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Last Minute Again with my PSA Sub - But I DID Have a Rude Awakening!

Hi guys,

Well, I just did my club sub - the voucher expires in 10 days - last year they accepted an expired voucher from me.

Now for the pain...

I went thru a bunch of cards I purchased in the late 80s/early 90s.

Back then I just looked at a card with my crappy 20/20s and that was it. I have to confess, around 1990, I found out when I took a physical that I need reading glasses - didn't know about it - this explains some of the mistakes I may have made back then - but NOT all of them.

I can't believe how many cards that are in Nmmt semi-rigids from a dealer - are at best 6s!!!!! Many are from reputable dealers - OVERGRADED!

These cards look OK on quick inspection - but when ya get out the 10X loupe? Crappy corners! Don't remember what I paid for some - but I promise it was too much.

Here's an example - this one didn't have a grade on it - but I remember it was at least Nm - purhased around 1990. The lower left corner is soft - and the best this card gets is a 6 - maybe 5.

So, let me say it first - what a chump!

image

Here's the whole card.

The total cards - totall loss - is not gonna make me jump off the roof or anything - but boy has my view changed in 20 years!

mike

edit: this took a lot of courage to fess up! image
Mike

Comments

  • Mike, don't feel bad. At least you were buying vintage in 1990. Every penny I acquired went to 1990 Donruss baseball. Stupid Ben MacDonald.

    It can always be worse Mike. image

    Arthur

    Edited to add: You missed a dinged corner. A lot of us missed the boat entirely. image
  • frankhardyfrankhardy Posts: 8,143 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I hate to disagree, but that card looks like a 7 from here.

    Shane

  • Alfonz24Alfonz24 Posts: 3,114 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Card conditions have greatly changed in the last 25-30 years.

    I kept most of my childhood cards in pristine condition, so that is paying off for me now. But I still have some cards that I rubberbanded in the early/mid 70s.
    #LetsGoSwitzerlandThe Man Who Does Not Read Has No Advantage Over the Man Who Cannot Read. The biggest obstacle to progress is a habit of “buying what we want and begging for what we need.”You get the Freedom you fight for and get the Oppression you deserve.
  • Mike, it's a very clean card, but it may be trimmed... How does it measure up?
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,438 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I hate to disagree, but that card looks like a 7 from here. >>

    Frank

    The lower left corner is missing the top veneer - last time I submitted a card like that - it got a 6.

    I can scan it later if you'ld like - it was a 64T Mantle.

    mike
    Mike
  • CDsNutsCDsNuts Posts: 10,092
    Back in high school around 1993, I was working at a little card shop in the local mall. I remember we had this one regular customer who brought in a little magnifying glass and inspected all of the cards before deciding what to buy. I thought he was absolutely nuts. Now I'm that guy.

    I also remember being at an antique market and looking through what I thought were overpriced vintage cards at a guys stand. One of his good customers and I start talking about cards, and he shows me a 1970 Topps Hank Aaron he paid $40 for, and says "Now that's what an old card is supposed to look like". The card had 4 sharp corners and probably would be a 9, but I couldn't believe he paid OVER BOOK for that card.

    The few people who knew what they were doing back then must have some amazing collections right now. That being said, you probably spent about $10 on that card Mike. Right now you could be holding a Gregg Jeffries RC instead.

    Lee
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,438 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Mike, it's a very clean card, but it may be trimmed... How does it measure up? >>


    That's a great question since it doesn't lay flat on any surface - very poorly cut.

    It measures 2.5x3.5" - the edges on 10X inspection are not curled like a trimmed card - and to be honest, every corner is just too dam crappy to have been trimmed.

    Now - a good trimmer could turn this into a blazer - about 1/16" short all around - put it in a Gem or Pro holder and get 200$ as Gem Mint! image

    Thanx for the input guys - I'm running a full blown pity party here!

    image
    Mike
  • digicatdigicat Posts: 8,551 ✭✭


    << <i>Here's an example - this one didn't have a grade on it - but I remember it was at least Nm - purhased around 1990. The lower left corner is soft - and the best this card gets is a 6 - maybe 5. >>



    Get it graded. I've seen PSA 8s with 1 corner like that, and PSA 7s with 2+. At worse, it'd probably get a 7.
    My Giants collection want list

    WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
  • cohocorpcohocorp Posts: 1,371 ✭✭
    sry to hear it mike.

    we certainly do get better with the more experience we get.
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,438 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Here's an example - this one didn't have a grade on it - but I remember it was at least Nm - purhased around 1990. The lower left corner is soft - and the best this card gets is a 6 - maybe 5. >>



    Get it graded. I've seen PSA 8s with 1 corner like that, and PSA 7s with 2+. At worse, it'd probably get a 7. >>


    Good idea digicat.

