Raw Cards

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by tonyo

please expound

Dan can explain himself, but from my point of view, simply having a third party company say that a card is not counterfeit or unaltered is no guarantee. They all make mistakes from time to time.

To me the advantage of grading companies is that the card is more protected from future damage.

[FrankWakefield]

Tony, I collect the cards, ungraded.

Why? They cost less, I have more faith in my opinion about a card than I do with the opinions of the grading companies, they store with much less space... sometimes, nay most of the time I bust out a card if it is one I'm going to keep. I like to be able to hold the card. Seems to me that sometimes a few of the folks that collect graded cards focus only on the slip at the top of the slab, and not on the card at all.

[Chris-Counts]

I prefer raw cards as well. I've actually busted more cards out of slabs than I have cards in them. Not only do I not trust most of the grading companies, but ungraded cards are generally a lot cheaper. With that being said, I often do searches for graded cards marked "Authentic" or some other "low" grade. As far as I am concerned, cards that are slightly trimmed, off-centered or have minor back damage, but display well, are just fine for my collection ...

[tonyo]

Thank you all for your opinions, I certainly appreciate!

[chaddurbin]

i don't agree with the blanket statement "raw cards are cheaper"...especially online when a scan can hide an unseen crease or wrinkle. alot of the time it's cheaper to buy a graded 3 vs a seemingly nice VGEX+ but with a crease that'd knock it to G+.

people pay stoopid money thinking a card will grade a certain way and when card is in-hand they're disappointed. this phenomena also extends to slightly trimmed graded As or "great eye appeal" card going for more than it should.

...and it's funny people love to buy raw cards, but when it's time to sell let's get SGC (or whatever company they will grade the card the highest)on the phone. it's all about the bottom line$$$

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by chaddurbin

...and it's funny people love to buy raw cards, but when it's time to sell let's get SGC (or whatever company they will grade the card the highest)on the phone. it's all about the bottom line$$$

When I buy a card, it's all about "me" and what I will pay.

When I sell a card it suddenly becomes about other people and what they will pay. If they prefer to pay more for graded, so be it.

[danmckee]

to expound on what I stated: There are plenty of trimmed, altered, fake, repro cards in 3rd party holders as legit and unaltered. I am with Frank, after 40 years of doing this, I put myself in the knows best category.

Buy raw and sell slabbed, because of the stoopid or stupid people that will pay $3000.00 for a $300.00 card because of a label. If I didn't spend the $14 before selling my $300.00 card to have it slabbed, then that would make me just as stoooopid.