Commanders Post at The Warpath - View Single Post - People say i got ripped what you think....

PSUSkinsFan21 · 08-07-2006, 05:10 PM

I have to echo TMC here. The thing is a COA is really just a piece of paper unless it comes from a reliable source. In my experience you can count on certificates of authenticity (with corresponding serial-numbered stickers on the item) from PSA/DNA, Tristar Productions, and Steiner Sports. Not to say those are the only ones, but from my research they are the most respected. If JoeBlowSports gives you a fancy looking COA, what kind of guarantee do you really have? Is it really any different than someone saying "Trust me, I promise you it's real"? Just because it's in the form of a piece of paper doesn't make it true.

Also, the money back guarantee does nothing to convince me. Look at it this way: if you spend the money to have an independent verification done by a reputable agency and find out it is a fake, you are out the money for shipping and handling and for the verification. The seller gives you back your money for the item and gets the item back from you. So you lose, and he breaks even. The seller then re-sells the item on Ebay again and again until they sell it to someone who doesn't bother getting an independent appraisal done. Eventually, the seller is going to make his money, but really the reason he guarantees your money back is to make you feel like you can trust him and that he's guaranteeing the item's authenticity. All he's really guaranteeing, however, is that he'll pay back anyone who is smart enough to prove that he's a fraud.......and at worst he'll break even to do that.

That said, I would recommend sending the football to PSA/DNA and having them verify the item is authentic. This should cost you about $10-15. It more than pays for itself because if it's a fraud, you wouldn't want it. If it's authentic, you've just doubled the value of the item because you now have a verified authentic signature from the most trusted agency in the business (and anyone that wants to verify the COA you'll get from PSA/DNA can go directly to their website and track the item by the numbered sticker they will place on your football).

I don't mean to rain on your parade........I'm just incredibly sceptical when it comes to signatures and COAs. From the research I've done on the topic, the incidents of forgery have really exploded with the advent of Ebay. It only makes sense to do what you can to protect yourself.

08-07-2006, 05:10 PM	#11
PSUSkinsFan21 The Starter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Age: 49 Posts: 1,340	Re: People say i got ripped what you think.... I have to echo TMC here. The thing is a COA is really just a piece of paper unless it comes from a reliable source. In my experience you can count on certificates of authenticity (with corresponding serial-numbered stickers on the item) from PSA/DNA, Tristar Productions, and Steiner Sports. Not to say those are the only ones, but from my research they are the most respected. If JoeBlowSports gives you a fancy looking COA, what kind of guarantee do you really have? Is it really any different than someone saying "Trust me, I promise you it's real"? Just because it's in the form of a piece of paper doesn't make it true. Also, the money back guarantee does nothing to convince me. Look at it this way: if you spend the money to have an independent verification done by a reputable agency and find out it is a fake, you are out the money for shipping and handling and for the verification. The seller gives you back your money for the item and gets the item back from you. So you lose, and he breaks even. The seller then re-sells the item on Ebay again and again until they sell it to someone who doesn't bother getting an independent appraisal done. Eventually, the seller is going to make his money, but really the reason he guarantees your money back is to make you feel like you can trust him and that he's guaranteeing the item's authenticity. All he's really guaranteeing, however, is that he'll pay back anyone who is smart enough to prove that he's a fraud.......and at worst he'll break even to do that. That said, I would recommend sending the football to PSA/DNA and having them verify the item is authentic. This should cost you about $10-15. It more than pays for itself because if it's a fraud, you wouldn't want it. If it's authentic, you've just doubled the value of the item because you now have a verified authentic signature from the most trusted agency in the business (and anyone that wants to verify the COA you'll get from PSA/DNA can go directly to their website and track the item by the numbered sticker they will place on your football). I don't mean to rain on your parade........I'm just incredibly sceptical when it comes to signatures and COAs. From the research I've done on the topic, the incidents of forgery have really exploded with the advent of Ebay. It only makes sense to do what you can to protect yourself. __________________ "Hail to the Redskins!" and "Fight on State!"