Graded vs. Raw Rant.......

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

Any other thoughts on this?

Family members would likely have an easier time converting your collection into cash should something happen to you.

[homerunhitter]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

Family members would likely have an easier time converting your collection into cash should something happen to you.

You mean if the cards were graded vs raw?

[jchcollins]

I'm having a hard time understanding why this thread gets continually bumped. The subject has literally been beat to death at this point. Those still interested might want to spend more time searching the dozens of archived threads on both this site and Blowout which address grading exhaustively.

[homerunhitter]

Got it! I’ll have to checkout the blowout cards forum. Thanks for the suggestion.

[RCMcKenzie]

To me, it's fine to bump old threads, and ask questions. The post war section needs more posts and topics and chatter. It's about to be passed up by the boxing card section for activity.

I have graded and raw. Raw are cheaper to buy and graded bring more when you sell.

If you study the sets you are buying, you can buy both, otherwise if you are a casual collector, buy graded.

As for heirs, make a will and direct them to a list of auction houses and they will do the work. Slabs are like cell phones, where they are obsolete every 5 years. GL

[G1911]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

It's about to be passed up by the boxing card section for activity.

My bad

[RCMcKenzie]

Originally Posted by G1911

My bad

I have two high numbers from 1952 that are supposed to arrive Saturday. I will post them in the pick up thread here. It will be my 3rd or 4th time posting in a row on there, sort of like you in the boxing pick-ups thread. Seriously though, I have an SFHess boxing or 2 and need to find and scan them over there.

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

To me, it's fine to bump old threads, and ask questions. The post war section needs more posts and topics and chatter. It's about to be passed up by the boxing card section for activity.

Nothing about the TPG's has changed radically since 2022. Yes, super high grades (especially on vintage) can exponentially change the value proposition of a card. Mid- and low grades on semistars or commons might not move the needle at all over raw. Grading rose to prominence in the early 2000's and barring some huge unforeseen event, is here to stay. Each of the major grading companies has their pluses and minuses, and there is not one left that has not been through some kind of noteworthy scandal at this point. All that said, whether or not to grade is largely a personal choice at this point. There are many vintage collectors who hate the idea of grading and always will, others have accepted that especially when selling plays a factor - it probably makes sense.

These are the basic facts, and they are more or less undisputed.

[RCMcKenzie]

John, I used to say 'grading is for Topps cards', but now that I'm collecting Topps cards again, I want raw cards for a binder. I think grading is for selling on the internet. I dunno.

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

You mean if the cards were graded vs raw?

Yes, correct. Grading not only identifies the items, possible variations or rare backs as well as provides a proxy for helping someone else determine approximate value

[homerunhitter]

I think another way to look at it is, and for example only, if you have two nolan ryan 1968 topps rookies cards that are in the exact same condition, one is slabbed and graded by psa and the other is raw, go to a card show and try to sell both of them, which one do you think will get you more one. raw or graded?...... exactly! i think most people only like raw cards when they are buying them in hopes of getting graded to turn around and flip for a profit.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

I think another way to look at it is, and for example only, if you have two nolan ryan 1968 topps rookies cards that are in the exact same condition, one is slabbed and graded by psa and the other is raw, go to a card show and try to sell both of them, which one do you think will get you more one. raw or graded?...... exactly! i think most people only like raw cards when they are buying them in hopes of getting graded to turn around and flip for a profit.

I get what you are saying but the real question is how much did you pay for the raw Ryan and how much can you sell it for. Then how much did you pay for the graded Ryan compared to what you will sell it for. I would bet at a card show as long as you are a dealer and not trying to sell to one the profit margin percentage wise is pretty close.

I do agree the real money is getting raw cards into high grade PSA slabs.

[homerunhitter]

very fair points Ben. I agree with you my friend. I think every situation for everyone is difference as you pointed out how much one has invested in a card either raw or graded makes a huge difference. i guess thrown into the factor is, 20 years ago if you went to a card show raw was EVERYWHERE. nowadays if you go to a card show everyone seems to be walking around with a pelican box of slabs! also, every case has nothing but slabs, i dont think i even saw much raw cards at all. at the end of the day i believe it comes down to what each person feels comfortable with but if ebay completed sales, current card shows, card shops and various message board chatter is any indication, the hobby is trending toward graded cards as the future. i know... not what us old farts or traditional long time collects want to hear or are use too, but it is what it is, the young new collecting dollar generation is voting and they are voting for graded cards! it is evident everywhere!

[Exhibitman]

I guess it depends on where and in what you deal. What I have seen on whatnot is that most cards are sold raw, even the more expensive ones, but we are not talking 1933 Goudey Ruths. Also, eBay is a huge raw card market. I run collector grade baseball at $0.99 starting price auctions and some of them get very solid prices. There is always a market for collector grade cards for collectors who work with a budget, even in a recession. When I do shows, the boxes of modestly priced raw cards are what sell consistently. Last show I did was in August and I sold yards of them, literally. I had to go back to the office after first day and reload my sorting boxes because I got cleaned out the first day. You wanna see the perpetually busy tables at the National, look for the pickers' booths.