In a surprising turn of events, Industrial Inspection & Consulting has rolled out a new service offering CT scans for sealed packs of trading cards at a fixed rate of $75. Initially intended to showcase the precision of their CT scanning technology, the service has now become a controversial topic in the collecting community.
Just a few weeks back, Industrial Inspection made waves by successfully scanning a sealed pack of Pokémon cards, demonstrating the potential of their advanced technology. Although they initially stated no plans for a card scanning service, the company made a sudden shift earlier this week, officially adding trading cards to their list of CT scanning services.
The Service
For just $75, Industrial Inspection is now providing CT scans for sealed packs of trading cards, along with the necessary viewing program to analyze the contents. There are also future plans to extend this service to encompass sealed boxes as early as this week.
Industry Reactions
The collecting community has had mixed reactions to the introduction of this innovative technology. Some industry insiders have expressed doubts about the widespread adoption of the service, suggesting that its impact might be limited to high-end products. Questions have also been raised about whether collectors will be able to interpret the scans effectively without prior experience.
Keith Irwin, the general manager of Industrial Inspection, shared that the company received an influx of ten requests to scan packs within just the first two hours of posting their initial case study on YouTube. Subsequently, traffic to their website has surged by over 17,000 percent.
“We started to get a lot of interest,” mentioned Irwin. “Not only from individuals and collectors, but also from auction houses. It seems like everyone is intrigued, yet everyone wants to be a part of it. And if we don’t offer this service, someone else will.”
While Irwin refrained from divulging further details due to non-disclosure agreements, he noted that most inquiries have revolved around the capabilities of the technology. There is speculation that group breakers might utilize this technology to identify and retain the best boxes, while others are contemplating its use for authenticating sealed vintage boxes.
Community Concerns
The collecting community is understandably on edge about the implications of this pioneering technology. Prior to the recent case studies, most collectors were unaware that X-ray technology could be applied in this manner. Now, the ability to scan packs for a mere $75 has stirred up a considerable debate.
A significant portion of the community has criticized the practice, but Irwin and Industrial Inspection argue that it is crucial to make the service accessible to all, not just restricted to high-end collectors.
“Our aim is to make this service available to everyone,” articulated Irwin. “We want to be the good guys in something that isn’t going away. If we don’t provide this service, others will, potentially in less ethical ways.”
Ethical Considerations
The introduction of this service has sparked numerous ethical and moral questions. While collaborating with auction houses or authenticators could offer some benefits, it also runs the risk of limiting access for individual collectors who wish to verify their own collections. Drawing a line between positive and negative use cases poses a significant challenge.
“The big question is: If we don’t do it, what happens?” posed Irwin. “The answer is, if we don’t do it, someone else will. We choose to participate because we believe we can act responsibly.”
Despite their intentions, the potential impact on the secondary market, particularly for high-end products, is substantial. While scanning packs or boxes of low- and mid-tier products may not be cost-effective, for vintage sports cards, early Pokémon releases, and high-end ultra-modern sets, the technology could be revolutionary.
It remains uncertain if major trading card manufacturers are taking steps to safeguard customers. Requests for comments from Panini America, Topps, and Upper Deck went unanswered.
Future of Card Scanning
Irwin mentioned that Industrial Inspection could thrive even without the card scanning service, but acknowledges its potential as a lucrative revenue stream. One possible solution for card manufacturers could involve dosimeter stickers that change color upon exposure to radiation, indicating whether a box has been scanned.
In the immediate future, Industrial Inspection plans to forge ahead with scanning packs and, eventually, boxes. They are also considering scanning encapsulated sealed packs for collectors who desire to open them.
Regardless of the services offered, the ethical and moral implications will remain a recurring issue for Industrial Inspection. The company’s website admits, “Pandora’s box is open,” a sentiment that seems to resonate with collectors.
“We’ve definitely struck a nerve within the community,” acknowledged Irwin. “People have invested their lives in these industries, and it prompts us to question if we’ve made the right choice. But if we hadn’t revealed this and made it a service, people would be engaging in it clandestinely. We find ourselves in a position where we’re wrong if we do nothing, and we’re wrong if we do something.”
