Posted By:
Frank WakefieldMy youngest kids turn 16 Sunday. Oldest is 35...
When my twins were 4ish, they saw me with cards, and wanted some of their own. I gave each of them a ring binder with 9 pocket sheets, and a few dozen beat up 1960s and 70s Topps cards, most with pen marks on them where someone created a game years ago.
Having a 9 year old son is a good reason to have the cards in slabs. Good enough reason for me, Dave.
I didn't buy slabbed cards to have a slabbed card (well I did only once, because I was going to give the card as a gift), I bought a slabbed card for the reason Judson stated, options at filling holes are few as one progresses into a set.
After the first few cards were broken out I started saving the little slips with the numbers and info on them. Don't know what I'll do with them...
And in thinking back on it, I wasn't buying cards from but half a dozen folks, for the most part, years ago. I'd stumble onto a dealer, buy a few cards from him, and if I liked the cards, the grading, the service, then I'd stay loyal... If they didn't grade to suit, or if they yanked me around with ordering delays and high shipping, then I'd move on. Reflecting on that, the price of the card didn't rile me near as much as shipping costs. Jeff's post got me to see that. Thanks.
Sometimes I bought cards face to face, from folks I knew. And I bought a few at shows. Some dealers were helpful, knew cards, and liked to talk about cards and baseball. I'd make repeat trips to those guys. Some would tell me I couldn't afford whatever card or type I'd asked about, even if he had one, I'd move on, even if I had half a dozen of the type already in my pocket. (Used to put cards in top loaders and pack 'em in pockets in those days, I haven't been to a big show in ten years, anyone still walk around with cards in their pockets?)