View Full Version : BST Terminology
oldjudge
06-06-2021, 01:10 PM
Oftentimes I see BST listings with the following titles: “Want to Buy Low Grade ____”. Maybe it’s just me, but I find these hilarious. Does the buyer really want to buy a low grade card or just a cheap card? Nothing wrong with the latter, but why not just say it. Would the original poster be happy if they were offered a high priced low grade card, or be offended and turn down an offer of a low priced high grade card? “Sorry, that price is attractive but that card is way too nice”
Casey2296
06-06-2021, 01:54 PM
I think it helps the context initially. When I LTB list I usually don't use that term but try and be more specific i.e. I'm building two sets, low grade E98 MS & hi-grade E94 (yes I was sober when I made those decisions) so for the 98's I'll be specific and list 1-3 range, creases ok, no trim, no BSF etc. the 94's I just list hi-grade since that pretty much says it all, only problem is Tbob has em all but that's a different post...
obcbobd
06-06-2021, 02:42 PM
Want to Buy Low Grade ____”. Maybe it’s just me, but I find these hilarious
I think it's just you :) If I want hilarious I'll go with the Marx Brothers or Eddie Murphy.
I've used the term "low grade" because for most of my pre-war sets that accurately describes what I am collecting. In theory I would by a PSA 7 T206 for a raw F/G price, I do not think it has ever happened, not is it likely to. Low grade seems to describe what I am buying accurately.
carlsonjok
06-06-2021, 02:45 PM
Oftentimes I see BST listings with the following titles: “Want to Buy Low Grade ____”. Maybe it’s just me, but I find these hilarious. Does the buyer really want to buy a low grade card or just a cheap card?
The nice thing about this hobby is that there is no wrong way to collect and, for the most part, there are no hobby gatekeepers enforcing their particular vision.
Not everyone has the wallet to run with the big dogs. If you can afford to collect high grade or rare cards, you are fortunate. Not everyone has the same resources or priorities. Stating that they are looking for low grade does a service to buyer and seller by keeping both from wasting time on mismatched expectations.
And, since every thread needs a card:
https://i1.wp.com/onestopcounselingshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Cover-1.jpg?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1
swarmee
06-06-2021, 02:47 PM
Exactly, they're setting a condition for a card they could purchase in that price range. If they says they want a VG card and you offered them an EX-MT card for double, they would have to tell you they can't afford it. Not everyone has the card fund that you big spenders seem to. Some are budget shoppers who prefer to shop in TJ Maxx instead of Saks 5th Ave.
I may be in the minority on this site, but I prefer lowgrade cards over pristine ones. It means the card was played with and handled, not tossed in a drawer and forgotten about. Plus, I don't have to worry about card doctors!
vintagebaseballcardguy
06-06-2021, 03:09 PM
I may be in the minority on this site, but I prefer lowgrade cards over pristine ones. It means the card was played with and handled, not tossed in a drawer and forgotten about. Plus, I don't have to worry about card doctors!
If you're in the minority, then I'm there with you.
CobbSpikedMe
06-06-2021, 03:29 PM
If you're in the minority, then I'm there with you.
Me too! I like this club too.
Since Leon likes to have a card in every thread...
.
i think it's just you :) if i want hilarious i'll go with the marx brothers or eddie murphy.
I've used the term "low grade" because for most of my pre-war sets that accurately describes what i am collecting. In theory i would by a psa 7 t206 for a raw f/g price, i do not think it has ever happened, not is it likely to. Low grade seems to describe what i am buying accurately.
+100000. I always consider the source. And some sources never change.
Eric72
06-06-2021, 03:47 PM
I prefer this over people pretending to be buyers.
Someone had a WTB post. No mention of player, grade, or anything...just sport and decade. I sent them a PM with a link to one of my Net54 photo albums.
They were kind enough to offer almost 30% of recent eBay comps for one of my graded cards.
What a guy.
buymycards
06-06-2021, 04:41 PM
Low grade doesn't always mean low cost. I collect T213-2's and I am willing to pay up for a low grade card that I need for my set. I just don't want to have to mess around with the high grade cards that may be offered if I don't specify "low grade".
For instance, the Cobb shown below isn't exactly cheap, but I am happy with the condition and I am happy with the price that I paid. I don't want or need a higher grade card.
BobbyStrawberry
06-06-2021, 04:52 PM
Oftentimes I see BST listings with the following titles: “Want to Buy Low Grade ____”. Maybe it’s just me, but I find these hilarious. Does the buyer really want to buy a low grade card or just a cheap card? Nothing wrong with the latter, but why not just say it. Would the original poster be happy if they were offered a high priced low grade card, or be offended and turn down an offer of a low priced high grade card? “Sorry, that price is attractive but that card is way too nice”
One might read "cheap" in this context as "only interested if you're selling for less than it's worth."
Rich Falvo
06-06-2021, 06:07 PM
Most of my pre war cards are 1s and 2s, so I definitely mean low grade when I say I'm looking for a card. Usually can't afford the higher grades.
FrankWakefield
06-06-2021, 06:21 PM
please make room among the minority for me...
