Trimming - How common?

[jchcollins]

I used to think it was ridiculous to have to seek out a card in a reputable graded holder even for mid or lesser-grade stuff, but if you are going for the pricier items and cannot hold the card in your hands before buying it, it's a prudent step. I once disgustedly got rid of a '55 Topps Clemente RC a week or so after purchasing it because something just looked odd about it and sure enough when I measured, it came up just a fraction short. On the other hand with grading you never can tell. I once had a beautiful E-90 Dockman Cy Young card that I sold online as trimmed because it clearly measured short by specs in the book. Less than 6 months later I saw the exact same card (I knew it was the one I had by the centering and other attributes) for sale under the flag of a well-known dealer on eBay, slabbed in a PSA 5 case. I could have kicked myself, but I guess sometimes in any business it's not what you know, but...