Would you buy a high end (10k) raw card?

[parkplace33]

Love to hear opinions on this.

Example: Let's say you had the opportunity to buy a raw T206 Cobb that was worth 10k for a fair price. Would you do it? Caveat: no guarantees from the seller on what the card would grade, only that it is authentic.

Edit.. you can view in person and examine.

My thought is that 80-90 percent of collectors would not buy that card ungraded, even it was a good deal. I just think it is the era we are in.

[x2drich2000]

I think you will get 2 very different responses if you ask that question on this board and if you ask that question on a random facebook group. My experience board members here are going to be far more trusting of their own instincts where as other groups can't believe raw cards exist that aren't fake. Personally, I've topped out at $5k for a raw card but wouldn't have a problem going higher if I knew the seller or the card was rare enough. I'd be less inclined to do it from a random stranger or for a run of the mill T206 Cobb, Goudey Ruth, etc.

[yanksfan09]

Depends on a lot of things. Can you view it in person and check it very close? if not, depends on who seller is and how clear of pictures you can get. What you think expected value is if graded or authentic?

If it was an exceedingly rare card I'd be way more inclined as opposed to an easy to find type of card.

[jchcollins]

My wheelhouse here would be postwar vintage, but yes - I trust my instincts and knowledge there for raw cards I buy like at the LCS that I can inspect first. I'm not spending thousands of dollars, but have bought more than a few $500 range cards that way. Online, I'm more inclined to look for a slab just for peace of mind.

[icurnmedic]

No chance for me, not good enough to determine alterations. Authentic, yes , altered, no.
That being said , I have bought a modern Cobb Auto from Flawless, (still encased in original flawless holder w/ sticker) for 9K.
Thomas

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by yanksfan09

Depends on a lot of things. Can you view it in person and check it very close? if not, depends on who seller is and how clear of pictures you can get. What you think expected value is if graded or authentic?

If it was an exceedingly rare card I'd be way more inclined as opposed to an easy to find type of card.

Added to the post, you can view in person and examine.

[iwantitiwinit]

Absolutely not. Why would anyone sell something that is genuine and unaltered in raw form when they could profit significantly more if it's graded. There are no free lunches!!

[thatkidfromjerrymaguire]

Unless I knew the seller personally and they could vouch for the ownership history and that it wasn't altered, then no, I wouldn't do it.

I'm making assumptions, but my guess would be that seller may have purchased it in an "authentic" slab, and cracked it out because it has good eye appeal.

Hence, he can only guarantee it's authentic and nothing else.

[1952boyntoncollector]

would you invest in a place that promises you 10% returns?

basically you can always get away with one buy being legit..but in the long run if you do 10 of them..you are going to lose in the long run

why is there always some key card in some KSA or other strange holder when can be in a PSA holder.

Now for low end cards, the costs of grading are prohibitive and i can understand huge discounts versus graded ones

[Carter08]

Originally Posted by thatkidfromjerrymaguire

Unless I knew the seller personally and they could vouch for the ownership history and that it wasn't altered, then no, I wouldn't do it.

I'm making assumptions, but my guess would be that seller may have purchased it in an "authentic" slab, and cracked it out because it has good eye appeal.

Hence, he can only guarantee it's authentic and nothing else.

This would be my fear as well. If you’re positive it’s at least authentic and the price of the raw is less than what authentics go for, that could be an option.

[toledo_mudhen]

Originally Posted by iwantitiwinit

Absolutely not. Why would anyone sell something that is genuine and unaltered in raw form when they could profit significantly more if it's graded. There are no free lunches!!

I agree - Every single high dollar card I have has been slabbed and graded. "High Dollar" means different things to different people. For me high dollar probably starts at $500. Slabs tend to give me a sense of "better protection" (maybe a false sense?) so the grade to me isnt quite as important as the protection and the bonus of a "better valuation".

[toledo_mudhen]

Originally Posted by iwantitiwinit

Absolutely not. Why would anyone sell something that is genuine and unaltered in raw form when they could profit significantly more if it's graded. There are no free lunches!!

I agree - Every single high dollar card I have has been slabbed and graded. "High Dollar" means different things to different people. For me high dollar probably starts at $500. Slabs tend to give me a sense of "better protection" (maybe a false sense?) so the grade to me isnt quite as important as the protection.

[fkm_bky]

Nope...not even for a moment, if I'm investing that much. I'd need a guarantee from TPG or that it will grade relatively accordingly to condition from the seller or I can return it.

Bill

[ullmandds]

It depends…I might? Early on during the pandemic I spent almost 40k on raw cards off eBay. It turned out just fine for me.

[MVSNYC]

Originally Posted by fkm_bky

Nope...not even for a moment, if I'm investing that much. I'd need a guarantee from TPG or that it will grade relatively accordingly to condition from the seller or I can return it.

Bill

This.

[japhi]

Originally Posted by iwantitiwinit

Absolutely not. Why would anyone sell something that is genuine and unaltered in raw form when they could profit significantly more if it's graded. There are no free lunches!!

This attitude has made a lot of people a lot of money the past decade. I mean if every real/unaltered high value card was already graded there would be no more being graded. Yet we have new to the hobby, first time graded, big deal cards hitting all the time.

I respect your position but when did we get so lazy as hobbyists that we can't spot alterations ourselves, and what have the TPG's done lately to prove that they can?

FWIW I'm talking about cards that we know and collect. I feel very confident in buying raw, OPC vintage hockey for instance. I wouldn't feel so comfortable buying pre-war BB without a ton of research.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by iwantitiwinit

Absolutely not. Why would anyone sell something that is genuine and unaltered in raw form when they could profit significantly more if it's graded. There are no free lunches!!

This is why I probably wouldn't do it, although who the seller is would be a factor as well

[bmattioli]

Hell NO.. Nuff said..

[yanksfan09]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Added to the post, you can view in person and examine.

It would depend on the buyers familiarity with the particular issue, if they feel they can determine fakes, alterations etc..., and how much of a discount they feel they're getting as opposed to buying a graded one. Unless it was a rare card or issue I knew very well and felt I was getting a nice deal from a seller I was comfortable with I probably would not. But under right set of circumstances I may bite, and more so if it was a rare issue.

[Leon]

I would not buy a 10k raw card with no guarantee of a numerical grade. I bought this 2k one recently and was guaranteed it is not altered. If the seller wouldn't have agreed to guaranteeing, I would not have bought it..

[butchie_t]

No, my wife would kill me. Everything after that is moot.

Cheers,

Butch

[bigfish]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Love to hear opinions on this.

Example: Let's say you had the opportunity to buy a raw T206 Cobb that was worth 10k for a fair price. Would you do it? Caveat: no guarantees from the seller on what the card would grade, only that it is authentic.

Edit.. you can view in person and examine.

My thought is that 80-90 percent of collectors would not buy that card ungraded, even it was a good deal. I just think it is the era we are in.

If you can see it in person and your gut says it’s good and a great deal. I would go for it.