Have you ever deliberately purchased a "placeholder" card?

[Ronnie73]

I do if the TPG population reports combined are in the low single digits. At that point, I know sometimes you have to take what you can get and if a better one comes up, then its time to make the decision of an upgrade.

[jmb]

I bought this one for the focused image. I've been looking for a well centered, focused 3-4 for a while now.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by Ronnie73

I do if the TPG population reports combined are in the low single digits. At that point, I know sometimes you have to take what you can get and if a better one comes up, then its time to make the decision of an upgrade.

Totally agree. I have purchased many placeholders for back runs and some remain place holders bc I can't find a better example (low pop) or a better example at a reasonable price. I have also purchased nice looking cards that I want, albeit in a lower grade than I want, and work my way up the grade scale -- for example, I bought a 51 bowman Mays 4, and when I nice 5 came along, I bought that and sold the 4. This allows me to inch up on big time cards one level at a time (btw I ultimately want the Mays in a 7 at minimum). To that extent they are placeholders

[edjs]

I do it all the time. The only problem I have with it is once I have the "placeholder," I end up moving on since that particular card is checked off the list.

[Piratedogcardshows]

I have done it many times as well. Sometimes the placeholder is a permanent addition even after I upgrade the card.

[ullmandds]

absolutely!

[kmac32]

Absolutely as sometimes that is all you can find for an example

[Stampsfan]

Never at the time. I always try and stay in the mode of getting things in the preferred condition.

However, I seem to have this habit that when I complete (or nearly complete) a set, I tend to go back and upgrade to some of the higher quality examples.

[rats60]

I bought this as a placeholder. I hope to find one someday with corners, without creases, paper loss and pin holes. It will take saving up for a while.

[mantlefan]

Absolutely. I really dislike having a 99.2% completion rate on a set. In difficult sets that I might be trying to complete in a 7 or 8 grade, I'll often add 5's or 6's to fill them out. Lately I've been adding high end 5.5's to finish my 1953 Bowman Color Baseball set.