are "A" authentic SGC & PSA cards gaining momentum with collectors/dealers

[Thrill-of-the-Hunt]

i have noticed lately alot of SGC "A" cards (assumed trimmed for the most part) are starting to sell for quite some money on ebay. there are multiple bidders as well.

my question is.... are authentic but trimmed cards collectible enough to spend $100 - $1000's on? or is this a great racket for card doctors whose cards get caught but still encapsulated? or, do some buyers think there is a chance to send the card back in for a numberical grade and make a nice profit? maybe all the above?

i saw a T205 cobb sell for $850 , a number of 1915 CJ in the $50 - $100 each, T206 HOFers $60 - $$$ as a small example.

[Northviewcats]

I worry that a few dealers have been making money buying authentic graded cards, and breaking them out of the holders, and not disclosing the trimming. If the profit is there I'm sure people are doing it.

[Leon]

If the AUT card is priced reasonably (a very relative term) then I think they can be good values. There is some acceptance among many collectors and they are becoming more accepted, so it seems. I would prefer a number grade but an AUT or two doesn't kill me. I have some in my collection. It also depends on the availability and price of other specimens. My E271 is an AUT but the alternative is quite a bit more than I paid, if you can even find one.

[nfbuckeye]

I only own one "A" card a t206 Home Run Baker that I got at a very good price. In the future, if I can find a good looking card that would normally be out of my price range for a very good price, I'll jump on it. I'm not looking for resale value, so it doesn't hurt me at all.

[terjung]

To me, it all depends on three things:

1- The scarcity of the card - how available is the card in a numerically graded holder?

2- The reason for the "A" rating. Not all reasons for receiving the "A" are equal in my book. Trimmed vs. restored vs. recolored vs. a piece of tape on the back are not equal in terms of value or desire to me.

3- Eye appeal. I'd rather have an "A" card due to a piece of tape on the back then a chewed up beater graded a PSA 1 or SGC 10.

[E93]

Originally Posted by terjung

To me, it all depends on three things:

1- The scarcity of the card - how available is the card in a numerically graded holder?

2- The reason for the "A" rating. Not all reasons for receiving the "A" are equal in my book. Trimmed vs. restored vs. recolored vs. a piece of tape on the back are not equal in terms of value or desire to me.

3- Eye appeal. I'd rather have an "A" card due to a piece of tape on the back then a chewed up beater graded a PSA 1 or SGC 10.

+1

It depends entirely on the card for me. I have several "Authentic" cards in my collection. In most cases, they are so rare that I could not find another example if I wanted to.
JimB

[Robextend]

Originally Posted by E93

+1

It depends entirely on the card for me. I have several "Authentic" cards in my collection. In most cases, they are so rare that I could not find another example if I wanted to.
JimB

I agree.

If I really want the card bad enough and it doesn't come around for sale too often, I will take an "A" over nothing.

[Abravefan11]

I don't think the trend is that collectors are becoming more accepting of trimmed cards as much as all ready slabbed trimmed cards with great eye appeal are becoming acceptable alternatives to Poor and Fair graded cards for the same price.

Collectors on a budget may not be able to afford an EX example, but can afford an Authentic graded card with and EX appearance for the price they would pay for a 1 or 2.

[Mark]

Speaking only for myself, I find that I am more receptive to the A cards than before. But that may be a reflection on the sets that I collect.

[Anthony S.]

Sometimes people buy "A" cards because they know the grading game can be a bit of a crapshoot. This card (not mine) sold as an "A" for $152 on July 19, 2008. On July 16, 2009 it sold as an SGC 60 for $541. Obviously, no alterations were made. It was simply resubmitted.