Do you buy raw (not graded) cards?

[Exhibitman]

Context is everything. Value, venue, etc. I prefer a slab for a mail order card or a really expensive one, but if I can examine the card in hand, raw is just dandy.

The slab can make you lazy, even in person. Over the weekend in Anaheim a guy was peddling a fake Rose RC in a resealed slab. A friend bought it without paying close attention, I called it out as a fake and reseal, and he was able to chase down the walk-in who sold it and get his money back.

[Fred]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Context is everything. Value, venue, etc. I prefer a slab for a mail order card or a really expensive one, but if I can examine the card in hand, raw is just dandy.

The slab can make you lazy, even in person. Over the weekend in Anaheim a guy was peddling a fake Rose RC in a resealed slab. A friend bought it without paying close attention, I called it out as a fake and reseal, and he was able to chase down the walk-in who sold it and get his money back.

Your friend was lucky you were around. It would have been really bad if it were a high grade fake and you weren't there.

[JollyElm]

As of now, 15 different people chose the unintelligible option:
"I prefer to buy graded cards, but may buy graded cards."

You can't make this stuff up.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

As of now, 15 different people chose the unintelligible option:
"I prefer to buy graded cards, but may buy graded cards."

You can't make this stuff up.

16.91% of voters have no clue what they are voting for.

[parkplace33]

All, appreciate the poll suggestion. How do you edit a poll? When I try to access, I can only edit the post, not the poll.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

All, appreciate the poll suggestion. How do you edit a poll? When I try to access, I can only edit the post, not the poll.

A moderator can edit it but maybe another poll, with added/different question(s), might be better?

I like buying raw when appropriate.

[Steve D]

I think I would answer with option #4, but it is worded incorrectly, so I don't know what it really means.

Steve

[Johnny630]

I like both but more so would say depends on the card. Vintage baseball middle grade and low end non graded, higher end graded.

[Centauri]

For me, I like to display the cards, and the standard graded holders waste too much space, IMO. However, I am not enough of an expert to avoid counterfeits so I don't mind paying for graded versions of pricier cards.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Context is everything. Value, venue, etc. I prefer a slab for a mail order card or a really expensive one, but if I can examine the card in hand, raw is just dandy.

The slab can make you lazy, even in person. Over the weekend in Anaheim a guy was peddling a fake Rose RC in a resealed slab. A friend bought it without paying close attention, I called it out as a fake and reseal, and he was able to chase down the walk-in who sold it and get his money back.

I buy (and sell) both. I will not (or VERY rarely) buy raw cards any way but in hand in person. In person happy to buy raw as I am graded. Another necessary delineation is grading company - I will buy almost exclusively SGC and PSA graded cards (rarely BVG slabs). I as a rule (with very rare exception) will not buy any other grading companies slabs.

[Mike Eisenbath]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Context is everything. Value, venue, etc. I prefer a slab for a mail order card or a really expensive one, but if I can examine the card in hand, raw is just dandy.



The slab can make you lazy, even in person. Over the weekend in Anaheim a guy was peddling a fake Rose RC in a resealed slab. A friend bought it without paying close attention, I called it out as a fake and reseal, and he was able to chase down the walk-in who sold it and get his money back.

This

If it's a higher-dollar card (for me, 500 or more), slabbed. But if I see it at a show, raw or slabbed matters not. I just want the card.

If it's slabbed, it stays slabbed. Promised my wife I'd make it easier for her and a selected auction house some day.



Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[Eric72]

As the years go by, I care less and less about the graded card holders. It seems like the average grader knows less than I regarding authenticity, condition, and alterations.

So, graded or raw, it matters not. Buy the card, not the holder.

[Smanzari]

Only time I buy graded is if its in a collection or lot or something and then I typically dump it at raw pricing (I hate slabs such a pain to store and ship)

[Exhibitman]

I'm with you, Stefan, as far as storage goes. I've liquidated slabs by the hundreds over the last few years and my storage requirements have dramatically decreased as a result. What would be cool is a sealed rigid slab about the thickness of a top-loader. I suppose the injection molding requirements for a rigid plastic like that are either technically or financially out of reach.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I'm with you, Stefan, as far as storage goes. I've liquidated slabs by the hundreds over the last few years and my storage requirements have dramatically decreased as a result. What would be cool is a sealed rigid slab about the thickness of a top-loader. I suppose the injection molding requirements for a rigid plastic like that are either technically or financially out of reach.

Check out M1NT slabs. Supposedly, they are coming soon to PSA, SGC, and other TPGs. They look like iPhones.