Weeding out the "Dogs"

downgoesfrazier

Curious. How many of you guys go through your sets every couple of months and weed out cards that have the grade you want, but are not up to the standards you've set for your set? I keep getting to 70% and then going back to 64-67% as I'm getting fussier each time it seems. I've never built a graded set before this one (though I've built sets and collected for 25 years). Is getting fussier a product of being familiar with the issue you're working on--what the cards are capable of looking like? Anybody else experience this? The upside, obviously, is that a set will be stronger than mere cert #'s when it is completed, but patience is certainly going to be key.

aro13

I do it all of the time with my ungraded sets. What was a satisfactory card two years ago now needs to be upgraded. As for graded stuff, I need too many cards to worry about upgrading an 8 to a better 8.

BTW-I will be checking on those 77 OPC cards sometime later in the week. I know I have quite a few that you will need but I am not certain about the grades.

dude

Curious. How many of you guys go through your sets every couple of months and weed out cards that have the grade you want, but are not up to the standards you've set for your set? I keep getting to 70% and then going back to 64-67% as I'm getting fussier each time it seems. I've never built a graded set before this one (though I've built sets and collected for 25 years). Is getting fussier a product of being familiar with the issue you're working on--what the cards are capable of looking like? Anybody else experience this? The upside, obviously, is that a set will be stronger than mere cert #'s when it is completed, but patience is certainly going to be key.

I have my entire collection documented on an Excel spreadsheet. For each graded set, I designate which cards are in need of upgrading either for centering, diamond cuts, print marks or overgrading, etc. But I keep those cards in the set until they are replaced.

downgoesfrazier

Awesome. Thanks. I picked up Woodie Fryman with Cincinnati and half a dozen Blue Jays at a local card shop today--I was surprised to find them there for sure...I just stopped by for some penny sleeves...you never know.

FB

Dude,

You're a sick man...

Downgoesfrazier - I don't actively review all the cards in my sets, but whenever I get cards back from PSA, I can guarantee you that the best one stays in my sets - whether its the same grade or an upgrade.

dude

FB-- So what's your point?

DGF -- Actually, I know collectors like you and I'm pretty much that way myself. It's a pain selling cards to people like us, but when people like us sell our collections, I want to be the first in line as a buyer.

downgoesfrazier

Dude,
That guy must've had one hell of a set! "Sick" might be understating things a touch.

downgoesfrazier

Dan,
Seriously, what held back the 77 Swisher? I didn't look too close, but at first glance it looks pretty sharp. I noticed it got a bid...not a bad sale on an 8 common.

dude

DGF -- The Swisher has a micro-crease across the bottom left corner and some micro-fuzz on the upper right. It's a nice looking card, but a solid 8. Thanks for asking.

jaxxr

Upgrades are a constant "phobia/problem/challenge" for me. Varoius sets have different minimum standards for me. Graded or partially graded sets are not too big a deal, the cards in a grade acceptable are usually up to snuff, but there are always going to one or two "overgraded" by comparison to typical PSA ( or any other company ) specifications, at least to my own non-professional eyes which have caught a minor corner ding on an 8 via a 10x magnifier once or twice.

Raw cards of course use my own percieved evaluations, but I try to be objective, why fool myself by myself, there are enough sellers happy to try to fool me and have had some sucess, at least the first time. I recently finished upgrading a 1956 BB set, trying to go to a vg to vg-ex minimum. I upgraded all the needed commons but left a few stars in lesser shape as I felt the reward would not equal the cost. My raw 1975 set needs about a dozen commons and 3 star cards upgraded to NM or better standards, on this one I shall strive to get all in the minumum condition, however for whatever reason I have no sense of urgency whatsoever to finish upgrading, but the 56 set needed to be done in a few months only. No logic here. Minimum standards may change any time I evaluate or look over a set for the umpteenth time.

kverd5432

Your story was in very poor taste, dude.

GATOR5

Dgf-


I find myself doing this constantly with my 81's. I must say that I only do it when
I am fully rested for at times I tend to weed out the wrong card when I awake in
the morning.

My question is this when do you guys call it quits for my stacks continue to grow,
I have some #'s with grades in 8,9, and 10. And many of the times I like the 8
better for it's the better card yet lacks some bs thing like 2 specks of snow yet
you cant even see it.

Dude-

Not sure if I followed the intention of your post yet I'm sure something is behind
it I trust you 100%.

Virtualizard

<< <i>... My question is this when do you guys call it quits for my stacks continue to grow,
I have some #'s with grades in 8,9, and 10. And many of the times I like the 8
better for it's the better card yet lacks some bs thing like 2 specks of snow yet
you cant even see it. .... >>



Gator,

I have been in a similar situation recently. This is what you need to do with these cards.

JEB.

GATOR5

Jeb

Thats a great thought!!!! Ha thats so funny I turned a few fives before on 81's due to
not looking at the surface not a crease I'd notice that from across the room yet I tend
to look past the wax that I didn't rub off

Hey noticed your doing 70's I have a few that I just got back if interested look me up
at rmorse@accn.org