Entombed in Plastic

[ullmandds]

For me...I used to be strictly a collector...I probably never sold a card until maybe 8 yrs ago. Now being a little tired of the type collecting I've been doing for decades...am selling cards to fund newer...more exciting cards. For this reason alone I find it prudent to have many of my cards graded prior to selling if they are high value cards. I have only had maybe 50 or so cards graded myself...all the rest were purchased that way...and I have only broken a few slabs to resubmit. I envy all raw collectors as this is the way it should be!

I pity those who have never held a raw card in hand...as many issues are variable in card stock, thickness, etc...and this is easily witnessed with a raw card in hand!

[Leon]

Imo, there is no way to get to know cards very well without handling some raw ones. I have hundreds that are raw and hundreds that are slabbed. Almost all of my higher valued cards are slabbed. That's just the way I roll. To each their own.

[Edwolf1963]

I have to think the grading companies love seeing this thread. More circulation for them. As cards are bought, sold, traded .. raw, cracked out, crossed-over, etc - dreamers, bargain hunters, flippers, enthusiasts - for show or for dough, or just those who do value the slab and grade will resubmit .. time and time again.

[Exhibitman]

I always crack out the "A" and "1" and "1.5" cards for my collection--no need to waste space on storage for those. Nearly all of my Exhibit sets are in binders. If there is some reason why I want the card to stay in a slab and it is part of a set, I've taken to making a laser print of the card in the slab and putting it in the album space where the card was supposed to go, just to remind myself that I have it and don't need to buy it.

If I want to resell the cards, they stay in plastic--just easier to move them.

[gorrister]

Another slow day - only freed 1 card - a 1971 Topps Tattoo of Boog Powell & Don Money - PSA 6

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by Leon

Imo, there is no way to get to know cards very well without handling some raw ones. I have hundreds that are raw and hundreds that are slabbed. Almost all of my higher valued cards are slabbed. That's just the way I roll. To each their own.

What he said.

[Matthew H]

Steve, I get what your sayin', I'm not totally anti grading. I collect mostly low grade stuff and since I've been crackin' for the last few years, I can tell you with certainty that I have had a much harder time selling or trading for equal value. Oh well... It's still worth it to be able to enjoy them.

As far as fantom value, bumping a card from 4 to 6, Makes the same card sell for more money. That's cool for the seller I guess, but now the guy who buys the card will lose that "value" if he wants to crack and hold that card.

[steve B]

In theory most cards shouldn't ever get a bump from 4-6. Although the mid grades are probably somewhat prone to a higher portion of borderline cards.
I have a couple that might get that sort of bump or more, if they held strictly to their standards. But most cards are clearly either VG+ or EX.

That's in theory, not in reality. I know some send in till they catch a good day or more lax grader.

Of course there's always a subjective portion to it. Centering can be measured on anything with a border, but one persons VG corner is someone elses EX. And that's the place where problems come in. (I won't even start figuring out how the divide 8,9 and 10, as most of those seem very nice to me. )

Low grades don't make much sense to me slabbed, unless it's a very expensive card. I have 1 1/2 low grade T206s slabbed, one a 10, the other was a 10 , bought raw and actually shipped to me with the flip and the remains of the SGC slab. Neither are ones I sent in. I should crack out the first one, but I'm just too lazy.

I also don't think the really nice cards are overpriced. Some stuff just isn't out there in really nice condition. I'm not overly picky, but once in a while I'll go a bit more for a very nice example of a card. (Raw or slabbed)

Steve B

[t206fix]

I love the slab... and I think that the cards do too. Many of these cards are old and worn pieces of cardboard. They are like elderly grandmas that just want to lay down and take a nap without being fondled. They are 70, 80 or even older. And all that you young whipper snappers want to do is to pull them out of their slabs for a night on the town for your own jollies, without really thinking about what they want.

The slab is like a retirement home for these old relics. These old cards have gone through the World Wars and the Depression. They've been through tornadoes, fires and floods. Some may have been through an ugly divorce or two. The slab is like heaven - just a place to relax and spend the rest of their days, unmolested.

[rainier2004]

Originally Posted by cardboardbliss

They are like elderly grandmas that just want to lay down and take a nap without being fondled. They are 70, 80 or even older. And all that you young whipper snappers want to do is to pull them out of their slabs for a night on the town for your own jollies, without really thinking about what they want.

Tony - Thats hilarious. I love putting personalities/traits with inanimate objects. I think of slabbed cards as the pissed of kid standing in the corner for something they did wrong and all they want is be freed to play with the other...but I do enjoy taking them out on a night on the town!

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by cardboardbliss

I love the slab... and I think that the cards do too. Many of these cards are old and worn pieces of cardboard. They are like elderly grandmas that just want to lay down and take a nap without being fondled. They are 70, 80 or even older. And all that you young whipper snappers want to do is to pull them out of their slabs for a night on the town for your own jollies, without really thinking about what they want.

The slab is like a retirement home for these old relics. These old cards have gone through the World Wars and the Depression. They've been through tornadoes, fires and floods. Some may have been through an ugly divorce or two. The slab is like heaven - just a place to relax and spend the rest of their days, unmolested.

Grandma calls the slab her Fountain of Youth. She hasn't gotten a new wrinkle in years.