Scam alert

[ari4l2010]

Hi everyone, I really need some help with a problem I’m having. I tried to send the 4 MODS here an email with my story but for some reason it’s not going through and the tags are not being recognized. I’m hoping that enough eyes see this so we can put this under a microscope and hold people accountable. I want to let you know right off the bat that this has nothing to do with SCF but I view it as a potential collectors problem. I know many of you have amazing connections/networks and am hoping that something comes of this. Here is my story.

All started at Toronto Expo just before COVID hit, I was in the market for a graded OPC Gretzky RC. Went to the show on Sunday and walked the floor like I always do before I decide to make any purchases. I'm hesitant to buy raw cards of the big vintage rookies due to the fact that counterfeits exist out there. Found a couple of PSA and BGS Gretzky RCs that I liked but were a little outside the budget. Made my way to another dealer where I saw a graded Gretzky RC. The card was graded by FGS (Finest Grading Service) and had a grade of 8 on it. Card looked clean and crisp exactly what I was looking for and had great eye appeal. I spoke to the dealer and asked them about the card. He told me that they were a new grading company (similar to MNT) he said. I asked him how much and he gave me a price. I really only wanted to buy a BGS or PSA OPC RC but this one was very nice and within the budget. I asked him if he guaranteed authenticity as I told him I was unfamiliar with this grading company and he said yes. We came to an agreement that I would buy the card from him for 3K providing that I can submit it to Beckett right now for a Raw Review before I buy it. He was more than comfortable with this. knew the card wasn't going to come back an 8. I put it around a 6ish and so I priced it accordingly. Submitted the card to Beckett and got it back toward the end of the show on Sunday. Card was deemed authentic and was given a grade of 6.5 and I was super excited. Wanted to send it back with Beckett so they could slab it but they were already packing up and wouldn't take it as they were getting ready to leave. So I brought it home with me. As we know, COVID hit and shut down Toronto Expo for awhile. Fast forward to Toronto Expo this year and I bring the card with me, still in its sealed bag with the red security stickers on it and untouched. I submit it to them to have slabbed along with some other cards I purchased as well. Fast forward to the middle of January and I get my order back from Beckett. I'm excited to see the Gretzky slabbed in the case and protected. I open the package only to see that the Gretzky has been returned to me taken out of the Beckett bag and in its original FGS 8 holder. I called Beckett dumbfounded looking for answers. I called Charles directly who is the Regional Manager of Beckett (and the gentleman who is always at the Toronto Expo) and spoke to him about the issue. I explained to him the scenario and he said that there was an error when grading the card and that it was a reprint. I explained to him that the sole reason why I bought the card was because Beckett had deemed it authentic and graded it a 6.5 at Expo. I reminded him that I paid money to have experts review the card and deem its authenticity and grade value. He said that too much time had passed from the original raw review and now and they couldn't honour the grade as it should have been submitted instantly for slabbing. I explained to them that they were packing up and then COVID hit but he wasn't interested. I asked him why time was an issue since the card was still in the Beckett bag sealed with the 2 red security stickers to prevent tampering and the sticker was still on the inside visible on the original card but he couldn't answer that question. I asked him what I was supposed to do now since I don't have an authentic Gretzky RC and am out 3K and he said that I should have submitted the card right away to avoid this mess. Again, I reminded him of COVID. I finally asked to speak to someone else about the matter and he said the only other person would be the Owner of Beckett, Jeromy. I ask for his number so I can call him directly in order to avoid having emails going back and forth. He said he couldn't give me his number but would forward my email to him and that he would respond. 10 days passed and nothing. I reconnected with Charles saying I hadn't heard anything from Jeromy. He said he would touch base with him. 2 days later, I received an email from Jeromy. It was an open and honest email where he admitted that the card probably shouldn't have been graded but because so much time has passed, there wouldn't be any compensation for it. I have pictures of the card before it was graded, after in it's bag sealed and when I received it back taken out of the bag. I'm hoping that with your connections, we can put some pressure on Beckett to do the right thing here. If they won't honour the grades that they assigned cards, then what's the point of raw reviewing them. I would appreciate you sharing my story and getting the word out there. I know it might be a long shot but I can't just sit here holding a fake card and out 3K for fancy cardboard.

Thanks for reading and your help.

[piper1]

What is not clear in your thread is who sold you the card and are they still doing the Expo. The show organizers do their best to try and keep them out but they do resurface elsewhere from time to time. We had one guy at the old Civic Centre shows in Ottawa who used to sell counterfeit Jerseys and Autographs. To this day he still does the disappear and reappear act in the area. Like all purchases it is always a case of buyer beware.

[cjb]

I don't see the scam here

All I see is FGS is a bad grading company and the becket guy at the card show was incompetent.

Upon further review, it looks like FGS uses artificial intelligence to grade cards. Probably not a good thing especially when it comes to commonly faked vintage

[ari4l2010]

What is not clear in your thread is who sold you the card and are they still doing the Expo. The show organizers do their best to try and keep them out but they do resurface elsewhere from time to time. We had one guy at the old Civic Centre shows in Ottawa who used to sell counterfeit Jerseys and Autographs. To this day he still does the disappear and reappear act in the area. Like all purchases it is always a case of buyer beware.

No idea who he was. Seemed genuine to me and had other cards that were from other eras. So I’m not convinced that he was aware.

[ari4l2010]

I don't see the scam here

All I see is FGS is a bad grading company and the becket guy at the card show was incompetent.

Upon further review, it looks like FGS uses artificial intelligence to grade cards. Probably not a good thing especially when it comes to commonly faked vintage

You don’t see a problem with Beckett grading the card and saying it’s authentic, you buying the card because Beckett has graded it as authentic and intending to send it in to be re slabbed in a BGS case and then Beckett saying oops we made a mistake, this isn’t real?

[dudical]

Send this to sportscardradio on IG and Youtube.

[ari4l2010]

Send this to sportscardradio on IG and Youtube.

Unfortunately , I don’t have any social media. Would love if you could share my story or provide me with contact info.

[cjb]

The word 'scam' implies intent. I don't think there was intent in this situation, just a lot of incompetence on all ends

[ari4l2010]

The word 'scam' implies intent. I don't think there was intent in this situation, just a lot of incompetence on all ends

Perhaps. I used the word scam because of the way Beckett is trying to hide from their mistake rather than make it right.

[cjb]

But is it beckett's fault? Maybe its the dealers fault for selling you a fake card. Or maybe it's the card grading company's fault for slabbing a fake card?

Would be interesting to see how this would play out in court.