I want a card that I'm not afraid of touching. Good to Very Good... maybe up a bit. I can live with an occasional tiny pin hole, I don't want a trimmed card, I can live with a wrinkle or crease...
A term I don't understand is Off Back... Is that rare backs, tough backs, scarce backs, skinned backs, official backs... When did Off Back start appearing?
Jcosta19
06-06-2021, 07:43 PM
please make room among the minority for me...
I want a card that I'm not afraid of touching. Good to Very Good... maybe up a bit. I can live with an occasional tiny pin hole, I don't want a trimmed card, I can live with a wrinkle or crease...
A term I don't understand is Off Back... Is that rare backs, tough backs, scarce backs, skinned backs, official backs... When did Off Back start appearing?Off back means any back "not Peidmont or Sweet Caporal." Not sure when it started being used but its certainly easier than saying the above.
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jingram058
06-06-2021, 07:47 PM
A term I don't understand is Off Back... Is that rare backs, tough backs, scarce backs, skinned backs, official backs... When did Off Back start appearing?
I am completely out of touch with pretty much all card collecting acronyms, abbreviations, and terminology.
What is a skinned back, technically?
What is EPDG?
What is EPDG?
El Principe de Gales.
Eric72
06-06-2021, 07:58 PM
...What is a skinned back...
From what I understand, this refers to a genuine card front affixed to a non-original back.
FrankWakefield
06-06-2021, 08:12 PM
The way I read that response it seemed backwards, to me.
A skinned back is where the card has been soaked to the point where the back can be pealed away from most of the card... someone could put that back on a fake front, or a legitimate front to sandwich together the pieces.
Alternatively, a skinned front would be a paper thin version of a card front, where the front was pealed away.
Back when these cards came out, they'd often get pasted into scrapbooks with oatmeal paste. Those cards would easily soak off of the scrapbook pages; and notwithstanding what folks get in a rage about when it comes to graded cards and card altering, these former scrapbook cards are a major source of tobacco cards with sharp corners and high grade numbers.
Back to those kids and scrapbooks... if the cards were glued in with something strong, the result would be where we see paper remnants or torn places on the backs. If the card was severely glued to a sturdy page, then the result of a removal attempt may well have been a paper-thin skinned card front...
Exhibitman
06-06-2021, 09:20 PM
I am in that minority too. I wouldn't be chasing after (alleged) high grade old cards even if I had the budget for it. Something fishy about them.
I want to be the minority...
Stepped out of the line
Like a sheep runs from the herd
Marching out of time
To my own beat now the only way I know
--Green Day
And a card...
https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/music/websize/2016%20Topps%20FP%20Armstrong.jpg
G1911
06-06-2021, 10:29 PM
Technically correct. I'll buy a near mint card for poor prices, but this is not a reasonable expectation I have. "Low grade" clearly and quickly lets potential sellers know what I am looking for so they don't waste their time clicking it, sending a message, and then I counter-offer a raw fair price point for their PSA 7 of the card I'm looking for. I guess I could say "looking for any grade of card, but I am only willing to pay the going rate of a raw good card" but that's just word clutter that servers 0 practical purpose.
brianp-beme
06-07-2021, 01:48 AM
Although I have never posted a "Looking to Buy" in the BST, if I did I would include a "low condition" request. Whenever I have sold cards, I like to call out my lesser beaters as low condition, because it reinforces that the card(s) are not slabbed by a stinkin' third party grader...they are just condition challenged, as all century or near century old cards aspire toward.
Brian
GeoPoto
06-07-2021, 05:52 AM
I have also never posted a WTB in BST. I can see that the wording OldJudge lampooned is actually highly efficient at communicating meaningful information that helps minimize time wasted making offers that would be DOA. But, I have to admit, I got a chuckle out of his point, which I took along the lines of George Carlin asking: "Why do we drive on parkways, but park on driveways?".
Johnny630
06-07-2021, 07:04 AM
If you post that you are looking to buy a specific card people will show you every other card but that card LOL
Say for example you were looking for a 1965 Mickey Mantle PSA 6 Only a PSA 6. People will show you Beckett, SGC, or RAW card with all grades other then a 6.
They will say I don’t have that but I have this meaning trying to offload their junk on you. Hahahah
trdcrdkid
06-07-2021, 07:49 AM
I have also never posted a WTB in BST. I can see that the wording OldJudge lampooned is actually highly efficient at communicating meaningful information that helps minimize time wasted making offers that would be DOA. But, I have to admit, I got a chuckle out of his point, which I took along the lines of George Carlin asking: "Why do we drive on parkways, but park on driveways?".
“Why do we call it a building? It’s already built!”
Eric72
06-07-2021, 08:20 AM
The way I read that response it seemed backwards, to me...
Sorry, I may have done a poor job explaining myself. Here a link to an SGC graded "skinned" card sold by Heritage Auctions in 2020:
https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball-cards/singles-pre-1930-/1887-n172-old-judge-buck-ewing-and-mascot-skinned-sgc-authentic/a/152003-43010.s
This is what Heritage and SGC have in mind when the term "skinned" is used.