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Need some help on whether to buy this MJ rookie
sweisman
Posts: 3 ✭
Hi guys, new to the forum and last month I got conned into buying a reprint - this guy's card looks to be verified, but I'd love your eyes on it and opinion. Don't want to get burned again. I appreciate the help!!
Note: he's selling it less than I would expect, I can't really see the seams in the basketball on the back, and the color on the back seems spotty, but I'm a total novice (which is why I got ripped off). The cert number checks out, but I don't know what weight that carries.
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You do see that it has been trimmed, correct?
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Successful transactions on the BST boards with rtimmer, coincoins, gerard, tincup, tjm965, MMR, mission16, dirtygoldman, AUandAG, deadmunny, thedutymon, leadoff4, Kid4HOF03, BRI2327, colebear, mcholke, rpcolettrane, rockdjrw, publius, quik, kalinefan, Allen, JackWESQ, CON40, Griffeyfan2430, blue227, Tiggs2012, ndleo, CDsNuts, ve3rules, doh, MurphDawg, tennessebanker, and gene1978.
Forgive the silly question, but that means it was basically tampered with right? So the grade would be a lot worse with PSA?
Can't get much worse.
Maybe others can chime in with better thoughts, but I would think that PSA would at best give it an authentic grade if they grade it at all. They may not even grade it due to trimming. But again, at best, you would get an authentic grade. And yes, the trimming grade is saying that someone altered the card by trimming one or more sides of it. If you compared it to a typical 1986 Fleet basketball card, you would probably notice that it may be a bit small.
If you didn't see the trimming indicator, you can now see why the price is maybe cheaper than you would have expected.
Since you seem to be a novice at all of this stuff, I would recommend staying away from the MJ Fleer rookie cards. That card is one of the most tampered with, faked, etc... card out there. And I doubt if you will find a "deal" out there on this card. Now, if you don't mind the trimmed card, this card would be a cheap way to get the classic card, but you won't be making money on the card.
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Successful transactions on the BST boards with rtimmer, coincoins, gerard, tincup, tjm965, MMR, mission16, dirtygoldman, AUandAG, deadmunny, thedutymon, leadoff4, Kid4HOF03, BRI2327, colebear, mcholke, rpcolettrane, rockdjrw, publius, quik, kalinefan, Allen, JackWESQ, CON40, Griffeyfan2430, blue227, Tiggs2012, ndleo, CDsNuts, ve3rules, doh, MurphDawg, tennessebanker, and gene1978.
Very much appreciate it guys, thank you!
Another thing, if the seller of the trimmed card hasn't mentioned that it is altered, they may be someone you want to stay away from.
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Successful transactions on the BST boards with rtimmer, coincoins, gerard, tincup, tjm965, MMR, mission16, dirtygoldman, AUandAG, deadmunny, thedutymon, leadoff4, Kid4HOF03, BRI2327, colebear, mcholke, rpcolettrane, rockdjrw, publius, quik, kalinefan, Allen, JackWESQ, CON40, Griffeyfan2430, blue227, Tiggs2012, ndleo, CDsNuts, ve3rules, doh, MurphDawg, tennessebanker, and gene1978.
There is nothing wrong with buying an altered card that is marked as such. Some people prefer a trimmed card to one in the grades they can afford. I prefer unaltered cards but if it doesn’t bother you and you would appreciate it more than a low grade copy go for it. Buying and crossing makes no sense in this case just look for a PSA Authentic.
I think the OP was looking for a cheap card that would cross over to a nice PSA grade. I don't believe he realized it was trimmed.
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Successful transactions on the BST boards with rtimmer, coincoins, gerard, tincup, tjm965, MMR, mission16, dirtygoldman, AUandAG, deadmunny, thedutymon, leadoff4, Kid4HOF03, BRI2327, colebear, mcholke, rpcolettrane, rockdjrw, publius, quik, kalinefan, Allen, JackWESQ, CON40, Griffeyfan2430, blue227, Tiggs2012, ndleo, CDsNuts, ve3rules, doh, MurphDawg, tennessebanker, and gene1978.
