Buying older slabs is TERRIBLE advice.
Just as many trimmed cards exist in old holders (and grading standards were looser then). It’s just easier to locate recent subs from trimmers.
The key is to do your OWN research. TPG’s are completely inpet - routinely slabbing altered and even counterfeit cards. But even a broken clock is right twice a day, as they say.
Research the cards/sets you care about (look at commons from the set, ask about provenance, and educate yourself on card doctoring).
Do that and you’ll already have more knowledge than the person who looked at the card for a minute.
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