Is this argument bunk?

[Steve D]

Originally Posted by mintacular

While I wouldn't pay $600 for a '58 Mantle, if a dealer had one at a show for $250 vs. the $200 ones on eBay I would CONSIDER paying the extra $50 if I thought it was strong for the grade, etc.

I completely agree with you.

It's basically the old "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" saying. You have the card in hand, and can actually see exactly what you're getting before forking over the money. If it's a strong example, you buy it. You then don't have to worry about taking the time to try to find one, perhaps at a lower price, and wondering if it will measure up.

Steve

[Matthew H]

Previous to ebay, No dealers sold '58 Mantles in EX for 200. I would be shocked if you were able to buy one in EX condition in hand for 250. One thing I've learned about ebay is that if a card is not in a holder, its over graded. I'm sure this is not always true, but I have learned to think that way. I have learned the hard way.

I have bought cards from reputable dealers that made no mention of bends or wrinkles and over graded the card. I understand why they do it. Before PSA everything EX and above was Mint.

[Leon]

Not sure if this answers the question but I would pay a little more for a card I can touch and hold in person. I would also pay a small bit more from a reputable auction house. Both have built in safety nets which ebay doesn't offer. And I do mean only a little more. Maybe I would pay an extra $20-$40 for a card valued under $500. That being said my biggest fear on ebay is a seller's friend bidding/shillling on a card and then me winning it. When/If I go to resell it then the price suddenly plunges. I know it can happen at auction houses too but it's not quite as likely, as many auction houses do some policing (believe it or not), and though it's not perfect, it's better than nothing. At least buying in a straight private sale (or at a store) I know I am not being run up .

[barrysloate]

I always felt buying in person was far riskier than buying through the mail, especially in the days before grading. If you purchased a card through a mail order dealer, and had say a seven day return privilege, you had ample time to examine and measure a card, even use a blacklight to check for alterations. If you didn't like it, you could just return it.

At a show, you are often standing under dim lighting and a forced to make a decision within a few minutes, without the proper time to examine a card. I can't tell you how many times people purchased cards at shows, took them home and examined them closely, only to discover a trim, alteration, or recoloring, and then couldn't even remember the dealer they bought the card from. I used to hear that story regularly many years ago.

Today, if you buy off ebay or from a reputable auction house, you have a huge scan that can be studied as long as needed. Added that it's likely been slabbed, there's no reason not to buy with confidence through the mail.

Buying in person and holding a card in hand is a plus, but one often does not have the time to examine it in a quiet relaxed atmosphere before making a final decision. Buying at shows was always a mixed bag for me.

[Jewish-collector]

But at a show, I can get Leon to take a look at it to make sure it's as described before I spend my $5 on it.

[JasonL]

I think there's a huge discount applied to buying raw cards. In fact, unless I really don't care about the card's condition much (rare), I won't even buy a raw card off Ebay...so that's a 100% discount.

With raw cards, I have found that one man's EX is oftentimes my G-VG.
I really hate that surprise when I open the mail.

There should be no such discount applied to cards bought in person (raw or graded), or graded cards on EBay