So what's safe to buy?

[Bicem]

How about original photos where trimming/condition doesn't matter much?

[nat]

I thought about just quoting #4, but here's another way to make the same point.

It is safe to buy:

- Cards that you are never going to sell (provided that you don't care if you might have trimmed cards in your PC)

- Cards that are worth a sufficiently small amount of money (relative to your total budget) that if you take a bath once it's discovered that they're trimmed, you don't really care about the money that you would lose selling them

If, one way or another, you see card collecting as simple consumption - like going to the movies or eating at a restaurant - then the current scandal isn't going to bother you much.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Bicem

How about original photos where trimming/condition doesn't matter much?

Or memorabilia in general, for that matter. Still the risk of tampering, but on a lesser scale and with lesser consequences. But I think the question was meant to apply to cards, not sure there's much crossover between card and memorabilia collecting.

[Bicem]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Or memorabilia in general, for that matter. Still the risk of tampering, but on a lesser scale and with lesser consequences. But I think the question was meant to apply to cards, not sure there's much crossover between card and memorabilia collecting.

Agreed but it's surprising. You would think anyone who enjoys baseball history, rarity, beautiful imagery, etc would gravitate to cards and memorabilia. I personally enjoy memorabilia more (photos & postcards) these days than ever, seem much more interesting than cards and condition isn't such a driving value factor.

[MVSNYC]

Hank, Jeff +1

I've always counterbalanced my collection of cards (mostly focused on T206 rare backs) with memorabilia- Game Used Bats, ticket stubs, programs, vintage photos, etc.