Grading idiocy

[orly57]

I don't think that grading is the problem. I think that collectors mindlessly buying flips over cards is the problem. We can blame SGC or PSA all we want, but guys will still pay 10x the amount for a subpar 5 than they would for a GORGEOUS 2. We base too much of our pricing on the grade of the card over the appearance of the card. I can't understand why (for example) a psa 4 Goudey Ruth is worth more than a much nicer 2. If population is about the same, what really makes the 4 more valuable? The Flip? It is not graders, but rather, it is our grade-worship that is to blame.
Here are 3 of my t206 cobbs. A 4.5, and two 3s. These cards are as nice as any 7 or 8 and at a small fraction of the price. These cards would be worth over 10x what they are worth if they were in the right flip (and they look the part). Then we wonder why people alter cards. Our grade-worship has made the flip more valuable than the card. Remember when we just liked buying great looking cards like these?

[BeanTown]

Originally Posted by orly57

I don't think that grading is the problem. I think that collectors mindlessly buying flips over cards is the problem. We can blame SGC or PSA all we want, but guys will still pay 10x the amount for a subpar 5 than they would for a GORGEOUS 2. We base too much of our pricing on the grade of the card over the appearance of the card. I can't understand why (for example) a psa 4 Goudey Ruth is worth more than a much nicer 2. If population is about the same, what really makes the 4 more valuable? The Flip? It is not graders, but rather, it is our grade-worship that is to blame.
Here are 3 of my t206 cobbs. A 4.5, and two 3s. These cards are as nice as any 7 or 8 and at a small fraction of the price. These cards would be worth over 10x what they are worth if they were in the right flip (and they look the part). Then we wonder why people alter cards. Our grade-worship has made the flip more valuable than the card. Remember when we just liked buying great looking cards like these?

Those are great looking cards Orlando. You might want to have a Joe Orlando buddy turn it in for you to be graded. I'm sure these cards would qualify for the friends and family treatment.

[T206Collector]

Originally Posted by orly57

I don't think that grading is the problem. I think that collectors mindlessly buying flips over cards is the problem. We can blame SGC or PSA all we want, but guys will still pay 10x the amount for a subpar 5 than they would for a GORGEOUS 2. We base too much of our pricing on the grade of the card over the appearance of the card. I can't understand why (for example) a psa 4 Goudey Ruth is worth more than a much nicer 2. If population is about the same, what really makes the 4 more valuable? The Flip? It is not graders, but rather, it is our grade-worship that is to blame.
Here are 3 of my t206 cobbs. A 4.5, and two 3s. These cards are as nice as any 7 or 8 and at a small fraction of the price. These cards would be worth over 10x what they are worth if they were in the right flip (and they look the part). Then we wonder why people alter cards. Our grade-worship has made the flip more valuable than the card. Remember when we just liked buying great looking cards like these?

Those cards are exactly why we need grading. I'd hate to pay big money for those cards only to find a hairline crease upon closer examination.

[orly57]

I agree. Like I said, grading isn't the Problem. If you prefer to pay 20k for an identical card that doesn't have a microscopic defect, then you as a collector should be protected.

[Yoda]

Leon, OMG, did the soaking remove Cy's football helmet? That variation was very special.

[familytoad]

Grade worship!

Brilliant , and spot on assessment of the culture that we are in, Orly.

Of course, we are smart collectors on this board.
We know what a nice card looks like. About 1 in 10 posts is about grading complaints or grading system issues, but we still know which cards are nice despite the assigned TPG.

When we utilize the TPG, we will often disagree with their paid opinion.
That's no different than disagreeing with a mail order dealer from the old days, or the hopeful listing description of a eBay dealer.

I love that cards come in all different grades, low and high. I like them low.
Not only are the low ones cheaper, but there are fewer disagreements on P/F/G cards.

[familytoad]

IMG_0064.JPG
Still one of my favorite cards, even if it's POOR

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by orly57

I agree. Like I said, grading isn't the Problem. If you prefer to pay 20k for an identical card that doesn't have a microscopic defect, then you as a collector should be protected.

I agree with most comments so far, though I think what Paul said is no way stating a preference toward paying 10X-20x for higher grade cards. I think the point is that grading does help the buyer weed out some of the scammers like Battlefield who would have listed those Cobbs raw, as "NM+++++ EXTRAORDINARY!!!! BLAZER!!!"

Your cards are absolutely gorgeous Orlando, no question. The "3" simply informs a perspective buyer there is some sort of otherwise hidden flaw. That said, I think most of us here would be more than happy to pay the lower price for those cards (thank a 6 or 7), and live with their "flaws".

[orly57]

I know. And that is precisely how I read the comment Ian. I actually agree 100% with him. I wasn't referring to Paul in particular when I wrote "If you prefer...." I meant that grading companies are meant to protect the high grade collector in that fashion. Hope my comment didn't come across any way other than that.
Look, if we all had huge bucks, we would all collect 8s,9's, and 10's. I didn't put up my cards to compare them to 8's. I put them up because as nice as they are, grade-worshippers would pay more for an ugly 5 than for a gorgeous 3. And that was the point of my post anyway.