Long time lurker with first question

[ksabet]

SO far I have not overpaid, but Frank brought up a great point. Do I go with desire or principle?

Seems to relate more than just cards huh?

[FrankWakefield]

Matt I agree with you on the 'supply' aspect... the a 38 Goudey is more plentiful than a T210. I agree, if the cards are available from time to time, then a bit of patience is in order.

Still, I'd not fault someone for paying what some would think is too much, just to get a certain card in hand. Doing that is card collecting for the card (or maybe the slab)... instead of buying because of a card's alleged value, or for some investment fallacy.

[Jim VB]

Kiya,

You're limiting your options by shopping for PSA graded only. On the card you mention, (#280) the PSA 4 is offered for $150, but there's an SGC 40 offered for $45. Buy it and cross it over.

Edited to add: http://cgi.ebay.com/1938-Goudey-Head...mZ380158074976


(Not my card. Just did a quick Ebay search.)


Edit #2- On this one, take a chance on a raw card. http://cgi.ebay.com/1938-Goudey-Head...mZ350253673365

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

Edit #2- On this one, take a chance on a raw card. http://cgi.ebay.com/1938-Goudey-Head...mZ350253673365

I don't think that one is going to grade too high - I've only seen the front, but there's a crease in the top left corner and what appear to be a stain between his legs. Back scan would be nice as well...

[nolemmings]

I agree that you should broaden your search options beyond PSA, if you have not done so already. You probably have developed a good eye for authenticity and grade, so SGC at a minimum and raw if you're confident. Then you can submit them to PSA. If you're into the high grade game of set registry, your options are more limited, as sellers think they have a captive market, but mid-grade on down should not be that difficult.

I also agree that paying those inflated prices only justifies the sale to seller and encourages him to keep up the practice. Many of these sellers truly don't need the cash and or otherwise don't much care if their cards sell at any reasonable pace or not. One seller in particular, who just got his own thread, had some domino disks at BIN for at least a year, which is about how long I've been watching them. When I offered a slightly discounted price on one or two of them, I got a polite but firm no--- now he has taken to actually BUMP the price on those. C'est la vie.

[ethicsprof]

welcome aboard!!
you already know that there is quite a bit of competent help and collegiality here.
glad that you are officially part of it.
all the best,
barry

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by Matt

I don't think that one is going to grade too high - I've only seen the front, but there's a crease in the top left corner and what appear to be a stain between his legs. Back scan would be nice as well...

Grading high, or not, to me that would be better than no card at all. I was not approaching it purely from the registry side.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

Grading high, or not, to me that would be better than no card at all. I was not approaching it purely from the registry side.

My bad - I thought that's what you meant by "take a chance." If I wanted to gamble on a card meeting a minimum grade I wouldn't pick that one.

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by Matt

My bad - I thought that's what you meant by "take a chance." If I wanted to gamble on a card meeting a minimum grade I wouldn't pick that one.

Nah! Just meant "take a chance" that it's not trimmed, or skinned, or something like that.

My point was that, I believe all 5 of the cards he's looking for are available on ebay, right now. Some at reasonable prices. He's making his search more difficult by creating limitations on himself to search for the right piece of plastic.

I do understand his point that some sellers set ridiculous BINs. So what. Work around them.


I guess your thought brings up another registry question. One I don't know the answer to. Would he rather have 100% completion, at a slightly lower average grade, or 90% completion at a higher grade.