Grading Isn’t a Scam… It’s a Sham + Pop Reports Are Fake News + The “Insurance Premium” You Pay for Someone Else

Part 3 is where the conversation takes a sharp turn into the mechanics of power. We start with Josh asking the uncomfortable question: if PSA can decertify slabs selectively, what happens when they own Beckett too? From there, it spirals into the real stuff collectors argue about behind the scenes but rarely say out loud. This episode is part hobby debate, part reality check, and part rant. It also includes one of the most memorable analogies of the entire emergency stream: PSA upcharges as “insurance premiums” paid by someone else. Highlights in Part 3 include: The decertification question: what PSA can do, what they won’t do, and why it matters The real concern: what happens to Beckett slabs if the brand is sunsetted Why job cuts at Beckett are basically guaranteed if Collectors is building toward an IPO Will submissions slow down, or does demand stay bulletproof no matter what happens A blunt take on phantom POPs, resubmissions, and why pop reports mislead collectors The PSA upcharge rant: who pays, who benefits, and why the buyer wins Whether standardization in grading would help collectors or expose the whole system Registry culture, resale pressure, and why many collectors chase holders over cards The future question: machine-driven grading, consistency, and what it could do to premiums The Black Label premium debate and why some buyers pay like the number is the card The punchline: grading isn’t a scam, but it can still be a sham Part 3 is where the episode stops being about “PSA bought Beckett” and becomes a broader argument about what grading has turned the hobby into. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices