PSA Confidence Buying?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by mq711

The advantage of buying cards in older holders is some of the doctoring/ restoration will start to show over time. “Spooned” wrinkles, pressed corners, etc. will start to reveal their original damage. I realize the TPGers have altered their standards but I think one of the main reasons we see so many overgraded cards in old holders is the cards are returning to their true condition.

I think they had more realistic standards back then. More in line with old school grading. Not grading based on the prevalence of amped up doctored cards where a microspeck on a corner gets you a 7.

[Johnny630]

I have No Confidence in Any PSA Graded Card Unless I submitted the card myself or know the complete history of the card and its owner. Will never buy a PSA Graded card from any auction houses or eBay without having he card in my had.

I’ve bought all my high end amazing stuff from one gentlemen whom is a collector or has purchased and graded himself from virgin raw deals.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

I have No Confidence in Any PSA Graded Card Unless I submitted the card myself or know the complete history of the card and its owner. Will never buy a PSA Graded card from any auction houses or eBay without having he card in my had.

I’ve bought all my high end amazing stuff from one gentlemen whom is a collector or has purchased and graded himself from virgin raw deals.

Yeah John when I first got back into collecting in the early to mid 90s I was plugged in to a guy who had access to those type of deals, there were lots of them back in the day, just about all the cards were good, they just had a certain look to them and I'm sure you know what I mean.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Yeah John when I first got back into collecting in the early to mid 90s I was plugged in to a guy who had access to those type of deals, there were lots of them back in the day, just about all the cards were good, they just had a certain look to them and I'm sure you know what I mean.

Yes sir I do ! It’s a beautiful thing 😊. I was recently able to purchase a High End Raw Virgin Set from my best friend who bought the run from the original owner. They were purchased by the original owner in 1965 or 66 from the card collectors company or another one of the guys putting sets together for sale strait from vending during that time. The set was untouched since then. When my friend opened the box the cards were sticking together like bricks. I’m lucky to have a great friend who let me purchase the set as is :-).

[hammer]

Check out the first card ever Graded by PSA It was the PSA 8 Wagner. That speaks volumes, buy the book called the Card read it Then run.

[Nick55]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I think they had more realistic standards back then. More in line with old school grading. Not grading based on the prevalence of amped up doctored cards where a microspeck on a corner gets you a 7.

The "microspecking" of self-submitted cards is the primary reason I sold off two complete registry sets this past Spring and retired two others that were about 25 percent complete. I honestly thought those would be with me for life.

I stopped buying graded cards altogether in May, when all of this started coming to the surface. Since then, I've spent close to $1K, all on ungraded cards and most being under $25 apiece. I don't need a professional grader to help me navigate those safer waters.

Am I having more "fun" now? No, but it's about the same "fun" as before, except that the difference is nearly all of the frustration and anxiety associated with expensive graded cards has gone away. If a VG raw card worth $3 turns out to be trimmed, so what. I can just buy another one at that price.

Bottom line: collectors either quit or adapt. I've chosen to adapt. I can't imagine myself buying a graded card again until there is a meaningful change in management starting at the top. An apology would help as well. I will allow my membership to expire in the meantime.

[steve B]

What I'd recommend for someone who wants a collection of "cool" cards to share with a kid is to focus less on the condition and more on what makes the card cool.

Usually I say to start with a stack of ungraded commons so you can get an idea of what they should be like, but for some sets that's just not really doable anymore.

Internet purchases can be tougher, even the difference in scanner settings can make something look better or worse. I'm pretty confident in spotting stuff, so if the price was right I'd even buy from a bad cellphone picture. (Like one of my George C Millers... it's pretty beat like the others, but was listed as "old baseball card" with a slightly blurry small picture. ) But to me what makes it cool is that it's one of my favorite sets, and not an easy one to find cards from.

One of my friends asked why I collected cards, and I showed him one card from each decade from 1880's up to the 1990's and explained how the card as a promotional item reflected the country at the time. That might not work for a kid, but showing a card of an old time ball player and telling about him and what he did probably would. My daughters are 7 and 9 now, and I've done that a few times. Not a lot of interest yet, although the older one seems to like stamps, which I also collect. And of course pokemon and magic cards.

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by Nick55

The "microspecking" of self-submitted cards is the primary reason I sold off two complete registry sets this past Spring and retired two others that were about 25 percent complete. I honestly thought those would be with me for life.

I stopped buying graded cards altogether in May, when all of this started coming to the surface. Since then, I've spent close to $1K, all on ungraded cards and most being under $25 apiece. I don't need a professional grader to help me navigate those safer waters.

Am I having more "fun" now? No, but it's about the same "fun" as before, except that the difference is nearly all of the frustration and anxiety associated with expensive graded cards has gone away. If a VG raw card worth $3 turns out to be trimmed, so what. I can just buy another one at that price.

Bottom line: collectors either quit or adapt. I've chosen to adapt. I can't imagine myself buying a graded card again until there is a meaningful change in management starting at the top. An apology would help as well. I will allow my membership to expire in the meantime.

good strategy. I can't SEE feeding such a fraudulent hobby any longer, my eyes are hurtin