40 PSE Certs On Ebay 21 Cent Stamps

There also was a fellow on this forum who routinely PSE grades/encapsulates common,cheap International stamps and sells them in his Antiques store for good money.

As someone once said (it wasn't Barnum) "There's a sucker born every minute".

This topic is putting me in one.

Thank you KReltea for sharing that link.
I would not know how to do that. The # of certs
seems to have been way understated at 40.
There seem to be well over 200.

To rmatossian, if you do not understand this, then
well, I will not even go there.

By the way, I have shared this story on more than one thread
and was hoping to avoid it.

In 2009 in NYC Stamp Show at the New Yorker Hotel,
PSE took 82 items from me for certification.
12 # 26's & 12 # 65's, along with many other silly stamps.
I was clueless. I had been to Robert A. Siegel Auction online
and thought I had hit the jackpot. PSE reeled
me in like a fish. Grading most with low #'s.
Then after the show they contacted me and offered
to fly back east for some more. They did not offer any
multiple item discount!

This thread was not started to be about me.
It was started to hopefully warn some beginners,
and anyone that might be a little goofy like me.
PSE will talk up and say anything you want to hear
to make their sale. I understand they are for profit
but they should have some consideration for the weak.
Think about your estate, when you are not there to
guide your family.
I am sure that many of you have a good working
relationship with them. That is probably why no one
"wants to get it".

Rlm

Your warning is important and I hope first time submitters read this thread. At 20$ and up a pop for grading, it is s losing proposition to get your modern stamps graded searching for 98-100 grades. I agree 100 percent and perhaps PSE should have some ethics if they realize that a first time submitter is sending in large volumes and nothing grades over 90.

I still believe those posts on ebay are actually a profitable endeavor for all involved. I bet they are paying 10 bucks or less for a cert.

Regardless, your warning is definitely on the mark.

Rg

"I am sure that many of you have a good working
relationship with them. That is probably why no one
"wants to get it"."

I for one have no relationship with them, nor can I imagine a reason to do so. I "get it". I also get that they are in a competitive business, and will do anything they can legally get away with to get more.

True story:

About 10 yrs ago I got back into stamp collecting. I picked up my old album I had as a kid. I noticed this new thing called "grading". I went through my old collection that gathered dust for past 20-30 yrs. I picked out some of the most valuable and nicely centered US classics. I submitted about 8 stamps. Not one stamp graded better than 70 (unused og 2$ Columbian got a 70). The rest had perf flaws, reperforated, regum, or centering was worse than minimum grade I put on form, so no grade was given. What a disappointment! I put down my album, discouraged that despite the fact I thought a stamp was at least vf 80, PSE felt that they were not.

As a result I left the hobby for next 9 years. Now I'm back for another try, better educated, and less concerned about grade and more concerned about soundness, identification, and what looks good to me and my eye.

I've experienced this disappointment with stamp grading and I appreciate rlm trying to protect others from falling down and giving up the hobby in frustration as I did 8 years ago.

I think there is a role for grading but "the rules" were created by a for-profit industry that took it too far, and made many mistakes

Thanks to all of you.
revcollector, I heard you loud and clear your
first post. Sorry to have to try to interpret your post.
Thank you! I almost went in to "edit" my last post.
I did know of the few that spoke of my concerns.
I was hoping you would come back and speak to this topic.
Thanks also to rg, you spoke well. From experience.

I was looking over the Kelliher Auction #683, they have a large number of graded and to be graded material in this auction;

http://db.kelleherauctions.com/php/...ter=7&page=1

The Kelleher Auction #683 material referenced is primarily the backstock of the E&M Graded Stamps company; the primo Frohnen graded items (including the remainder of the Mark Frohnen graded collection) were sold at a Siegel auction last year.

In coins it happens all the time, people are searching for perfect grade that they can claim are rare and sell for 100's. I think its crazy but if there is an angle to make money someone will try it.

I've also seen, on ebay, relatively or very common cigarette cards offered in slabs with a grading of condition from US companies that certify sports memorabilia. In one case, the card was worth about 50p and in very good minus to good condition (i.e. with a corner flaw), but had been described by the certifier as "excellent to mint".