Grading. First Prototype.

[AndyE89]

So, me and my friend have been dealing in stamps/coins/cards a long time. The other week we were asked if our company would authenticate and put into safe storage and display a few stamps. This is our first prototype.

I never really thought I would be doing something like this, but it is not the first time we were asked. We did it for a fellow collector we have known for some time. I did this prototype, and I figured if this is what we like we will stick with the general idea, but for now I think it could be a cost efficient way to get some great storage and display out of many of small items.

Check it out, tell me what you guys think, again it is still in a rough draft type stage.

 

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[Tallone]

I don't know a damn thing about stamps or coins and precious little about cards so I am probably the last person you would want to consult on a thing like this. That being said, I can only offer the following rhetorical questions: Is the information on your grading tag similar to what other, well-established/well-respected grading outfits put on their tags? Is there anything you might include on your tags that would be an improvement over what others offer?

 

[AndyE89]

I am not doing this to compete with anyone, or any other company. This is for storage and general value ONLY

My opinion, which that is what it is, an OPINION is in a numerical grade for relative value, that is all. The authentication is based on what I have personally seen, and documents that support each stamp. This is for storage NOT for Professional grading.

ATTN: I AM NOT TRYING TO BE A PROFESSIONAL GRADER

Should have made that clear in the first post. This is just for general information and storage as well as display. WITHOUT the cost of the grading companies.

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

I say more power to you ! If you can do something, do it !!

Keep @ it and HH !!

 

[AndyE89]

Another quick prototype. I prefer this one. The guy I am doing them for does as well. It only costs about 15 cents more to make holders like this.

The Logo is also different and I like it a bit more.

 

[Iron Patch]

As long as it's just for fun and they never make it out for sale... because if they do is when you might get called names. Actually, as long as you explained it fully you'd be ok, but still you know how things change hands and it wouldn't be right having it out there without the certification to do it. That being said, I had a way I used to do my coins that looked cool. I first put them in a self-adhesive 2x2, then had a label maker and created a black and gold label to run across the top and bottom. The final thing was I put it in a plastic holder that snapped shut. I have no idea what the holders were for, but the coins fit great, and everything looked pretty good. Definitely not like a professional grader would do, and I never did bother with grades because it was just for my dug coins... so where would you even start with that! In around 2002 when I started buying a few coins to sell I used this method thinking it might be a clever way to have a little advantage, but soon realized the time and effort it took, and how little any buyer cared, it was not worth it. Now that this has entered my mind again, I still have that label maker, as well as the plastic holders, and just have my better coins in 2x2s in a little cardboard box. I very well might revisit that as I still would like all my better coin finds to be done that way.

 

[AndyE89]

I made sure that the top can be removed, or the label on the first, that way in case of second hand market. IE. someone reselling them, they can take off any labels with our name attached to them. The grades should be accurate, but as you said, I am not taking any heat for them hitting the market. I want more the look and feel of graded items, without the cost. Still bearing our name yes, just to get more notice. Call me narcissistic lol

 

[AndyE89]

The last two to get "slabbed" for the time being. Tried keeping uniformity with the 3. That way it looks like a collection through and through.

 

[MUD(S.W.A.T)]

I'd include some kind of disclaimer on the label so it travels with said item...

Keep @ it and HH !!

 

[Reed Lukens]

If you're storing it for someone else I would make sure that the container has a uv light protective rating to help keep the item from aging. A friend has a baseball that is authenticated and they provided the storage box for it at no cost. It is fully protected from uv and other harmful elements. Personally I would be leery of storing someone elses stamps in the open.
I found this link on stamp storage and I'm sure you guys have seen it before but here it is.
How Environment and Pollution can Hurt Stamps, Comics, Baseball Cards

 

[AndyE89]

They are properly stored. No worries. That was the entire point. Thank you for the link, but I have read it a few times. There is not only the original plastic, but there is a plastic window and the material around it is to eliminate or reduce glare from light.

This was thought out, not just thrown into a slab.

As for a disclaimer I just told him that they are just for him. There is no fear of them hitting the secondary market with my name attached to them.

Oh and just to let you know, your friend with the baseball, most of those "display boxes" are very bad at protecting against UV rays, and many VERY expensive examples have been lost due to this hazard. A lou Gehrig auto being one of them.

I would tell him to see what company "included" the box before trusting it.

 

[batcap]

If you are slabbing, describing and applying a numerical or letter grade (in the largest font used) and being paid for it, then you are professionally grading other peoples stamps. Why would anyone paying you to slab and store want to take off your label before reselling? These will be turned loose into the wild. The two biggest issues in your market are counterfeiting and overgrading. If your grades aren't thorough and strict then your credibility at authentication will be suspect too.

 

[AndyE89]

I cannot reiterate it any more clearly.

I AM NOT DOING THIS FOR ANY PERSONAL GAIN. It was done for a friend and fellow collector. Where did I state A. I was recieving payment, and B. That it was my intent for these to hit the secondary market?

How is it counterfeiting when it is done strictly for ONE person to THEIR liking. THAT my friend is Commission and unique service. Maybe some have forgotten that people actually LIKE their collections and want to display them, NOT resell them. Thank you for your excellent information.

I simply wanted to post this in terms of a cool storage I did, yes for someone else but to assume I did it for my own personal gain, like above, is way off base.

Good job with your facts, but you are placing them with accusations and it is offensive. The numerical grade is what he requested, a 1-10 10 being the best.

 

[batcap]

I guess I woke up in a mood this morning. I'm not accusing you of counterfeiting or over-grading, only that these are common problems, and your company with "Authentication" in the name might have something to do with detecting counterfeit stamps. Thus weakness in grading would reflect on the company as weakness in authentication. It would be hard for me to be impartially critical if I was doing this for free for a friend. In that case there wouldn't be a huge volume of them anyway.
So, that second batch with the bigger label is looks pretty good.

 

[AndyE89]

I understand. I will never have my name, on anything like this, actually make it to the open market. For personal collectors, yes. I am confident in my grading and authentication, but that being said it is still a touchy subject and a completely subjective area of collecting. Therefore I do not consider myself a Professional Grader now, or ever. It was a personal request that we had done. The authentication in the name is just my way of branding. It is meant for nothing more than show, as well as the label and how it is displayed.

 

[SCDigginWithAK]

Hehe I'm going to be honest with you. There's one thing I'd change. Make the stamps straighter and not as crooked. Things like that bother me when I'm buying stamps/coins. The last couple were nice a straight. Good luck!