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

[bigfanNY]

In a solid 40 years of collecting I have NEVER purchased a graded card. As someone who has just embarked on cataloging my collection for resale This topic has a great deal of relevance to me. I took a very nice 47 Jackie Robinson Bond Bread to a show to sell and offers were a fraction of the cards worth and everyone said they would have to have it graded to sell. (large show here in NY area) a 1947 Bond bread Jackie Robinson fielding no ball. No reasonable offers got it graded a 6 and now very easy to sell at market or above. Would I prefer if using current pricing models like Vintage card Prices I could sell my collection Raw to knowledgeable folks like here on Net 54 Of course it would save me and everyone bucks. But reality is that if I have cards graded Prices are better and there is no complaints about I didn't notice corner on the scan etc. On markets like Ebay or at auction houses or even if I set up a table at a major show like National or Philly Grading seems to make economic sense. I do not like it But..

[auggiedoggy]

Originally Posted by bigfanNY

In a solid 40 years of collecting I have NEVER purchased a graded card. As someone who has just embarked on cataloging my collection for resale This topic has a great deal of relevance to me. I took a very nice 47 Jackie Robinson Bond Bread to a show to sell and offers were a fraction of the cards worth and everyone said they would have to have it graded to sell. (large show here in NY area) a 1947 Bond bread Jackie Robinson fielding no ball. No reasonable offers got it graded a 6 and now very easy to sell at market or above. Would I prefer if using current pricing models like Vintage card Prices I could sell my collection Raw to knowledgeable folks like here on Net 54 Of course it would save me and everyone bucks. But reality is that if I have cards graded Prices are better and there is no complaints about I didn't notice corner on the scan etc. On markets like Ebay or at auction houses or even if I set up a table at a major show like National or Philly Grading seems to make economic sense. I do not like it But..

Love it or hate its become a necessary evil if you want to sell to the masses. As you say, grading eliminates many questions from potential buyers. The buyer either agrees with the TPG company assessment and buys the card or in a few cases, the buyer does not agree with the grade and doesn't buy the card. When it comes to high-priced HOFers, I personally want the card to be graded. If not then the seller better allow returns.

[jerseygary]

I only collect ungraded/slabbed cards. I'm old enough to tell for myself what grade a card is and like to handle cards like I've done since I was a kid. I was careful then and I'm careful now. Nothing looks nicer to me than a stack of '33 Goudey's sitting on my desk.

Personally I think the slabs are very ugly and the tags on the top look like a supermarket price tag. Maybe if the TPG's did a better design on top I would be less enthusiastic when I bust them out. About 5 years ago I did some work with GAI redesigning the top tags to make them more appealing but nothing ever came of it before they went under.

Perhaps I'd change my mind if I had a super high-grade Ruth or just collected for resale, but I just do it because I love the old cards.

[conor912]

I have a small handful of dealers I will buy raw from, otherwise I buy graded and free them. I decided long ago that holding a slabbed card in my hand, I was spending more time fixated on the flip than I was on the card and it was ruining my enjoyment of them. I cracked open everything I owned and am much happier for it.