In an unexpected turn of events, Industrial Inspection & Consulting has launched a new service that offers to CT scan sealed packs of trading cards for $75. Initially aimed at showcasing the precision of their CT scanning technology, the service has now become a hot topic in the collecting community.
Just weeks ago, Industrial Inspection made headlines by scanning a sealed pack of Pokémon cards, illustrating the potential of their technology. Despite initially stating they had no plans to pursue a card scanning service, the company pivoted earlier this week, adding trading cards to their list of CT scanning services.
The Service
For $75, Industrial Inspection will CT scan sealed packs of trading cards, providing the viewing program needed to analyze the contents. There are plans to extend this service to include sealed boxes as early as this week.
Industry Reactions
The collecting community is divided over the introduction of this technology. An industry source expressed skepticism about the widespread adoption of the service, suggesting its impact would be limited to high-end products. The source also questioned whether collectors would be able to effectively interpret the scans without prior experience.
According to Industrial Inspection’s general manager Keith Irwin, the company received ten requests to scan packs within the first two hours of their initial case study being posted on YouTube. Since then, traffic to their website has surged by over 17,000 percent.
“We started to get a lot of interest,” Irwin told cllct. “Not just from individuals and collectors, but also from auction houses. It seems like everybody is mad, but also everybody wants to be involved. And if we don’t offer this service, somebody else will.”
Irwin withheld further details due to non-disclosure agreements but noted that most inquiries have been about the capabilities of the technology. There is speculation that group breakers might use 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 anxious about the implications of this technology. Prior to the recent case studies, most collectors were unaware that X-ray technology could be applied in this way. Now, the ability to scan packs for $75 has stirred significant debate.
A large portion of the community has condemned the practice, but Irwin and Industrial Inspection argue that it is essential to offer the service to everyone, not just high-end collectors.
“Our goal is to make this service accessible to all,” Irwin said. “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 raises numerous ethical and moral questions. Collaborating with auction houses or authenticators could be seen as positive, but it also risks limiting access for individual collectors who want to verify their own collections. It’s challenging to distinguish between positive and negative use cases.
“The grand question is: If we don’t do it, what happens?” Irwin asked. “The answer is, if we don’t do it, somebody will. We choose to participate because we know we can be responsible actors.”
Despite their intentions, the potential impact on the secondary market, particularly for high-end products, is significant. Scanning packs or boxes of low- and mid-tier products might not be cost-effective, but for vintage sports cards, early Pokémon releases, and high-end ultra-modern sets, the technology could be a game-changer.
It remains unclear whether major trading card manufacturers are taking steps to protect customers. Requests for comment from Panini America, Topps, and Upper Deck were not immediately returned.
Future of Card Scanning
Irwin mentioned that Industrial Inspection could continue to thrive without the card scanning service, though it does present a lucrative revenue stream. A potential solution for card manufacturers could be using dosimeter stickers that change color when exposed to radiation, indicating if a box has been scanned.
For now, Industrial Inspection plans to move forward with scanning packs and, eventually, boxes. They may also scan encapsulated sealed packs for collectors who want to open them.
Regardless of the services offered, the ethical and moral implications will be a persistent issue for Industrial Inspection. The company’s website acknowledges, “Pandora’s box is open,” and collectors seem to agree.
“We’ve clearly touched a nerve in the community,” Irwin said. “People have built their lives around these industries, and it makes us question if we’ve done the right thing. But if we didn’t reveal this and offer it as a service, people would be doing it in secret. We’re in a position where we’re doing the wrong thing if we do nothing, and we’re doing the wrong thing if we do something.”
