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

[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

[WWGjohn]

My whole collection is unslabbed with just a few graded when I could not find anything else. Like many others I'm a set collector and unslabbed is the only way I casn come close to a complete set.

John

[tbob]

All of my E (caramel) and M and D card sets are in slabs, all of my tobacco card sets except the 1909 Obak set and T210s are raw in binders...

[ullmandds]

Interesting concept...it would be a great way to narrow your focus...as many cards just are not available raw?! As much as I hate slabs...they have become a way of life.

[itjclarke]

Everything I have pre about 2006-2007 is raw and will stay raw (by numbers vast majority of my collection). More than 50% of what I've bought since is graded.

It took me a while to accept owning cards in holders that I can not open.. and I still love my raw cards, but it's highly unlikely I'd ever pop cards out that I paid graded prices for.. especially anything that's signed. Just me, but I can't stand the thought of eventually upgrading a given card, and selling the lesser for 20% less I paid because I cracked the holder.

[Matthew H]

Originally Posted by itjclarke

I can't stand the thought of eventually upgrading a given card, and selling the lesser for 20% less I paid because I cracked the holder.

You can always get something graded again. I've put a lot of thought into this, I enjoy cards 100x more raw, if a future buyer wants a card to be graded, something can be worked out.

Cracking a card out and owning it raw is well worth the price of re-grading. That's my opinion. It also keep me on my toes as far as judging condition myself.... If you buy a graded card and you feel like you'll lose money by cracking the holder, it might not be graded correctly.