Posted By:
Paul MossThis thread will surpass the STAT/Morales train OT trainwreck in posts, barring Leon retains his composure and doesn't drop the hammer on Jim as a disruptive influence. You read it here first.
OK, a few observations.
1. I have to disagree with Jim returning graded cards to auction houses years after the fact. The major grading companies have a guarantee in place, and their sole purpose is to stand behind their service in order that trade might occur within the marketplace between buyer and seller at an accepted level thus alleviating the concerns that both parties might have. That's what they get paid for. If any auction house did in fact refund, contrary to their terms and conditions of sale and years after the fact, then I would question the integrity of that house. I realize that we don't live in a perfect world, and the playing field should be level for all buyers who comprehend the rules of the game, but the word would get out sooner or later regarding something of this nature happening to a high roller, and the cumulative effect of the smaller buyers realizing that they've been played for suckers, would far offset anything the auction house had to gain by kissing the ass of the high bucks player. The high rollers come and go like the tides, but the average Joe Collector who plugs away at his passion will always be there. He is the TRUE backbone of the hobby and never overlook that fact.
2. Watch out for low to mid-grade vintage? Oh puhleeze! That is rock upon which the vintage hobby is built upon. They are the most liquid, with a much larger following than any of the same issues in high grade. Give me a raw VG through EX raw, or slabbed 1-6 of any issue, and I know that the card will sell, with competitive bids for whatever the market is at that particular moment. The high grade darlings are sweat-time because all it takes is one of the three guys that are collecting it in that particular high grade to either miss the auction, be in the midst of a cash crunch, or already have the card, and the realized price tanks. High grade issues become "fashionable", and once a couple of the high rollers move on to other issues, the overall high end market for that particular set weakens considerably but the lower grade stuff just keeps on trucking along. Stability is a good thing. These cards are your best bet for being untouched by the doctors and barbers, though they are the raw material in many cases for the high grade darlings. Like these NM-MT altereds started out in the same grade? Huh?
3. ........and while I'm on a roll. The constant paranoia over the number of altered cards in holders. Jesus Christ, it's getting ridiculous. Sure, there a number in major company holders. It's only natural that a few slip through and have slipped through over the years. BUT, the overwhelming majority of cards residing in holders are as described. The grade is correct and the card has not been altered. I'd be more concerned with some of the vintage residing in older holders that wouldn't make the grade today. Some of those T206 8's from the late 90's wouldn't make a 7 by today's tougher grading standards. The same could be said of many other issues.