar given by a grading expert, who, by trade also is an expert at forgeries. Some of you probably know him. His name escapes me, as do my notes for the moment, but I asked him about this.
Sparing you all the fine details of the conversation,the bottom line is pretty much the feelings of litho and others here. Unless it's an older, pricey stamp there is really very little need to get it expertized.

I just want to add one more thing.
I'm not saying that PSE or any other grading services are
doing any thing illegal or even unethical. They just want to make a buck.
The guy who takes that graded stamp and puts it on ebay is also
doing nothing illegal but in my opinion he's trying to sell
the Brooklyn Bridge to some uninformed sucker.

Isn't this forum, at least partly about sharing information ?
People are constantly signing up to get advice about what to do
with grandpas collection or what should they pay for this or that
stamp on ebay.
And forum members usually go out of their way to help them.

So how many people here would advise someone to pay $24.95
for that PSE graded US Scott 1158 if he/she came on here asking
whether they should Buy It Now ?

Aren't there new bacterias that eat plastic? Somewhat disturbing for slabbing enthusiasts I would imagine.

The new grading for stamps is possibly also just an addition to the new and detailed grading systems that include the terms superb and extra fine and so on to further detail the niceness of any stamp from certain eras.

I also think of the PHQ Post Office postcards of stamps that Great Britain issued(s) that did not have a market before savvy and smart businessmen used marketing and sales to make them a desired and valuable item to new and old collectors, while before that time they were relatively unknown.

Collectors always collect.

the grading craze will go the same way as the never hinged craze

PHQ cards. Another piece of cash generating printed cardboard nonsense from Royal Mail. For which some collectors will pay more than for the stamp represented thereon. Same goes for presentation packs. I despair sometimes at the gullibility of some collectors.

Terry

Edit for typo. TC.