reasons for buying at an auction

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Posted By: warshawlaw

I agree that you are taking a risk in buying a card from a no-return, no-questions auction. That is the risk you take with any purchase from anyone but a retailer with a return policy.

Understand that the hyperbole on this board is swamping the reality, just as the wave of businessman kidnappings in Tijuana scares the hell out of any traveler to anywhere in Mexico. The reality of both situations is far different than the hype. The people panicking over card alterations are the ones spending $5,000 on PSA 1 of 1 commons and other mega-buck high grade stuff. No one is sitting back and systematically working over T206 commons to bump them from good to vg. Auctions offer a wide variety of materials, often ungraded, often that cannot be found elsewhere, and the vast majority of which has nothing to do with the current hysteria. I just got my winnings from the Burks' last auction and I am very pleased with the cards. I've got one of the best eyes and one of the better backgrounds in the world when it comes to old boxing cards and I buy with no hesitation from the major auctioneers. I just don't buy $5,000 commons for registry sets. If you are looking to create a top tier registry collection, be afraid. If your collecting goals and collecting habits are modest, I think you will be pretty safe in bidding with any established auctioneer.