How To Remove A Stamp From Stupid PSE Slab

I like Stalzer's suggestion.


-IBFS

"use explosives to remove the stamp."

To amend the old joke from the 70s, I have a feeling that in case of a nuclear holocaust, the only things left on earth will be

1) Cher
2) Cockroaches
3) Slabbed Stamps from PSE

Lemmy used to be on that list, but unfortunately he finally passed away right after Christmas.

A number of years ago at a stamp show PSe was handing out slabbed stamps as a promo. The stamps inside were common as dirt 3c stamps, so I decided to try to open the slab. I can't recall for sure, but I think I may have used a car key to pry it open, but I do remember for sure it didn't damage the stamp (although your mileage may vary). In any event, I too do not like them.

kevin504 - Yep, my comments are my opinion and I stand by them. The prices asked for the material under plastic are normally ridiculous. The whole grading thing -- plastic cases -- they are marketing tools to get more money from unknowing collectors for material that isn't worth it - period. End of the day your putting lipstick on a pig -- but it's still a pig -OINK!. SO excuse me if I think dealers should be ashamed of themselves in selling inferior merchandise at unrealistic prices and then go to the ends of making sure the sucker -- I mean collector --- who bought the stamp sealed in a plastic case has no ability to physically get at his purchase to examine it. If the Buyer did, they might learn what they REALLY purchased --- was not a truly rare stamp -- they actually bought a pig of a stamp! Kevin504 I'm truly proud in you and your kind -- you follow in the tradition the great P.T. Barnum SO I will take one of his lines and say to you, Kevin504 …. please see the famous "Eggress-- this way->….. and enjoy every minute,,,,,

All I can think of regarding slabbed stamps is the term "putting lipstick on a pig".

HAL.....I am not here to get into conflicy=t with you.
but...actually toy know NOTHING about grading/slabbed items.




Why would he have to.
IT IS ALREADY CERTIFIED!!
THE WORK IS DONE!




YOU HAVE NO CLUE TO THIS EXPERTIZING FIELD.

Yes...you are entitled to YOUR opinion....
But it MY OPINION....
it is not worth 2c in a million dollar conversation.

Now/in the future....I will not entertain
anymore clowns....

Kevin504 wrote to Hal: "You have no clue to this expertizing field." Nothing personal, Kevin. After 55+ years of collecting and being an APS member for the past 42 of those years (as of next month), maybe I have a bit of a clue.

Let's be frank here. The whole grading craze was created for one purpose, and one purpose only: jack up prices. How else does one explain the grading of common 3 cent and 4 cent commemoratives from the 1940s and 1950s worth maybe a penny or two over face? After grading out, never hinged and well centered stamps all of a sudden get a "grade" of 95 or higher. All of a sudden, a very common stamp supposedly is worth $30, $40, or even higher. It's unsuspecting newbies who pay those inflated prices; maybe later on try to sell; and don't get anywhere the price that they paid out; and come away with a bad impression about philately. How does that help the longevity of a hobby whose future is in question? Unfortunately, even the PF subjected itself to the "craze," but not the APS.

The persons making out like bandits are the persons who started the "craze" at PSE. Historically, really good material always rose to the top, price-wise, at auction. No "grading" or "slabbing" was necessary. I also have an advantage in that I was slightly acquainted with one of those principals many years ago, when they were just starting out in dealing stamps. The individual's ethics left something to be desired, shall we say (my dealings with the person were non-philatelic in nature, but very telling).

That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. But if you need to put my opinion into your personal category of "clowns who you will not entertain in the future," be my guest.

Grading in both coins and stamps was created so dealers would feel more comfortable buying/selling/trading sight unseen. Jacking up prices was a side effect.

bobby131313.....thanks.

Climber Steve.....so you think a common 3c commemorative
is easy to get a 98 or 100???
Be my guest...pay the fees....submit...
I promise...it is much harder than you think.

Also...I can add you to the clown category...no problems here.

Sorry to have missed the party, but I could not find my makeup!

Seriously, the clown crap needs to stop because frankly, I am pretty sure that I am the only one on this forum who actually was a clown! I was Ronald McDonald for a bit over 18 months back in the day. (Yup)

Soooo....
Heard from PSE. Fifteen buck charge to unslab and get a paper cert, plus shipping and insurance both ways, because PSE:
"...cannot have a cert and a encapsulated stamp out with the same stamp because of our population report"

HUH???

To me, it sounds like slabbing IS NOT A CERTIFICATION. Yet another reason why I continue to look at PSE as scheisters.

bobby131313 wrote: "grading in both coins and stamps was created so dealers would feel more comfortably buying/selling/trading sight unseen." I have no familiarity with coins. As for stamps, believe that if you so desire. I would offer that making dealers "more comfortable" was not a prime motive for the individual to whom I have already referred.

And no, Kevin, I will not be paying fees to either PSE or PSAG to tell me that a perfectly centered stamp from the 1950s will grade out at a 98 or 100. I use those stamps as postage. Am I losing money? Maybe, but it's also a matter of personal ethics.

We all know there were (and still are) dealers who overgrade stamps when they sell and undergrade when they buy. With a graded stamp, while a buyer can still disagree with PSE (or some other cert), but it does take some of the BS out of the situation.

Grading can apply to any stamp. The fact that some idiots chose to apply it to more modern stamps where a high grade is not rare, but that does not mean there is no value in grading a stamp, even though I generally prefer to just use my eyes when buying.

A night in a car at -30 like it was here few days ago will break the seem and no damage to the stamp

I'm going to partially disagree with the above. I agree from the standpoint of coins and currency. I collected (and still collect) U.S. and world coins for many years. Coins and currency are treated as commodities much more so than stamps, with an active market in sight-unseen purchases, and commodity-based pricing lists (Greysheet, Blusheet, Greensheet).

The same approach and or mindset does not exist with stamps and has never been a factor in the marketplace.

In the case of stamps, I believe the primary motivation was to create a market for high-end standards-graded stamps at inflated prices.

Regarding sight-unseen trading, it is an answer for a question that was never asked.