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

[homerunhitter]

I also noticed on eBay that sometimes I can buy a graded card for cheaper than what it costs to submit it for grading on my own! So in those instances, for resale value or ease of resale in the future, I now almost always buy the graded card.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

I also noticed on eBay that sometimes I can buy a graded card for cheaper than what it costs to submit it for grading on my own! So in those instances, for resale value or ease of resale in the future, I now almost always buy the graded card.

That is a conundrum. I have a box of graded cards that fit that description. It is also why I shy away from submitting mainstream cards--no point in paying $15+ and shipping both ways to get something I can find for ten bucks and one-way delivery.

[homerunhitter]

It’s all so confusing, but the needle is swinging back to raw cards!

[Big35Hurt]

I have never sent cards in for grading. I did it previously for a small handful of nicer coins - mainly to get confirmation on authenticity and variety for some silver dollars. I am ok with my cards being in top loaders or one touch holders. I do have some graded cards, and they were bought that way with none of them being high end. I have two 1958 Omaha Cardinals Bob Gibson team issued cards that I will probably get graded at some point (maybe when I decide that I am going to sell them).

[homerunhitter]

I just recently switched back to raw and I must tell you, raw is awesome! I have rekindled my joy in raw cards. The only thing I think I will miss about graded cards is that if I ever decided ti leave the hobby and sell everything, with graded I could just put in a box and send them off to be sold by a consignment service vs with raw cards, being ripped off by some LCS offering to pay me crap for my cards. I feel that when it comes to resale, LCSs will pull your pants down to your ankles and go to town!

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

I just recently switched back to raw and I must tell you, raw is awesome! I have rekindled my joy in raw cards. The only thing I think I will miss about graded cards is that if I ever decided ti leave the hobby and sell everything, with graded I could just put in a box and send them off to be sold by a consignment service vs with raw cards, being ripped off by some LCS offering to pay me crap for my cards. I feel that when it comes to resale, LCSs will pull your pants down to your ankles and go to town!

I have never understood this. Do people actually think businesses sell items for even remotely close to what they pay for them.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

I just recently switched back to raw and I must tell you, raw is awesome! I have rekindled my joy in raw cards. The only thing I think I will miss about graded cards is that if I ever decided ti leave the hobby and sell everything, with graded I could just put in a box and send them off to be sold by a consignment service vs with raw cards, being ripped off by some LCS offering to pay me crap for my cards. I feel that when it comes to resale, LCSs will pull your pants down to your ankles and go to town!

You can sell raw cards for their value too. 1) you can list and sell yourself, 2) you can send them to someone like Greg Morris and have them sold for you, 3) you can get them graded in trendy-slab-of-the-moment by the auction house upon consignment if that is more profitable. Just some of the options. Just as you buy raw cards at ~market value so too can they be sold as such, which is how you are able to buy them. You need not get engage as a receiver in disgusting acts to sell raw...

[homerunhitter]

Ben,
This is based on my own experiences selling cards to the local LCS. I get it that they need to buy low to make a profit but most thst (of course not all) that I’ve dealt with are slimy shady people. Example, “of this box of 1954 topps, I’ll give you $50 for!” or “this 1956 topps Willie Mays is not in great condition, I’ll give you $20 for it” most take advantage of people so they can make a buck.

Greg,

I definitely wouldnt have the patience or time to list card by card for thousands of cards or deal with problem buyers, so eBay wouldn’t work for me particularly. With graded, no patience to wait a year to get my cards back! Plus most of my raw are 1950’s lower grade commons.

Greg morris might be a got fit when the time comes but i thought he only dies high end vintage? (Not sure my low end vintage fits his business model) and also don’t you have to inventory every card you send in to him. (Great if you only had a few cards but what if you are sending in thousands!)

Thanks guys! I appreciate you both.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

It’s all so confusing, but the needle is swinging back to raw cards!

Maybe I'm misinterpreting your exclamation point, but I guess I'm always confused when raw card acolytes get excited about others getting into raw cards.

I mean, if you were looking to sell today and you had a large collection of raw cards, then I would definitely understand your excitement.

But if you're still very much in buying mode, then having other people jump on the raw card bandwagon seems like it will drive up prices overall and add to the population of buyers you get to compete against when you're buying, all of which should make it harder for you to find raw cards at reasonable prices, and none of which seems like it would excite me if raw cards were my jam.

But maybe we all crave the validation that comes from having other people doing the same things that we're doing because it makes us feel better about our own choices?

[ALR-bishop]

I don't know if excited is the right word but I have always prefered ungraded cards over graded for personal collecting. But admittedly value has not been a driving factor for me in collecting.