Anyone else feeling raw is their only option these days?

[Seven]

Originally Posted by mferronibc

Hi all, I know there’s been a lot of concern about the skyrocketing vintage market and while sure it’s a double edge that my personal collection has more value to it I feel like I’ve lost most of fun I was having the last few years building it and am priced out of what I liked to collect. I know many people here prefer raw to graded anyway but for me I was only buying graded cards because of the security to me that 1) they were authentic and 2) that at least there is some quantifiable determination of the grade of the card that is just too hard for me to do with raw online pictures. Problem is I typically liked to spend about $100-200 per card which 8 months ago would be able to get me mid to sometimes higher grade cards even of Aaron, Mays, etc.

Now it seems all I can afford is 2-3 grade range which usually means much less visually appealing cards. I can’t increase my budget so for that same price point find myself having to “gamble” on raw cards with the hope I can have them graded myself and they’ll still land mid tier. Just worries me more the better the cards look the more chance they’re trimmed or fakes.

Anyone else feel like they’re in this same boat?

In general, I like to buy Raw when I can. As long as I know where it's coming from. I've purchased Raw cards on here on various occasions, a good portion of my PC is Raw.

I've dipped into buying cards that are Slabbed Altered as well. It gives you more options at a cheaper price point. I'm eventually cacking them anyway, and it's for my PC, as long as I know it's real and presents nicely, I'm happy with it. Not exactly a common thought process though.

[dio]

Or you can sell your higher grade one replace with lower grade and use that extra money for new card

[JollyElm]

I bought a few ungraded Willie Mays cards off COMC for precisely the reasons you spelled out. And, of course, the day after I bought them the sellers of said cards raised their prices hugely on their other (same year) Mays cards, which were in lesser shape. Seller's remorse, I guess. Up, up and away it goes...

[hcv123]

I sell mostly raw cards. They are largely from original owner collections. I guarantee they are unaltered. There are a number of other reputable vintage dealers that offer similar assurances. As I believe someone already posted, know who you are buying from - it may somewhat limit your choices, but at least you can buy without worrying about alerations.