Industrial Inspection & Consulting has caused quite a stir in the collecting community with the launch of their new service offering to CT scan sealed packs of trading cards for $75. Initially aimed at demonstrating the precision of their CT scanning technology, the service has sparked heated debates among collectors and industry insiders.
Just recently, Industrial Inspection garnered attention by scanning a sealed pack of Pokémon cards, showcasing the capabilities of their technology. While the company initially had no intentions to venture into card scanning services, a sudden change in direction led to the inclusion of trading cards in their CT scanning offerings.
For a fee of $75, Industrial Inspection allows customers to CT scan their sealed packs of trading cards, providing access to a viewing program that assists in analyzing the contents. Plans are already in motion to expand this service to include scanning sealed boxes in the near future.
The response from the collecting community has been mixed, with some expressing skepticism about the widespread adoption of this technology. Concerns have been raised about the service’s accessibility to all collectors and whether individuals would be able to interpret the scans effectively without prior experience.
Despite the reservations, Industrial Inspection’s general manager, Keith Irwin, revealed that the company received a significant number of requests to scan packs within hours of their initial case study being shared on YouTube. Website traffic surged by an impressive 17,000 percent following the release of the service.
Irwin expressed the company’s surprise at the high level of interest, stating, “Everybody seems intrigued and eager to participate, from individuals and collectors to auction houses. If we do not offer this service, someone else will.” While details remain confidential due to non-disclosure agreements, inquiries primarily revolve around the technology’s capabilities and potential applications.
The introduction of card scanning technology has stirred ethical and moral dilemmas within the collecting community. While some view collaborations with auction houses and authenticators as positive advancements, others fear the limitations it may impose on individual collectors seeking to verify their own collections. Balancing the positive and negative aspects of this technology remains a challenge for all involved.
Industrial Inspection aims to make their service accessible to all collectors, emphasizing their desire to be ethical actors in a landscape where such services are inevitably becoming more prevalent. Irwin highlighted the significance of providing transparency and ethical practices in an industry evolving towards innovative solutions like card scanning.
The impact of card scanning on the secondary market, particularly for high-end products, cannot be overlooked. While scanning low- and mid-tier products may not be cost-effective, the technology could revolutionize the handling of vintage sports cards, early Pokémon releases, and high-end ultra-modern sets.
As card manufacturers remain silent on their stance regarding this technology, Industrial Inspection plans to continue expanding their card scanning services. Suggestions for using dosimeter stickers to indicate if a box has been scanned could offer a potential solution for manufacturers and collectors alike.
Despite the profitable revenue stream that card scanning presents, Industrial Inspection acknowledges the ethical implications surrounding their service. The company remains committed to addressing the concerns of the community, recognizing the delicate balance between innovation and ethical practices.
With the Pandora’s box of card scanning now open, collectors and industry players are left to navigate the evolving landscape of the collecting industry. While debates continue to spark, Industrial Inspection forges ahead, intent on providing a service that challenges the status quo and sparks much-needed conversations within the community.
