Cards still being outed on Blowout -- PSA 9 Monte Irvin in the recent ML

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by raulus

I guess I'll go back to not sleeping well at night then.

It's all about your tolerance at this point, I feel. If you bought 9s and 10s out of certain auction houses, or even 8s of major cards, well there is a good chance some are altered, that's just the odds. Look for any cards that are obviously short, not always a clear indicator but it's something. Look for corners that appear bat eared or otherwise are not 90 degrees. Get a halogen light and see if anything shows up.

[Exhibitman]

As to why we bother with grading, it's simple: money. I don't care about having graded cards in my collection, but if I want to cash out, I hold my nose and get them slabbed. I do not see that changing in the foreseeable future. Graded cards just bring more money as long as there is a cadre of collectors who believe in it. No amount of hand wringing, or debate will alter that dynamic.

[Yoda]

Grading has become the price point for the hobby. VCP simply substantiates that fact.

[perezfan]

For every altered card Blowout successfully exposes, there are probably 1,000 that they simply don't find or can't identify.

As TPG became more prevalent, I started migrating from cards over to memorabilia. The whole concept of a third party handling and assessing your collectibles always rubbed me the wrong way, and that's just one reason I shifted my focus. Their inconsistency is absurd.

I still love cards, but will never submit to a TPG for my own collection. When the time comes to sell, I'll just bite the bullet, let the Auction House submit them and be done with it.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

As to why we bother with grading, it's simple: money. I don't care about having graded cards in my collection, but if I want to cash out, I hold my nose and get them slabbed. I do not see that changing in the foreseeable future. Graded cards just bring more money as long as there is a cadre of collectors who believe in it. No amount of hand wringing, or debate will alter that dynamic.

Totally agree (as I said in the earlier post).

The blue collar class of collectors have long since left the hobby. It is mostly white collar now. Such a change from years ago.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Totally agree (as I said in the earlier post).

The blue collar class of collectors have long since left the hobby. It is mostly white collar now. Such a change from years ago.

Purest and Capitalist...can such be both in the high end world. Hush Hush baby don't you cry.

It's not as bad as it seems and it's not as good as it seems, just have fun crap it's only cards it's only money enjoy life enjoy your cards hell it's national Cheeseburger day get a cheap sandwich !!!!

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

The blue collar class of collectors have long since left the hobby. It is mostly white collar now. Such a change from years ago.

Not from where I sit. They just don't collect slabbed vintage cards. I just did the Anaheim show and I would say that the majority of my customers were very middle class or working class. I basically deal in raw cards with most under $20. Lots of vintage-curious entry-level collectors of modest means, lots of families, kids, etc. How do I know? Because I engage with people at shows, and I ask. It's the fun part of being there, at least for me, finding out how people collect and what interests them. You never know, you know, unless you make the effort? I mean, one guy was looking for oddball stuff related to the 1970s sets he collects and was really surprised when I pulled out some original photos from the 1975 Topps basketball set that I got from The Topps Vault years ago.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Not from where I sit. They just don't collect slabbed vintage cards. I just did the Anaheim show and I would say that the majority of my customers were very middle class or working class. I basically deal in raw cards with most under $20. Lots of vintage-curious entry-level collectors of modest means, lots of families, kids, etc. How do I know? Because I engage with people at shows, and I ask. It's the fun part of being there, at least for me, finding out how people collect and what interests them. You never know, you know, unless you make the effort? I mean, one guy was looking for oddball stuff related to the 1970s sets he collects and was really surprised when I pulled out some original photos from the 1975 Topps basketball set that I got from The Topps Vault years ago.

I like hearing that story, glad you were able to engage with collectors.

I should have said that blue collar left the mid/high end cards a long time ago.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

I like hearing that story, glad you were able to engage with collectors.

I should have said that blue collar left the mid/high end cards a long time ago.

Totally agree, which is why I can sell what I sell. They've adjusted downward and across to other grades and other cards. The stuff that I used to pull from dollar boxes...