PSA will not grade a trimmed card. It will be sent back to you and not holdered. SGC will label it as Authentic but will not holder a reprint. So your card is not a reprint but just trimmed.
I'm glad he came to us before trying to get it graded with PSA.
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Successful transactions on the BST boards with rtimmer, coincoins, gerard, tincup, tjm965, MMR, mission16, dirtygoldman, AUandAG, deadmunny, thedutymon, leadoff4, Kid4HOF03, BRI2327, colebear, mcholke, rpcolettrane, rockdjrw, publius, quik, kalinefan, Allen, JackWESQ, CON40, Griffeyfan2430, blue227, Tiggs2012, ndleo, CDsNuts, ve3rules, doh, MurphDawg, tennessebanker, and gene1978.
I would pass on anything trimmed. The resell value is too sketchy. But if you really want an' Authentic' only card holder then stick with PSA.
https://kennerstartinglineup.blogspot.com/
PSA will not put a trimmed card in any holder and label it 'Authentic.' SGC will.
Afternoon,
So after reading through this thread I went to E-Bay and did not realize you can get a VG-EX 4 for as little as about $2500. And their are lots of Authentics, but most of them are in the same neighborhood price wise, maybe a tad cheaper, some, not all! I see Auth Trimmed, Altered, ? If it says Altered and your can't visibly see what is altered, you would have no way to find out the defect? Correct?
Shoot for $2500 or so I think I would like a VG-EX 4 over any kind of Authentic, does that seem right? Shoot for that price point I feel I need to Buy in this downturn and not like my Rookie Sticker PSA I bought at the Highest Possible Price 2+ years ago at a Level which will never ever be obtained again, for a Price that is 8 times what its worth today!
Thanks
YeeHaw!
Neil
They will with 'hand-cut' cards. 😁
But it is a weird stance for PSA to take. Too sensitive an issue?
You could cut the card, as long as it's obvious.
You could trim a card by tearing it poorly.
You could even try "fixing" a card by altering it, and it could get slabbed with added 'Altered' designation.
But if you cut a sliver off in a straight line, then no way it's slabbed? (Unless you're very good at it)
I think SGCs position of labeling it as 'Authentic trimmed' is the more transparent and accurate way to go.
This is incorrect. PSA will in fact label trimmed cards as Authentic - Trimmed (and sometimes Authentic - Altered). More often than not, the submitter has to put a request note on their form asking for the card to be labeled that way rather than returned unholdered. There are many examples of PSA graded cards in holders that are labeled as Authentic/Trimmed. I own several myself.
Rather than dig those out and scan them, here is an example from a quick google search:
I do not think they will do that now, as of todays grading. Do you have a resent trimmed slabed?
I have a couple recently graded ones that were labeled as Authentic-Altered. The reason for the altered designation is that the cards were trimmed, which is quite obvious by looking at them. I'm not 100% certain if they will specify the altered qualifier anymore or not. They used to specify on the grading labels as Authentic-Recolored, Authentic-Trimmed, etc., but I suppose it is possible they decided to group all the reasons under a single common designation now. Nonetheless, they will still absolutely put trimmed cards in holders and label them as Authentic, regardless of whether the label also says Trimmed vs. Altered along with it.
Thanks for the info. Do you think a PSA authentic-trimmed will sell for more than an SGC authentic . I have a few SGC as authentic that PSA sent back ungraded. ( but I never knew or thought to request authentic- trimmed. I will in the future.
I don’t think there is any ground rules on value when you get into trimmed cards. It probably has more to do with the type of alterations than the holder. Personally I would avoid them all. You never know the market for type of thing. It could tank tomorrow….
https://kennerstartinglineup.blogspot.com/
I agree.
Now if you're a gambling man with a nice bank roll then you can acquire a couple dozen altered cards and specialize in the best altered 86 fleers that are truly authentic.
I think there is a market for authentic trimmed 86 fleer Jordan's because the price for a PSA6 and higher is above what many can afford. Some would prefer a great looking authentic card for a similar price to a low grade unaltered card. Certain vintage cards have a demand regardless of the condition and MJs 86 Fleer will be one of the only cards made in the last 50 years to get the demand needed to allow this.