Opinions on Graded vs Raw

[gustomania]

So, I collect mainly Koufax in low-mid grade.

Been toying with the idea of some raw in low grade just to throw in some magnetic or a book.

Just curious how people here collect vintage and their thoughts on graded or if people have a preference to raw and why?

[jchcollins]

I don't have a preference, and would just buy raw, but I also don't like to be surprised. With midgrade vintage online, at least you know that a PSA 5 should not have creases, etc. or something you cannot see / would be surprised by if you were holding the card in your hand and it was described as "EX."

There is a lot of subjectivity in grading, especially in the mid-to-lower grades, but for technical standards I still think the TPG's do a good job of helping you to buy sight-unseen. A 5 should not have creases, a 7 should be centered 70/30 or better, etc. etc.

[hcv123]

Raw - in person with a ruler, Loupe, and black light in hand!

[JollyElm]

I would urge you to always keep in mind price differential.

I used to be full-on into non-graded (I abhor the term 'raw' ) with everything in binders, but when I was trying to finish off some sets, it became obvious to me that the prices being asked for graded cards wasn't significantly more (your experience may vary) than their non-graded counterparts, so I began buying slabs and it changed my opinion drastically. (Wow, that's a long run-on sentence.) This was before all the ballyhoo regarding card doctors, but I have always only bought graded cards that in no way appeared doctored, especially with regard to trimming. It used to be that when you got a graded card, you knew exactly what you had, an EX, EXMT or NRMT card, so there was a great level of comfort involved and the card was protected within its slab. Nowadays, you have to be even more diligent in determining whether or not a slabbed card has been messed with, of course, but if there isn't much of a difference in the price between something in a slab and something in just a toploader, it may do you well to buy graded cards here and there.

Good luck!

[CobbSpikedMe]

I collect mostly raw (un-graded for Darren) cards for my sets. I'm not concerned about condition at all so I really don't care about it being graded a 3 or a 5 or whatever. I do have graded cards, but they are all either prewar cards that I like the look of in a slab or I want to protect them from further damage, or they are my PSA 8 80's rookies or PSA 8 Jim Wynns. I really like those ones. Anyway, that's my take on the graded vs. non-graded.

Also kind of funny that I say I don't care about the grade but I collect PSA 8 80's rookies and Jim Wynns. I guess I never thought about that before. Hmmm.

[ALR-bishop]

Agree that ungraded cards are not raw, they are in their natural state