Philatelic Foundation Vs. Professional Stamp Experts

I gather that folks on this forum don't care for PSE certs and think that PF certs are better. I have used both (and also PSAG). I like PSE best. I find their service better and I see no evidence that PF's opinions are more accurate.

A couple years ago I sent an email to the PF asking them what distinguishes them from PSE and that I had used PSE previously. Their reply was a terse, "You should just keep using PSE." So at least that one guy who answers their email is a jerk and makes me not want to use PF. I think that the anti-grading strain here may be why folks don't prefer PSE. . .what do you think?

It depends on what the reason is. PSE is a bit more liberal in grading, but I doubt they have the reference collection that the PF has.

I do not believe either outfit is helping the hobby in any way


Peter

I just had my first stamp certified and even though I didn't use the PF, I heavily considered them. The PSE was never considered. Also, the grading aspect really irks me. I consider it a well played gimmick. Just my opinion.

Philazilla - How did you arrive at the conclusion that the PF opinions are no more accurate than PSE's?

A thread which asks for opinions about opinions...which will lead to folks arguing that some opinions about opinions are incorrect opinions...nothing could possibly go wrong here.
Don

Do I need popcorn???

What about APS certs. I think it really depends on what you are sending in. US Classics I'm going with the P.F. or APS. Or maybe Crowe. If grading, I'd probably go with PSE. Of course those are just my "opinions"...

Not a pleasant response from the PF but may have been understandable given their mounting frustration over the swift market capture by PSE, which continues unabated two years hence. In the quest to squeeze every last buck out of a stamp PSE has masterfully taken control. A glance at the upcoming Siegel "gem stamp" sale says it all. It looks like a graded PSE cert is attached to 90% of the lots. And that trend will not change anytime soon.

PSE gives more liberal grades, of course people will send common or obvious stamps there to be graded. That is not the only reason to get a cert, and PSE is not the best in some areas.

The "best" expert committee depends on what you are submitting, why you are submitting it, and how important cost and turnaround time are to you. PF, PSE, PSAG and APEX can each accurately certify the vast majority of stamps. However, there are certain areas where I (personally) would only consider a PF cert.

Just for example, nearly all the perf 10 on one side errors have PF certs.

Although I have a few stamps with PSE certificates, I could care less about grading. The only reason that I will get a certificate is to verify the genuiness of a stamp that I don't have the knowledge, resources, or library to verify myself. To me, grading is just a way to milk the hobby. I'm perfectly capable of determining the condition of a stamp and whether or not it is good enough for my collection. With these things in mind, I definitely prefer the PF or APEX.

One thing amongst many that I like about the PF is that it is a non-profit.

"I'm perfectly capable of determining the condition of a stamp and whether or not it is good enough for my collection".

I'm glad that you are; you would be amazed at how many are not. Even some dealers.

I wasn't asking about grading. . .I know there are a lot of grading haters here (I'm not one). All the auction houses accept PF and PSE. The vast majority of certed stamps I have or have seen are PF or PSE. I rarely see APS or PSAG. I've gotten "bad certs" from both. I've sent the same stamp to both and gotten identical opinions. I get certs on all expensive stamps (VF or better that catalog for $250-$300 or more), and on less expensive stamps that are hard to identify or often faked (flat plat coils, color varieties, etc.) I have seen no actual argument with any backup that PSE certs aren't as good as PF certs. I know some of the expertizers that work for both. I can see that people prefer one or the other, but I'm asking about the quality of the certs. Perhaps someone from the PF or PSE would chime in?

I am trying to understand the point of this.