So I joined PSA...

[Ianril]

Now what? Haha. I don't buy a lot of packs and I only collect Rickey Henderson graded cards... So my issue is this:

I live in a small town with one card shop that doesn't carry a lot of stuff. The only thing I can rely on is eBay and try to gauge the quality of a card from the description and the photo.

Do any of you have any experience with buying raw cards via eBay basing the quality solely off of those two options and was the outcome good?

I guess that's how most people do it anyway, but didn't know if there were some signs to be looking for.

Thanky.

[pwaldo]

I really wouldn't gauge the condition of the card from a scan on eBay especially now since sellers will take an image from another auction and just use that either knowingly or unknowingly that it does make a difference. Plus you have cards getting damaged in the mail because the shipper doesn't know how to properly protect them.

[Ianril]

I really wouldn't gauge the condition of the card from a scan on eBay especially now since sellers will take an image from another auction and just use that either knowingly or unknowingly that it does make a difference. Plus you have cards getting damaged in the mail because the shipper doesn't know how to properly protect them.

Well, I've actually found a few sellers that sell the item pictured and seem to do a pretty good job of grading the cards for the most part. I'm actually sending in a few from them soon and we'll see what the outcome is and if their "mint" assessments were accurate. Haha.

And I really don't have any other choice but to use eBay unfortunately. :(

Good points on the using a different image too. I've sent cards back before because of this. Sellers have been understanding so far too, but I think if I stick to just a couple of regular sellers, that may be my best bet.