Set collectors - flaws you are ok with

[GasHouseGang]

For me, it would have to be slightly off center. Some OCD types just can't take a card that's off center. But for me, if a card has really sharp corners and looks like new but is off center, I'm okay with it.

[Eric72]

Flaws I don't mind for set building:

• Off-centered cards, up to about 65/35
• Corner wear
• Print imperfections that aren't on the player's face
• Very minor wrinkles/bends (older sets only)

Flaws I can't tolerate:

• Undersized cards
• Any surface issues (scuffs, snow, fisheyes, etc.) on the player's face
• Miscut cards (as in, the cardboard is not rectangular)

[Harliduck]

Same as others...off center with some border still showing...ok, and really accepted with sharp corners. Not accepted post 56, creases of any kind. I'd say 95% of my 57 to 80 would grade 4 to 6...I'm constantly looking for upgrades.

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

Same as others...off center with some border still showing...ok, and really accepted with sharp corners.

Off center cards didn't bother me as a kid. Therefore they still don't bother me now even up to 90/10.

Printing fish-eyes I hardly notice either. It's after market wear such as soft corners and creases that I find totally unacceptable.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Eric72

Flaws I don't mind for set building:

• Off-centered cards, up to about 65/35
• Corner wear
• Print imperfections that aren't on the player's face
• Very minor wrinkles/bends (older sets only)

Flaws I can't tolerate:

• Undersized cards
• Any surface issues (scuffs, snow, fisheyes, etc.) on the player's face
• Miscut cards (as in, the cardboard is not rectangular)

This is a great summary. I would say I am a little stricter on centering…maybe accepting 60/40 on a bad day for something I have been looking for. But the rest are bang on.

[mortimer brewster]

Creases are a No-No. 80 20 centering is acceptable. I don't mind gum stains as long as they're on the back of the card. I don't want any paper loss. Slightly touched corners are okay.

[UKCardGuy]

I'm old school... For me condition starts with the corners and no wrinkles/creases.

• For 1950s and up I'm really looking for sharp corners and straight edges.
• I don't mind a card that's a little off center. But if it's 90/10, I'm gonna pass.
• Like others, I don't mind d price issues like fisheyes if the don't take away from key parts of the image.

For Pre-war, I have a lot more flexibility. I don't mind a T205 with some rounded corners. In fact, I think it makes the card attractive. But for my post-war... No thank you.

[bnorth]

I am OK with almost all flaws and actually go out of my way to find cards that are way off center and have print flaws.

About the only thing that makes me pass on a card is damage to the players face area like paper loss or huge creases.

[bk400]

I find tilts and diamond-cuts very distracting and try to avoid them, even if they grade high.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Ed, good to see you back at it again! I have loosened up a lot over the years. As someone who tries to build sets from the early 1950s, I can tell you that the cards aren't getting any cheaper. I prefer well centered cards, but if a common is OC, I can live with it so long as it's not MC. I used to toss out a card with a wrinkle. Now, I'm using binders again (been all over the place with that, too), and I figure a card with a wrinkle or a crease not on the face isn't going to make a big difference. I just want reasonable looking copies of cards. As I've gotten older, just completing sets has become the objective. I'm about 60ish% complete on four different sets. Two of them I'm rebuilding after having sold off the commons a while back. I used that money to buy some stars for some other sets. It's all working out, and I'm having fun.