Buying a Raw 1959 Topps Mickey Mantle, SGC "NO", & Dealer Responsibility

[glchen]

My concerns here is that I remember a seller on ebay a few years back where basically he made his business to crack out nice looking Authentic cards and then sell them raw on ebay. I hope that in this case the dealer did not do the same thing and crack out a card that he knew was altered.

[Huck]

Originally Posted by glchen

My concerns here is that I remember a seller on ebay a few years back where basically he made his business to crack out nice looking Authentic cards and then sell them raw on ebay. I hope that in this case the dealer did not do the same thing and crack out a card that he knew was altered.

There are collectors who prefer raw cards but graded cards levels the playing field. In the raw world the price and grade is set by the dealer. Each of us grades differently. In the graded world, the TPG sets the grade and the market/comps sets the price range. I want to believe that an astute dealer adjusts the price of a card accordingly (well not on Ebay).

Years, ago I was at a show and asked a major dealer why the price of a PSA 7 card I wanted to purchase was carrying almost an 8 premium. The major dealer stated "if the card was broken out it would now grade a 7.5". I nodded and moved on and have never purchased a card from that dealer.

[Johnny630]

Grading has total control of this industry...love it or hate it...it can do three things, make people money, lose people money, and drive them to insanity.

It's something to watch. Eve if you don't grade it effects you in one way or another. It's tentacles have long reach.

[chalupacollects]

Originally Posted by glchen

My concerns here is that I remember a seller on ebay a few years back where basically he made his business to crack out nice looking Authentic cards and then sell them raw on ebay. I hope that in this case the dealer did not do the same thing and crack out a card that he knew was altered.

There are more than several who do this. ebay or not. I know an old timer who buys and sells at shows and he finally shared his secret that he cracks out slabs and then prices at Beckett high,,, He does discount though...