Anyone else feeling raw is their only option these days?

Exhibitman · #1 02-24-2021, 02:06 PM

I've moved more to raw cards in the last three years, initially because I like albums best. Now, with the price jacks, I am selling slabbed cards I can replace with comparable raw ones for far less money. Not just cheapos either, here are two recent raw purchases I am very pleased with:

jingram058 · #2 02-24-2021, 06:52 PM

Everyone on these forums has their opinion on graded cards, why they are in the hobby, yada yada yada. Everyone also knows how I stand. No graded cards. Not why I am in the hobby. I cracked out all my graded cards. No regrets. I can handle and enjoy my cards as I did as a kid. Guarantee my wife and daughter are sitting on a goldmine when I croak, and they know it.

mortimer brewster · #3 02-28-2021, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jingram058

Everyone on these forums has their opinion on graded cards, why they are in the hobby, yada yada yada. Everyone also knows how I stand. No graded cards. Not why I am in the hobby. I cracked out all my graded cards. No regrets. I can handle and enjoy my cards as I did as a kid. Guarantee my wife and daughter are sitting on a goldmine when I croak, and they know it.

Exactly, same here. I started collecting long before the graded card thing.I have maybe 50 graded cards in my collection. Am in the process of freeing them.

My collection also includes thousands of Game Programs, Books,yearbooks,Audio recordings. My wife never complains. IF she said "either the stuff goes or I go", I would miss her terribly.

None of my 4 kids have any interest in my collection. They don't want me to dispose my collection at some point. Just do what makes me happy and don't worry about the future. I plan on leaving instructions on how to disburse everything after I go to the Horizontal Hilton, swim with the fishes etc.

Exhibitman · #4 02-28-2021, 12:51 PM

I was able to sell off a bunch of slabbed cards over the weekend and simultaneously replace with nice raw for a fraction of the cost. Gonna keep doing that. They're easier to store, lighter, and fit into albums way better.

Mutton Chop Yaz · #5 03-03-2021, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jingram058

Everyone on these forums has their opinion on graded cards, why they are in the hobby, yada yada yada. Everyone also knows how I stand. No graded cards. Not why I am in the hobby. I cracked out all my graded cards. No regrets. I can handle and enjoy my cards as I did as a kid. Guarantee my wife and daughter are sitting on a goldmine when I croak, and they know it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mortimer brewster

Exactly, same here. I started collecting long before the graded card thing.I have maybe 50 graded cards in my collection. Am in the process of freeing them.

My collection also includes thousands of Game Programs, Books,yearbooks,Audio recordings. My wife never complains. IF she said "either the stuff goes or I go", I would miss her terribly.

None of my 4 kids have any interest in my collection. They don't want me to dispose my collection at some point. Just do what makes me happy and don't worry about the future. I plan on leaving instructions on how to disburse everything after I go to the Horizontal Hilton, swim with the fishes etc.

These posts have me thinking dark thoughts. My collection is small and almost entirely graded. I just picked up this Campanella with the intention of sending it to SGC, but it's so perfect and fun to hold in its natural state that I can't help but long to see my other cards this way. I just don't think I can bring myself to crack out things like my (very low grade) Goudey Ruth or Cracker Jack Wagner.

Still . . .

mferronibc · #6 03-03-2021, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mutton Chop Yaz

I just picked up this Campanella with the intention of sending it to SGC, but it's so perfect and fun to hold in its natural state that I can't help but long to see my other cards this way.

I can relate. I've had a stack of cards in just top loaders "waiting" to go out to PSA for a month but haven't pulled the trigger because every night I just enjoy flipping through them and admiring them. Nothing super high grade but a few off-base (Allstar, MVP, etc.) Mantles that I just love. Yes I am very curious what they will eventually grade and will probably pull the trigger at some point (although the new prices hikes are a B*) but for now can't quite pull myself to say goodbye to them for 8-12 months and yes come back in a bulky slab that's just not as fun to flip through a stack of.

Mutton Chop Yaz · #7 03-04-2021, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mferronibc

I can relate. I've had a stack of cards in just top loaders "waiting" to go out to PSA for a month but haven't pulled the trigger because every night I just enjoy flipping through them and admiring them. Nothing super high grade but a few off-base (Allstar, MVP, etc.) Mantles that I just love. Yes I am very curious what they will eventually grade and will probably pull the trigger at some point (although the new prices hikes are a B*) but for now can't quite pull myself to say goodbye to them for 8-12 months and yes come back in a bulky slab that's just not as fun to flip through a stack of.

Definitely. It's hard to feel like it's worth it when the wait is so long and the cards are great as they are.

jingram058 · #8 02-24-2021, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I've moved more to raw cards in the last three years, initially because I like albums best. Now, with the price jacks, I am selling slabbed cards I can replace with comparable raw ones for far less money. Not just cheapos either, here are two recent raw purchases I am very pleased with:

Agree with every word, sir. And those are 2 sweet cards!

vintagebaseballcardguy · #9 02-24-2021, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

I've moved more to raw cards in the last three years, initially because I like albums best. Now, with the price jacks, I am selling slabbed cards I can replace with comparable raw ones for far less money. Not just cheapos either, here are two recent raw purchases I am very pleased with:

I have to find a way to snag a '52 Reese someday, somehow.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

71buc · #10 02-24-2021, 11:19 PM

Those 52s are beautiful

thatkidfromjerrymaguire · #11 02-25-2021, 08:27 AM

Put me in the "I prefer raw cards" club.

I like to touch, sort, stack them and then put them in binders for display. All that is much easier with raw cards.

The cards posted in this thread are what 1950's era cards SHOULD look like. They were opened by kids, then looked at, traded, flipped, etc. A pristine card from this era is suspicious.

The only time I've bought graded is if I found a mid-grade card that appears to be selling for the same price as raw, OR if I'm buying a card valued over $200...because I want the extra security that it's real and/or doesn't have damage to it that isn't easily seen in a scan. (although i have less confidence these days that even graded cards are all authentic, un-altered, etc.)

SWinn · #12 02-26-2021, 03:09 PM

Quick answer: yes. Far better value. I have a range where the cards would grade on a bad day if I ever intend to sell (which is usually never anyway) and if I ever have alteration issues I just make sure I buy from a source I can get a refund no matter what. Never had a problem there, though.

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