Does anyone collect raw cards exclusively in this age of TPG???

[Wite3]

There are many of us...I tend to only collect raw and when I do end up with a slab, I often liberate the card. I can count on one hand the amount of graded cards in my collection at this point.

Joshua

[4815162342]

This might have something to do with it: http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=168612

[bobbyw8469]

I collect raw when I am set building.

[7nohitter]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

I collect raw when I am set building.

Me too...I HAVE purchased many '57's for my set that are graded, but as soon as I receive them I crack them out.

[Jayworld]

I have and always will collect "raw" cards. Been collecting now for 38 years and counting. All my cards are in Ultra Pro pages in albums, with a handful of "odd" sized cards (T201, Topps 1955 Doubleheaders) in rigid card holders. I don't worry about buying raw, as I buy from 2-3 very reputable dealers on eBay, Deans Cards, and here on the boards. I consider anyone who lists in the B/S/T forum to be reputable. This forum is a very safe place to buy, sell, and just talk cards. Love it!

[sandmountainslim]

I only collect low-mid grade T206 and only raw unslabbed.

[npa589]

For Cubs team subsets that I'm building, if I don't buy raw --- they will be freed, but this isn't to say that some TBG examples are saved from my little flat-head and hammer. Sometimes after I buy a card, it's hard for me to follow through with cracking open a PSA 5 T206 Pfeister when, whether it's sold raw in a couple years or less, or if I send it back to get graded (which probably makes less sense), I know I am decreasing its market value. This is true regardless of what the % increase/decrease is in T206s from now to the time of resale.

I surmise this is why many collectors have resolved to only buy raw. I haven't been able to do that yet, it's hard enough trying to put together a T206 Cubs master set while not purchasing any graded cards!

[SmokyBurgess]

I primary loved and collected cards not entombing the player...until recently...as I just like baseball types now, will get graded examples because of the altering, fraud, deception going on.

Peace of mind.

[brianp-beme]

I went 24 years of collecting vintage without ever owning a single graded card, and still 95% of what I pick up now is raw. Of course it helps that I have low standards.

Brian

[KCRfan1]

I always try to buy raw. I can usually find nicer cards at better prices than graded examples.

[conor912]

Often times I can't even find what I'm looking for raw.

[ALR-bishop]

My cards are not "raw". They are cards in their natural state...

[bbcard1]

Call me a cracker unless I am buying for resale.

[Bocabirdman]

Only recently, I have began to accept slabs into my collection. I had found that the remaining T206 are becoming much more difficult to find raw in a suitable condition. I prefer raw but I had to accept a dose of reality. Out of the first 270 cards , I had 3 slabs. I just passed 300 cards and I have added 20 slabs. I still MIGHT liberate them. I dunno........

[Matthew H]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

Call me a cracker unless I am buying for resale.

+1. I have 9 cards still in slabs because they never made it into my collection. I can't wait to get rid of them.

If I had a t206 card graded PSA 8 I would leave it in the holder, but I'll never buy one that high grade, I just don't trust grading at all. I have one old judge that is near mint, but I bought it raw so it gets to stay that way.. If I had a graded 8 old judge and I wanted to keep it, I'd probably end up cracking it, so that I can look at the edges.

[auggiedoggy]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

My cads are not "raw". They are cards in their natural state...

Yes they are but "raw" is now a commonly used expression. Before TPG, cards were simply cards.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

My cards are not "raw". They are cards in their natural state...

As are mine.


I'm quite handy with a kitchen knife when it comes to removing cards from those plastic cases that the people who get paid for their opinions provide.

Doug

[jerseygary]

When I pick up cards I only buy them unslabbed. I figure if I need to have someone else tell me what it is, what condition it is in and if it even real then I shouldn't be collecting what ever it is. Kind of takes the fun out of it for me. "Fun" is the word here because I tend to only collect for the fun of it. I think the slabs are very ugly and the labels are too "computer-y" for my taste. To me there's nothing as pretty as a free and easy loose stack of '33 Goudeys' sitting on my drawing table!

[kmac32]

My W572 collection is completely raw while my E121, T 207 Cubs, and various Elmer Miller cards are slabbed.

[aelefson]

I have no graded cards. I will not even look at graded cards for sale.

Alan

[VintageGamerN00b]

I'm putting together a '59 Topps set as a gift for my dad and am presenting it in custom binders. Unslabbed cards are so much prettier than PSA graded ones, in my opinion. I'm not necessarily opposed to graded cards if I'm collecting to resell, but for vintage cards that will stay in my collection (or that of someone I know), I only buy ungraded.

I would imagine the majority of the forum members here share this view, especially because many of them are as good as or better than the graders and would never pay $15 to be told something they already know.

[travrosty]

There is no such thing as raw. They are baseball cards.

[g_vezina_c55]

For my T206 set i collect almost only raw cards. I buy graded card only when it is for the high valuable cards.

[auggiedoggy]

Originally Posted by Wite3

I often liberate the card. I can count on one hand the amount of graded cards in my collection at this point.

Joshua

Is that easy to do without damaging the card inside or is there a technique to it. I've not tried that yet but I have a 98-card set that is 3/4 raw and I don't look forward to the time and expense involved in getting it graded.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Wite3

There are many of us...I tend to only collect raw and when I do end up with a slab, I often liberate the card. I can count on one hand the amount of graded cards in my collection at this point.

Joshua

me 2

[Paul S]

Old Skool folk here. It's like The Who's rock opera Tommy -- 'See me, feel me, touch me.'

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Paul S

Old Skool folk here. It's like The Who's rock opera Tommy -- 'See me, feel me, touch me.'

I believe I could fit two entire raw T206 sets in the custom T206 oak box I bought from a forum member. That's keeping them in sleeves only (no top-loader). Even the rigid card-savers add a lot of volume that's unnecessary unless you need to ship them or leave them laying around. Just my opinion - since I primarily sell them in PSA or SGC holders I probably sound hypocritical, but that's just because valuation/pricing is so much simpler.

[Cardboard Junkie]

I used to be a "raw only" guy. Now I am a "graded only" guy....and I prefer PSA. Dave.

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by Runscott

,,,since I primarily sell them in PSA or SGC holders I probably sound hypocritical, but that's just because valuation/pricing is so much simpler.

That's how I would sell mine as well, in most cases , to the general public.