What would you do if you see a trimmed card for sale?

[Chris-Counts]

Since I don't mind trimmed cards, I actually look for them at discounted prices. I'd rather buy a trimmed card than a VG card at the same price. I've found quite a few of them on Ebay listed as unslabbed high grade cards. If it's obvious, which it often is, and I'm interested in the card, I send the seller an email informing him that his card is clearly trimmed and I ask him if he will sell it at a lower price. I've picked up some very nice cards this way. Some sellers, usually the more prominent ones, don't respond to my emails, but they ALWAYS take the cards off Ebay very quickly. This makes me believe that at least several high profile dealers know they're selling trimmed cards. There's one big dealer who has sold a ton of trimmed cards over the years, but he offers everything in his store at very fair prices, so I don't complain. But I view trimmed cards differently than most collectors ...

[hunterdutchess]

Originally Posted by Chris Counts

Since I don't mind trimmed cards, I actually look for them at discounted prices. I'd rather buy a trimmed card than a VG card at the same price. I've found quite a few of them on Ebay listed as unslabbed high grade cards. If it's obvious, which it often is, and I'm interested in the card, I send the seller an email informing him that his card is clearly trimmed and I ask him if he will sell it at a lower price. I've picked up some very nice cards this way. Some sellers, usually the more prominent ones, don't respond to my emails, but they ALWAYS take the cards off Ebay very quickly. This makes me believe that at least several high profile dealers know they're selling trimmed cards. There's one big dealer who has sold a ton of trimmed cards over the years, but he offers everything in his store at very fair prices, so I don't complain. But I view trimmed cards differently than most collectors ...

I with you. If I can get NM-MT looking high end cards for a fraction of there NM+ value because they have been trimmed then I will pick them up. I would rather have a mint looking trimmed card then a beat up one that sells for the same price. I just bought a NM-MT looking 54 Bowman Mantle for less than $200:
http://sports.ha.com/common/view_ite...4&Lot_No=44014

When a NM one would cost $1,300+:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1954-BOWMAN-65-M...ht_2837wt_1139

And If I wanted a number graded Mantle for less than $200 I would have to settle for:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1954-Bowman-65-M...#ht_500wt_1156

[mintacular]

That's interesting to think about this topic and to realize that some collectors are ok with owning a trimmed card. I guess on one level I can understand that if it has eye appeal then so be it...but it's not for me.

That said, couldn't you say the same thing about a really good reprint and therefore buy those for the fraction of the price of the real thing? So I would rather own the original than an altered or reprint version of it. Just my opinion, people can like what they like.

(Note: My opinion is a bit different too with pre-war stuff when people altered cards so they can put them in their scrapbook, etc.--so the motive of the alteration is a small factor for me)

[steve B]

I don't mind them all that much on prewar cards, as long as it's at a trimmed price. Postwar stuff I have a few, bought as a lot a long time ago and never bothered upgrading but they're all also in poor condition. None of them would come close to passing as a 2 let alone an 8 or 9.

Steve B