    Got a question tho...

    Do you'all think they may be tougher on someone when they submit their "CLUB" cards? You would want to say it doesn't matter - but who knows?

    Just a thought?

    mike
    Mike
  • digicatdigicat Posts: 8,551 ✭✭
    My club submission, when looked at in review, was graded accurately. Some dead-solid grades, and a few that I feel were a little over/under, but balanced overall.
    My Giants collection want list

    WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
  • jeffcbayjeffcbay Posts: 8,950 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Well, I just did my club sub - the voucher expires in 10 days - last year they accepted an expired voucher from me. >>



    They expire?!?!?!?! How soon do they expire after you get them? I gotta check mine...
  • frankhardyfrankhardy Posts: 8,143 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>I hate to disagree, but that card looks like a 7 from here. >>

    Frank

    The lower left corner is missing the top veneer - last time I submitted a card like that - it got a 6.

    I can scan it later if you'ld like - it was a 64T Mantle.

    mike >>



    I see that now. Still a nice looking card.

    Shane

  • storm888storm888 Posts: 11,701 ✭✭✭
    "Do you'all think they may be tougher on someone when they submit their "CLUB" cards?"

    //////////////////////////////////////

    I have found them to be equally mean/strict REGARDLESS of what
    kind of "payment" is used.
    Folks Who Bite Get Bitten. Folks Who Don't Bite Get Eaten.
  • BarfvaderBarfvader Posts: 2,859 ✭✭✭✭
    Your card looks pretty good.

    image

    You want to trade for the one I have? image

    image
    image





    << <i>Right now you could be holding a Gregg Jeffries RC instead. >>



    Or you could be holding more than one. image

    image

    And as sad as some might think this is, the Jefferies card is the one that got me interested in this hobby back in 1988 and I enjoy looking at them now just as much as I did when I pulled these from packs back in 1988.


    Jeff

  • digicatdigicat Posts: 8,551 ✭✭


    << <i>And as sad as some might think this is, the Jefferies card is the one that got me interested in this hobby back in 1988 and I enjoy looking at them now just as much as I did when I pulled these from packs back in 1988. >>



    LoL!

    I've got to admit, when I was on a cheap-wax busting binge recently, I'd get pretty geeked out when I'd find a Jefferies rookie (as well as Jack McDowell, Ron Gant... and Sam Horn!).
    My Giants collection want list

    WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25
  • Well, it's a 1968. That design made EVERY card look like it had rounded corners. The only way to get a real sense of the condition of a '68 is thru a nice loupe. NOBODY can just eye a card from that set; and forget about buying them raw on ebay from a scan!
  • MooseDogMooseDog Posts: 1,946 ✭✭✭
    I feel your pain Mike...my first PSA sub included a "nice" 1971-72 Topps Basketball Pete Maravich but I was so focused on corner sharpness, I neglected somehow to see the pinhole and of course it came back a PSA 1.
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,438 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I feel your pain Mike...my first PSA sub included a "nice" 1971-72 Topps Basketball Pete Maravich but I was so focused on corner sharpness, I neglected somehow to see the pinhole and of course it came back a PSA 1. >>

    Moose

    Did you see the pinhole when you bought the card?

    mike
    Mike


  • << <i>"Do you'all think they may be tougher on someone when they submit their "CLUB" cards?"

    //////////////////////////////////////

    I have found them to be equally mean/strict REGARDLESS of what
    kind of "payment" is used. >>



    Yes, I 'd agree with storm's assessment...

    It's still a fantastic card to own Mike! Your's is in better shape than my raw one, I'm sure. I'll have to dig it out and, if it's as good or better, I'll scan and share it.

    Go ahead and vent some more. We're glad to be here for ya!
  • Mike,

    Are all of your T3's graded?? Or are you sending in any of those?! You've GOT to scan and share your subs when they come back!
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