O/T (but not really) - do you care about scratches on your slabs?

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by BioCRN

Lot more people are bothered by scratches than I would have anticipated. As it stands right now about 2/3rd are, 1/3 are not.

Hmmmm. It's sad but there seem to be about twice as many slab collectors as card collectors these days.

[UKCardGuy]

Originally Posted by Balticfox

Hmmmm. It's sad but there seem to be about twice as many slab collectors as card collectors these days.

I think that's an unfair characterization.

I'm guessing that most collectors just want the card whether it's raw or graded. For me, raw is preferred but if I find a graded card at a similar price to raw then I'm happy with that too.

Of the 27,413 cards in my collection, just 547 are graded across all the major TPGs. Sometimes there are scarce cards that are just easier to find as a graded card. Other times, a graded card reduces the risk when buying online.

Whatever the rationale for graded or raw, I want to be able to look and my cards and enjoy them. I enjoy looking at my cards. Given the choice, why would I want a gorgeous card stuck behind a scratched/dirty/unappealing slab?

[sonnyu2]

I selected "Yes" because as a seller on eBay and at shows, I have been asked hundreds of times "Does the slab have any scratches or other issues?".

There are many buyers who are very particular about the condition of the slab. Some will complain about the most inconsequential tiniest wear / hairline scratch on a slab.

My scanner has a maybe 1/4" long hairline scratch on it that was faintly showing up in the upper left corner of graded card slabs (no where near the actual card in the slab). I must have had 20 people inquire if that little 1/4" hairline scratch was on the slab or the scanner. So, I quickly learned not to use that part of the scanner.

As for slabbed cards I buy for my personal collection, I am not too concerned with the slab - the card within is way more relevant to me.

[LEHR]

I voted yes. scratched up slabs drive the gremlins in my head absolutely nuts.

These same gremlins are probably also why I try to buy the best condition I can find/afford of any collectible.

Hell, if I'm buying macaroni at the store I'm the guy reaching in and grabbing the fourth box back because it's pristine and the first three have dents.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by LEHR

I voted yes. scratched up slabs drive the gremlins in my head absolutely nuts.

These same gremlins are probably also why I try to buy the best condition I can find/afford of any collectible.

Hell, if I'm buying macaroni at the store I'm the guy reaching in and grabbing the fourth box back because it's pristine and the first three have dents.

Haha, I am exactly the same!

[LEHR]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Haha, I am exactly the same!

LOL!

Glad I'm not the only crazy one.

My wife used to laugh at me for this when we first got married; now 18 years later she does the same thing.

[BioCRN]

I'm a bit surprised how many people that don't like scratches don't polish up their slabs, especially with the cost to reholder these days.

Most of mine with scratches I don't bother, but if it annoys me enough I'll go at them with Novus #2. There's other scratch/polish treatments, but Novus #2 is the one I've used for years.

One collector I know will go at even the tiniest scratches and polishes almost every slab he gets. He uses a small dremel tool to make it less work. He'll even use Novus #3 for deeper scratches because he's already got the dremel...that's a bit overkill for me because I do mine by hand.