In a surprising move, Industrial Inspection & Consulting has rolled out a new service allowing customers to CT scan sealed packs of trading cards for a fee of $75. Originally intended to showcase the precision of their CT scanning technology, this service has quickly become a topic of discussion within the collecting community.
Just recently, Industrial Inspection gained attention for scanning a sealed pack of Pokémon cards, demonstrating the potential of their technology. Despite initially stating they had no intentions of pursuing a card scanning service, the company made a pivot and, as of this week, included trading cards on their list of CT scanning services.
The Service offered by Industrial Inspection involves CT scanning sealed packs of trading cards and providing a viewing program for analyzing the contents, all for a flat rate of $75. Plans are already in motion to extend this service to include sealed boxes as early as the upcoming week.
Reactions within the industry have been varied since the introduction of this technology. One source in the collecting community expressed doubts about the widespread adoption of the service, suggesting that its impact may be limited to high-end products. There are also concerns about whether collectors will be able to interpret the scans effectively without prior experience.
Keith Irwin, the general manager of Industrial Inspection, revealed that the company had received ten requests to scan packs within the first two hours of their initial case study being shared on YouTube. Following this, traffic to their website surged by an impressive 17,000 percent.
“We started to get a lot of interest, not just from individuals and collectors, but also from auction houses,” said Irwin in an interview. “It seems like everybody is curious and eager to be involved. If we don’t offer this service, somebody else will.”
While Irwin refrained from sharing further details due to non-disclosure agreements, he noted that most inquiries revolved around the capabilities of the technology. There is speculation that group breakers might leverage this technology to identify and retain the best boxes, with others considering its use for authenticating sealed vintage boxes.
The introduction of X-ray services for trading cards has sparked concerns within the collecting community. Before the recent case studies, many collectors were unaware that X-ray technology could be applied to this extent. Now, the ability to scan packs at a cost of just $75 has ignited significant debate among enthusiasts.
A sizable portion of the community has criticized this practice. However, Irwin and Industrial Inspection argue that it is crucial to make this service accessible to all collectors, not just those with high-value items.
“Our aim is to provide this service to everyone, not just a select few,” stated Irwin. “We aspire to stand out positively in an evolving landscape. If we don’t offer this service, others potentially will, possibly in less ethical ways.”
The ethical implications of offering this service have raised numerous moral considerations. While collaborating with auction houses or authenticators may have benefits, it could also restrict access for individual collectors looking to verify their collections. It is challenging to differentiate between positive and negative uses of the technology.
Irwin posed a significant question regarding the situation: “If we opt not to do it, what might occur?” He emphasized that if they refrain from offering the service, someone else will step in. Industrial Inspection has chosen to partake in this space as responsible actors in the industry.
Despite their intentions, the potential impact on the secondary market, especially for high-end products, is substantial. While scanning packs or boxes of lower-tier products may not be cost-effective, for vintage sports cards, early Pokémon releases, and premium ultra-modern sets, the technology could be a game-changer.
The actions taken by major trading card manufacturers to safeguard their customers remain unclear. Requests for comments from Panini America, Topps, and Upper Deck yielded no immediate responses.
Looking ahead, Industrial Inspection may continue to flourish with or without the card scanning service, although it does present a lucrative revenue stream. A possible solution for card manufacturers could involve using dosimeter stickers that change color when exposed to radiation, indicating if a box has been scanned.
For now, Industrial Inspection plans to progress with scanning packs and potentially move on to boxes. They are also considering scanning encapsulated sealed packs for collectors who wish to open them.
Despite the services offered, the ethical and moral implications will persist for Industrial Inspection. The company’s acknowledgment on their website, stating that “Pandora’s box is open,” resonates with collectors.
“We have clearly struck a chord within the community,” noted Irwin. “People have deeply immersed themselves in these industries, and it makes us ponder if we have made the right choice. However, if we hadn’t disclosed this and offered it as a service, people might conduct it in secret. We are in a position where inaction is wrong, but action also poses dilemmas.”
