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

[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.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by Matthew H

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.

No right or wrong in collecting... unless of course you end up doing something you don't really want to do, whether pressured by outside influence or other, but I digress.

Inititally I COULD NOT STAND graded holders. I remember trying to "open" the first one I got and then feeling really dumb. I've since learned to live with them, and don't really mind them anymore (this may change if I ever create a man room display). Love my raw cards too.

I just don't ever want to pay the $7,$8,$10, $12 (whatever the hell it is) per card to get them regraded so I'd be able to make them more sellable down the road... just seems like it could/would add up really quick. I don't buy to sell, but have upgraded a number of cards and am thankful my lower grades in holders simply because it gives me a pretty good rough expectation of what I'd get for them. I'm sure I have a few overgraded cards, and definitely have a few undergraded.. but most are where they belong, so I'm not worried about losing the TPG's #, as much as just paying money I don't want to spend.

Again, no wrong or right here and to each his own. Crackers keep crackin.. flippers keep flippin.. hoarders keep hoardin.. thievers keep thievin... sorry, strike the last comment