Qualifiers.off center.miscut.mk. ok to collect?

metalmike

yea we want the best! since I am broke and my budget for cards is like 20 a month-any womder why I like poor/good/fair cards?

Estil

The annual Beckett price guides say it best:

"Each collection is personal and reflects the individuality of its owner. There are no set rules on how to collect cards. Since card collecting is a hobby or leisure pastime, what you collect, how much you collect, and how much time and money you spend on collecting are entirely up to you."

So basically whether it's getting the most absoulte pristine PSA 10s or collecting the absoulte worst condition cards possible or in between, it's entirely up to you. For example, while I personally prefer to try to keep my collection as consistently NRMT or better as I can, I know with over 62,000 cards and counting, I know it will be virtually impossible to do so perfectly. But you know what? That's okay.

hofautos

Unless you are a millionaire, you won't be able to afford the real classics. I would prefer a lower grade than an OC, MK, or other distratable characteristics. If you search hard, you can find very aestically nice looking cards in grades as low as a 3, with the only distraction being rounded corners. Centering and mark free surface is what I look for, and willing to pay premiums for the tough centered cards (ie clemente rookie).

Here is my Hank Aaron rookie, I have passed up 6's and even a 7 for this beauty.



Couple others

perkdog

Wow those are great cards! Personally I would take a low grade card anytime that is centered well, IMO an "OC" or "MK" are just plain awful and I would never consider one for my collection.

Ladder7

Yea, don't ever collect off-center cards. People will talk about ya

storm888

The market hates OC cards a WHOLE LOT more than I do.

Until the market agrees with me, I will continue to try to
buy "new looking" OC cards for TINY money.

metalmike

My favorite card is a 1957 Frank Robinson card that some kid wrote 1B in the upper left corner. I paid 10 for it and I am happy with it. Book value near mint is 350

elsnorto

For vintage stuff I am simply just not going to pay the big bucks that some will for high grade items.

Depending on what the item is I do not mind at all some corner wear, certain light creasing, smaller print marks, or vertical centering issues. But for some reason I just cannot stand significantly horizontally off center cards.

The Aaron hofautos has would suit me just fine, heck even the Gehrig and Jackie cards are ok by me. But the Jordan RC above just does not appeal to me personally and I would rather have a well centered 7 with some corner wear and/or border chipping if they cost the same at the end of the day.

It is all about personal tastes and financial realities. No doubt though, there are major bargains to be had for anyone that can overlook whatever imperfection(s) for their own personal collection. A penny saved is a penny more to spend on another card after all.

Snorto~

storm888

"...But for some reason I just cannot stand significantly horizontally off center cards..."

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Ditto.

But, the MJ card above would be just fine, if I could
get it really cheap. I think such cards are a steal, for
long term holds.

The merits of that theory are still almost impossible
to convince folks of.

GDM67

<< <i>But for some reason I just cannot stand significantly horizontally off center cards. >>

Is vertical centering not as big a deal to you? I ask because that seems to be a popular opinion around here, which I also endorse.

Obviously, you don't want something that's borderline MC, but since there is generally less room to work with top to bottom, it's easier for a really nice looking card to wander into OC qualifier territory that way and still have tremendous eye appeal.

digicat

With some cards, I'm happy with a qualifier if the card is flawless otherwise.

perkdog

That Cepeda looks great for a MK, might be the best one I have seen.

jskirwin

<< <i> The market hates OC cards a WHOLE LOT more than I do. >>



But not as much as it should.

I personally target OC and notice that the prices on the high star cards have been escalating as of late. It's making it harder for me to collect gems.