Anyone else feeling raw is their only option these days?

[Exhibitman]

Centering is a non-issue for fraud; you literally can see the centering in any decent scan so there is no basis to bitch about centering. As for bargains, you just have to forage a bit. Also, your data points may be a bit off. Slabbed cards are definitely selling at a premium right now. I've replaced perhaps 20 slabbed 1970s basketball cards lately with raw and except for a few have obtained similar condition cards for a fraction of what the slabbed cards sold for.

[Oscar_Stanage]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Centering is a non-issue for fraud; you literally can see the centering in any decent scan so there is no basis to bitch about centering.

I never used the word 'fraud' and there is no 'bi----ng'. its just the business. Sellers ignore centering when listing their grades. it is what it is. obviously anyone can check that on a scan and decide for him/her self. but many newbies don't necessarily understand how centering impacts grade and value, and it does not take much to move the market. it took me a lot of buying experience to figure out the game.. my point is that these transgressions are purposeful by the selling community, its how they profit. I call it grade arbitrage. I am talking about the big volume online auctioneers, not the local flea market. if you have enough eyeballs on your auction, you can auction off a card that would be EX+ by any standard scale, describe as NM, and it will sell at PSA NM price. to add insult to injury, some of the folks rail against the TPGs in the description! while at the same time create an alternate universe.

[bb66]

Hey Wid--I am in total agreement with everything you described. Thanks

[Exhibitman]

Who pays attention to the seller's grade on a card? I never do. i judge from the scans and ask about any creases. If the card arrives with a wrinkle back it goes as not as described.

[ASF123]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Who pays attention to the seller's grade on a card? I never do. i judge from the scans and ask about any creases. If the card arrives with a wrinkle back it goes as not as described.

Speaking of, I bought a raw Aaron RC and just got the card in hand today, and it's obviously trimmed. No mention of that in the description, but the seller is being a d*** about a return - "It was sold as is, I described it as 'authentic,'" blah blah blah. He pretty clearly knew and was trying to be clever.

There's no way I get stuck with the card if I open a "not as described" return request, right?

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by ASF123

Speaking of, I bought a raw Aaron RC and just got the card in hand today, and it's obviously trimmed. No mention of that in the description, but the seller is being a d*** about a return - "It was sold as is, I described it as 'authentic,'" blah blah blah. He pretty clearly knew and was trying to be clever.

There's no way I get stuck with the card if I open a "not as described" return request, right?

I'd open the case for sure.

[packs]

Paypal is built to punish a seller like that. There's a 99% chance you'll be refunded for any reason you feel like. That's what's nice about being a buyer and using their service.