Graded vs. Raw Rant.......

[jingram058]

I do not have any graded cards. I cracked out all the ones I have, but kept the "flips" (if that is the correct term). I keep my high value cards and memorabilia in my safe deposit box. Occasionally, I take some of them out, to show them off somewhere, but then I put them back. It is not far away from where I live. My cards are just cards, a real no-kidding hobby, much like how I went about collecting as a kid, except they cost a lot more and I don't get them out of wax packs. I have traded on occasion, much to the mutual satisfaction of myself and those I traded with, I believe. This is pretty much what I occasionally did as a kid also. I do not plan to have any of my cards graded and I do not collect thinking of value down the road or investment. I do not care one iota for someone else's opinion of my cards, unless we're trading. This forum is all about graded cards and investment. I get that. I still like and respect these guys for their wealth of knowledge and the gorgeous, rare as Hell cards they post, nevertheless there are many, many people out there who have, sell and collect raw cards. I know a few who live near me. So I am by no means the only one. My 2 cents, take it or leave it...

[gonefishin]

Grading cards definitely has a place in the marketplace. With that said, I don't really see the need to send in newer, for me it is 1970 and up, for grading with a one year exception. That exception is 1971 Topps. My main reasoning with that year is of course the black borders. Without some sort of protection, they will easily get damaged, etc. Encapsulation does provide a "fool proof" method of protection for those cards.

[mortimer brewster]

Originally Posted by jingram058

This forum is all about graded cards and investment. I get that. I still like and respect these guys for their wealth of knowledge and the gorgeous, rare as Hell cards they post, nevertheless there are many, many people out there who have, sell and collect raw cards. I know a few who live near me. So I am by no means the only one. My 2 cents, take it or leave it...

I agree with this. I've been to 12 of the last 13 Nationals and it warms my heart to see collectors of all ages thumbing through binders of cards clutching their checklists.

To me, there is nothing like the aromatic smell of old cardboard. It is almost orgasmi.. nevermind.

I only own a few graded cards. Most I popped out of their cases. This grading thing is just not for me but to each his/her own.

One thing I am curious about though.What exactly qualifies an individual to be a professional card grader anyway? Do they go to card grading school?

[cesarcap]

There is a peace of mind when paying $$ for something slabbed though I know the major players have had issues w fake cards. But I'm a binder guy so thumbing through one is fun and quick versus hauling out boxes of slabbed cards which I look at honestly 2-3x a year since they are stored away in shelves and not properly displayed.... But I often end up with 2 cards: one slabbed and one for the binder which gets expensive for the PC.

[Seven]

As I shuffle around things, especially with the very few modern cards that I own, I decided to send them out for grading. But I only sent the few cards in, because I plan on selling the modern and putting that money towards Vintage. Whether it be raw Vintage or Graded Vintage.

I do try to purchase Raw when I can. Typically only from people that I trust.

[Exhibitman]

Freakish Spontaneous Wealth. That's the name of the game with grading. Simple as that. Pick a raw card, send it in, get a high grade, turn it out for a huge % profit. Repeat. Which is also why it will never go away; greed is a great motivator.

There is nothing appealing about slabs to me as a collector.

--The slabs are heavy
--You can't put a set into an album and leaf through it
--It is incredibly expensive to have cards slabbed
--They take up a ton of space
--They get scratched up unless you protect them. So now you have a card in a case. a case in a sleeve, and often a case in an iPhone-style case protector. And then you put all those bundles into a Zion case.

As a seller I play the game; market dictates it. Buyers pay a definite premium for slabbed cards even when raw ones are readily available, and won't trust an expensive raw card. Which is why all my good stuff goes into slabs if I want to sell.

[skelly423]

I like grading for two primary reasons.

1. It does a great job of protecting high value cards.

2. When I’m buying online and can’t see the cards in hand, it lets me know the card is genuine, and gives me a rough idea of what defects I may expect to find.

With few exceptions captured in my first point, when the graded card arrives, the first thing I do is crack it out of the slab for a spot in my binder.

[Snowman]

There is very little value/point in grading anything from that era that isn't worth at least a few hundred dollars or more. The only exception is with set collector high-grade commons. Some of those cards in mint condition might sell for $20 raw but $150 graded. Otherwise, it's just not worth grading IMO. But cards like a George Brett RC or an Ozzie Smith RC in EX condition is going to sell for about the same amount slabbed vs raw (less the grading fees).