In a surprising move, Industrial Inspection & Consulting has introduced a new service offering to CT scan sealed packs of trading cards for just $75. Initially showcasing the precision of their CT scanning technology, the service has now become a trending topic in the collecting community.
Not long ago, Industrial Inspection made waves by scanning a sealed pack of Pokémon cards, demonstrating the potential of their technology. Despite stating initially that they had no intentions of starting a card scanning service, the company pivoted recently and added trading cards to their list of CT scanning services.
The Service
For a fee of $75, Industrial Inspection will CT scan sealed packs of trading cards, providing the necessary viewing program to analyze the contents. Plans are underway to expand this service to include sealed boxes as early as this week.
Industry Reactions
The collecting community is divided over the introduction of this technology. Some express skepticism about the widespread adoption of the service, predicting its impact will be limited to high-end products. Concerns are raised about whether collectors can accurately interpret the scans without prior experience.
According to Keith Irwin, the general manager of Industrial Inspection, the company received ten requests to scan packs within the first two hours of their initial case study on YouTube. Since then, website traffic has spiked by over 17,000 percent.
“We’re seeing a lot of interest,” Irwin said. “Not just from individuals and collectors, but also from auction houses. It seems like everybody is intrigued and wants to be part of it. And if we don’t offer this service, someone else will.”
Irwin refrained from providing more details due to non-disclosure agreements but noted that most inquiries have been about the technology’s capabilities. There is speculation about group breakers using this technology to identify and keep the best boxes, while others consider its use for authenticating sealed vintage boxes.
Community Concerns
The collecting community is apprehensive about the implications of this technology. Prior to recent case studies, most collectors were unaware that X-ray technology could be applied in this manner. The ability to scan packs for $75 has sparked significant debate.
While many in the community have criticized the practice, Irwin and Industrial Inspection argue that it is crucial to make the service accessible to all, not just high-end collectors.
“Our aim is to provide this service to everyone,” Irwin emphasized. “We want to be the ones offering 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 brings up numerous ethical and moral dilemmas. While collaborations with auction houses or authenticators could be viewed positively, they also risk limiting access for individual collectors who wish to verify their collections. Differentiating between positive and negative applications is challenging.
“The big question is: What happens if we don’t do it?” Irwin posed. “If we don’t, someone else will. We choose to be involved because we know we can act responsibly.”
Despite their intentions, the potential impact on the secondary market, especially for high-end products, is substantial. While scanning 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. Inquiries for comments from Panini America, Topps, and Upper Deck went unanswered.
Future of Card Scanning
Irwin mentioned that Industrial Inspection could thrive without the card scanning service, but it does present a lucrative revenue stream. A solution for card manufacturers might involve using dosimeter stickers that change color when exposed to radiation, indicating if a box has been scanned.
For now, Industrial Inspection plans to proceed with scanning packs and eventually boxes. They might also scan encapsulated sealed packs for collectors who wish to open them.
Regardless of the services offered, the ethical and moral implications will be an ongoing concern for Industrial Inspection. The company’s website acknowledges, “Pandora’s box is open,” and collectors seem to echo this sentiment.
“We’ve struck a chord in the community,” Irwin admitted. “People have invested heavily in these industries, making us question if we’ve made the right move. But if we hadn’t exposed this and offered it as a service, people would be doing it clandestinely. We’re in a position where we’re wrong if we do nothing, and we’re wrong if we take action.”
