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Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) has been hit with a class action lawsuit by a baseball card collector who claims that the appraisal company knowingly graded altered cards and sold them at auctions.
Plaintiff Eric Savoy, a baseball card collector says that he has sent his own baseball cards to PSA for grading and has bought graded cards from the company.
In fact, he believes that he has purchased at least one graded card despite the fact that it was altered.
According to the plaintiff, a card owner sends a card to PSA in order to get a rating for that card. PSA will then determine if a card is “authentic and unaltered.” If the company determines that the card is authentic, it will grade the card on a 1-10 scale, based on its physical condition. If the company finds out that the card is altered, it will not grade the card on the 1-10 scale.
The plaintiff maintains that the PSA grade will have a direct impact on the market value of the card and that a “step up” of one or two grade could increase a card’s value tenfold, depending on the value of the card.
“Contrary to its guarantees to consumers, PSA in fact graded a substantial number of altered cards on its 1-10 scale,” the PSA class action lawsuit alleges.
The plaintiff maintains that PSA knew that cards were altered when it gave them the grades on the 1-10 scale. The plaintiff states that the altered cards were then sold with their newly inflated ratings and, in July 2019, The Washington Post reported that collectors had identified $1.4 million in the sale of altered cards.
In fact, the Washington Post points to a Stan Musial card from 1952 which reportedly had a spray black print mark on a white frame and sold for $2,800 in late 2017. The article notes that, seven months later, another 1952 Stan Musial card without that print mark was sold for $28,100. Collectors are claiming that the two cards are the same item, which was allegedly altered to remove the blemish, thus inflating its value.
According to the class action lawsuit, other altered cards have stains removed and creases smoothed out in order to increase their value. Sometimes the cards are “trimmed” to create a gap between the card and the edge of the case in which it was placed, the plaintiff alleges. In addition, each card reportedly has its own distinctive characteristics such as how the image on the card is centered in the frame as well as patterns on the fibers on the cards which collect dirt or other debris. The altering of these aspects of the cards could result in a card getting a better grade than it actually deserves, the plaintiff maintains.
“Indeed, collectors were able to use PSA’s records to uncover the scheme, yet PSA contends that it continued to grade altered cards without noticing from its own records that it had previously graded those cards at a lower grade,” according to the class action lawsuit.
PSA’s fee schedule incentivizes the company to over-grade cards for consumers who are willing to pay more so that their cards can be graded, according to the PSA class action lawsuit.
“PSA charges based on the perceived market value of cards and requires consumers to self-appraise the value of their cards before submission,” the plaintiff alleges.
The plaintiff states that PSA knowingly graded cards at higher grading levels for preferred customers who gave the company a high number of cards in order to collect the fees that come with those submissions.
The PSA class action lawsuit claims that the company guarantees consumers that it will not grade altered cards and that if they purchased an altered card, they will “be made whole” for the lost value of the baseball card.
The class action lawsuit also states that the company defrauded consumers by grading cards that were altered and then selling those cards to consumers.
In addition, another defendant in this case, PWCC Marketplace LLC, is accused of knowingly selling cards that were altered that were purported to be unaltered.
“In fact, collectors identified instances in which PWCC sold PSA rated cards which were then altered, submitted to PSA, graded at a higher level, and sold through PWCC by the original buyer,” the PSA class action lawsuit states.
Potential Class Members in this case include: “Individuals who used PSA’s services to rate cards, who bought altered cards that were nonetheless rated by PSA on its 1-10 scale, and who currently hold altered PSA rated cards including, but not limited to, those purchased through PWCC.”
Have you had baseball cards appraised? Leave a message in the comments section below.
The plaintiff is represented by Marcus J. Bradley, Kiley L. Grombacher, and Robert N. Fisher of Bradley/Grombacher LLP, and Sahag Majarian II of Law Offices of Sahag Majarian.
The PSA Altered Baseball Cards Class Action Lawsuit is Eric Savoy v. Collector’s Universe, et al., Case No. 30-2020-01130892-CU-RI-CXC, in the Superior Court for the State of California, County of Orange.
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190 thoughts onPSA Card Class Action Says Altered Baseball Cards Graded and Auctioned
Add me too. Bought a Bobby Orr rookie card from pwcc, Psa sent back to me, no Grade, evidence card trimmed. Bs
July of 2019
There is validity to stating PSA overgrades cards based off of the volume a customer submits. I personally have a friend who spent over 5k with them in 2019 alone. He would show me the stacks of graded cards he received back from them. Over 95% of them received a perfect 10 Gem Mint grade. How is this possible with the way card manufacturers are printing all these cards with defects these days? Because PSA plays farovites with its customers based off of volume. My friend even showed me some cards he received back that he knew would not receive perfect 10’s but because of his submitting style and fat pockets he did receive perfect 10 Gem Mints on those cards. It’s a joke. What used to be the grading leader in the industry is now just a common crook. It’s a shame. Me personally, I sold off my entire collect and lost what used to be a way to bond with my kids and my card collecting friends. Unfortunately the card manufacutures and card grading companies ways have destroyed what pleasure there used to be in the hobby. I hope individuals and family’s can be compensated for there losses due to others sinful ways.
I submitted many cards to PSA for grading, the nicest ones were sent back or given a lower grade. I don’t trust them at all. The have made many mistakes/under graded cards left me scratching my head dozens of times. I stopped using their service 2 years ago. It seems to me, the more you submit, the better grades you get. I have even had cards swapped out and replaced with lesser quality cards. Their customer service is a total joke- the worst ever. Will never buy a PSA card again.
I’ve bought and traded for psa graded cards as well. It’s crazy nobody governs these ppl. Hold them to a standard that they apparently they can’t even keep up. Sad. Done with them as well!
I didnt know they were selling altered cards but i have noticed psa cards graded 10 and they were not 10s. They were off center or had white showing on a corner. Clearly imperfect.. I fugured they did that for certain customers especially high volume repeat customers. Ive been apprehensive about submitting because of this.
It’s a scam Topps upper deck all the grading companies ..there all night n it together .. the cost of cards are a joke anymore . Them cheap bastard won’t even help out with my auction to raise money for disabled vets . I’m done I will never buy another thing from them .pda has runied collecting. All the PSA cards I bought in the past I want my money back how about that
Sorry I was voice texting pissed off sorry for the misspelled words
How the hell is PWCC still selling stuff on ebay. Their still selling altered cards. Makes no dang sense what so ever.
PSA has. Ruined card collection. They all need to go to prison. Alan Rosen is a thief.
Add me class action.
I am open to being corrected on this, but it is my understanding that PSA does not sell these cards. People submit their cards to be authenticated/graded by PSA for a fee and the cards are sent back to the submitter.
Yes. But the grade makes a huge difference. And if they grade mine higher there getting more of my business so it’s a circle.
I think PSA is a total scam. The grading process should not be based on the value of the card to begin with.
Why should they make more money because you have a nice card.
I have thousands of cards that I would like graded but even their bulk rates are ridiculous.
I wish they had trustworthy graders at card shows and on line that have a per card price. They would be rich if done fairly