You're right. It does revolve around them having some idea of whether the book is a client of CI. But, where are we expected to draw the line? CGC has a no slabbed comic sales policy for their employees. Why? Can't we just trust that the graders won't know whose book it is?
That just proves my point, though - CGC already has internal policies in place to ensure there's no conflict of interest for the graders. Has there been any indication whatsoever that those policies no longer exist?
My question is what things should NOT be allowed, then? If we're all protected by some internal policy that no one will ever know whose books is being graded, why care if your employees are buying or selling slabs?
For that matter, why not let the graders know whose book it is? They're supposed to be impartial and completely without reproach, right? Tell them. I'm sure the policies will still hold if the policy tells them not to care whose book it is and to be impartial.
Hi - Here's some more books for you to grade...these ones are from Robojo