This is the problem with grading...

[Leon]

Let me be devil's advocate for a moment. As I said elsewhere (sort of).

If these registry guys want to collect the number on the plastic, who cares? I think it's great they are having fun and not hurting people. I am very happy with the way I collect and I am sure they are happy how the collect too. It's their money.

[wonkaticket]

Originally Posted by Leon

Let me be devil's advocate for a moment. As I said elsewhere (sort of).

If these registry guys want to collect the number on the plastic, who cares? I think it's great they are having fun and not hurting people. I am very happy with the way I collect and I am sure they are happy how the collect too. It's their money.

+1

I'm in the care less camp as well. Hey knock yourself out if you want to pay 100k for a PSA 10 1978 Topps common enjoy.

[peterose4hof]

I've had the pleasure of speaking with one of the biggest "registry" collectors on many occasions and I can tell you matter-of-factly that he gets the same kid on Christmas morning feeling that the rest of us get when he adds something to his collection.

What's the first thing most collectors will suggest when someone new comes into the hobby? Collect what you like and spend what you can afford.

I marvel at the amounts of money these folks spend, but I would never fault them for spending their money however they see fit. As an added bonus, the big money purchases often bring media attention to our hobby which can only be a good thing in my opinion as it often brings new collectors into the hobby.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by peterose4hof

I've had the pleasure of speaking with one of the biggest "registry" collectors on many occasions and I can tell you matter-of-factly that he gets the same kid on Christmas morning feeling that the rest of us get when he adds something to his collection.

It could also be that buying a bunch of cards of various conditions (and eye appeal) encased in uniform, brand-new slabs, gives them more of a 'new card' appearance - sort of like pulling brand new cards out of a pack as a kid. You're getting old stuff that in a way looks like new stuff. I can see that.

[drc]

Condition of of course is important to everyone in some shape or form, but I was one of those collectors who didn't care if my card was perfect. I didn't and don't comprehend why someone would would pay 3x more for a Mint card over a Nrmt-Mt card. In fact, the obsessive search for 10s sounds like the symptom of a psychological condition to me. I'd like to see a professional psychological profile of people who do this. Maybe something happened to them as children. Maybe a medication could help.

On the other hand, this board is primarily about Pre-War cards where Mints or Near Mints often don't exist for an issue. A different outlook than if you were trying to finish a 1984 Topps set.

Though I have to admit way back when when someone said he was going to try and finish an entirely graded SGC 1977 Topps set, my first thought was "Are you insane?"

And the first time I heard someone use the term 'Gem Mint' I thought he was trying to be funny.

[barrysloate]

As John said collectors have always been competitive, but what the grading companies have done is allow collectors to quantify that competition.

In the old days you and I could have both had raw T206 sets, and maybe I looked at yours and thought mine was better, and you looked at mine and felt your set was the better one. Who knew? We may have both been competitive but we couldn't really determine for sure who had the better collection because there were simply too many variables.

Today, if my set averages 5.1 and yours averages 5.3, the discussion is over. According to the rules of the game, you have the better set. And maybe that appeals to collectors a whole lot. They like to take the guesswork out of competing. Quantifying it makes things more precise.

Of course, the joke is that grading is so subjective to begin with that this illusion of precision is just that: an illusion that collectors buy into hook, line, and sinker. You can't blame the TPG for coming up with this incredible marketing tool for themselves.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Today, if my set averages 5.1 and yours averages 5.3, the discussion is over. According to the rules of the game, you have the better set.

That's only according to the rules of the players playing that game, and even then, for many vintage sets, backs can throw the entire thing off - a T206 Red Hindu back in a 2 holder is worth more than a Sweet Cap back in a 4, but the 4 will win that silly game.

Flip-collecting can really throw off the fun of letting your own personal tastes and creativity get involved. I hear people say they are looking for '3's, '4's, etc., and while not true for all, there are some collectors who really only care if the flip has the number that they are looking for. Not my way of collecting, but to each his own.