So what's safe to buy?

[Promethius88]

If you collect as a hobby and for the enjoyment of collecting, buy whatever you want. Let's take a step back for just a moment. Acccording to Merriam-Webster, these are the definitions of "hobby" and "collecting"...

Definition of hobby -
: a pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation

Definition of collecting -
: to gather an accumulation of (objects) especially as a hobby

If these are the reasons you are into cards, the money shouldn't matter. If you are investing, then it's a different story and the two terms don't really apply. Truth is, we are all going to be dead one day and none of it will matter.
If you fish or hunt as a hobby(just an example) you may spend thousands of dollars on gear, trips, etc. What do you have in the end??? Memories.
If you spending 10 hours a day reading posts about the current situation, losing sleep, stressing in general, then maybe this really isn't a hobby.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I would say it's more a matter of; Whom is it safe to buy from?

[SMPEP]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

I would say it's more a matter of; Whom is it safe to buy from?

Aquarian Sports Cards, duh.

[pokerplyr80]

There's risk in every transaction. Look at the mess another member got into making a legitimate Ebay sale and dealing with PayPal. You can let it ruin the hobby for you, keep you on the sidelines for a while and see what happens, or just accept it and try to minimize the risk as best as you can. I will be going with the last option I mentioned.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

There's risk in every transaction. Look at the mess another member got into making a legitimate Ebay sale and dealing with PayPal. You can let it ruin the hobby for you, keep you on the sidelines for a while and see what happens, or just accept it and try to minimize the risk as best as you can. I will be going with the last option I mentioned.

For me this just confirms what I've known all along and I've had a methodology for trying to minimize the risk of altered cards for a long time. I'm waiting for a bit to see more certs exposed so I know whether I have to adjust my methodology at all, and I've completely punted one seller from consideration, but I think in the end it will continue to be proceed with caution rather than give up.

[Kenny Cole]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

For me this just confirms what I've known all along and I've had a methodology for trying to minimize the risk of altered cards for a long time. I'm waiting for a bit to see more certs exposed so I know whether I have to adjust my methodology at all, and I've completely punted one seller from consideration, but I think in the end it will continue to be proceed with caution rather than give up.

I have tried to be cautious as well. At this point, I'm going pretty slow. It is fair to say that I still want new and better vintage cards. But at this point, if I'm sure of anything, I'm sure they won't be from PWCC, nor will I give much credence to anything that PSA, Beckett, or even SGC has to say. If I have the least doubt, I'm not going there right now.

I watched another one of my white whales get sold last night and I wasn't even tempted to bid. Didn't trust it. A year ago, I would have been all over it. Would have bid more. So it goes.

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

For me this just confirms what I've known all along and I've had a methodology for trying to minimize the risk of altered cards for a long time. I'm waiting for a bit to see more certs exposed so I know whether I have to adjust my methodology at all, and I've completely punted one seller from consideration, but I think in the end it will continue to be proceed with caution rather than give up.

Yea that's really all we can do if we want to continue in this hobby which should bring enjoyment, not stress and aggravation. I get enough of that in real life.

I've always wanted a signed Ruth or Ruth/gehrig ball, but I've heard for years how many fakes are out there. There won't be any before and after shots to expose the fakes for those. But when the time is right I will try to educate myself and hope some of the autograph experts here will be willing to assist.

[IMAXMAX]

Zeenuts!

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by pokerplyr80

Yea that's really all we can do if we want to continue in this hobby which should bring enjoyment, not stress and aggravation. I get enough of that in real life.

I've always wanted a signed Ruth or Ruth/gehrig ball, but I've heard for years how many fakes are out there. There won't be any before and after shots to expose the fakes for those. But when the time is right I will try to educate myself and hope some of the autograph experts here will be willing to assist.

Consider a period Yankees team-signed ball. It’s a very safe bet if you know what to look for. The secretarial versions of Ruth and Gehrig are quite easy to identify, and stand out like sore thumbs. They can be easily avoided.

Single-signed balls present much more problems, if you have authenticity concerns.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

For me this just confirms what I've known all along and I've had a methodology for trying to minimize the risk of altered cards for a long time. I'm waiting for a bit to see more certs exposed so I know whether I have to adjust my methodology at all, and I've completely punted one seller from consideration, but I think in the end it will continue to be proceed with caution rather than give up.

Greta Garbo and Winston Churchill cards.

[calvindog]

I'm staying away from high grade PSA cards which I pretty much always have. Collecting rare cards that are not rare due to condition solely is probably a better way to go.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by SMPEP

Aquarian Sports Cards, duh.

Well I'd like to think so, but all my posts aren'y intended to be self-serving lol.

Without going into details I didn't just sit back and hope for the best for the hobby with regards to the current problems, and there would be no direct benefit to myself.