That's fine...you are welcome to collect in anyway that you choose. There is nothing wrong with that. But making statements that suggest that TPGs have no value isn't accurate. They do have value to a lot of collectors for a lot of different reasons...just not to you.
Agreed. The error rate is smaller with some but overall the top ones all have a very low rate of errors. The perception of it always gets artifically inflated since people point out errors in threads but no one ever makes a thread saying "look at these thousands of accurately graded coins I found listed". Completely agree. The notion that people aren't collecting coins just because they buy them graded has always been a pet peeve of mine.
Let me personally thank you for adding your valuable and very informed opinion. Heck, why differentiate between anything in life. One doctor is as good as the next. All one carat diamonds are equal. Giving grades to students is a bunch of bull too!
Well, glad you found us, just letting people know it wasn't a new topic...don't know if we will add another 5 pages though.....eh, slow day, hold onto your sox.
I'm not frustrated. We are all welcome to collect however makes us happy. That's the whole point of it.
There is not a one and only way to collect coins. That's one of the fascinating things about this hobby.
Indeed. There's no right or wrong... for those who have even somewhat of clue, but there most certainly are wrong ways for those who don't.
I understand what you are saying. But, if you are enjoying what you are doing...then you are doing it right. You might not be doing it intelligently or in a way where you can recoup what you spend...even when I was a kid and I bought junky cleaned coins, I still really had fun doing it and putting them in my old Whitman Folders. I can't fathom that today and I wish I had known better, but those experiences are what made me fall in love with this hobby...I can't say I did it wrong. I learned from it and saw the challenge in the hobby. Had I not went through that, I may never have really fallen in love with the hunt for quality pieces.
Are you aware that the inability to appreciate the difference between right and wrong is at the core of the insanity defense? Admit it, you're this...
I too understand and certainly respect what you're saying, but we're talking about two totally different things. My post wasn't directed towards those who make a few poor choices (as every one of us has) and learn from them (as most of us have, or so I'd like to think), but those who go overboard, often believing they can outsmart everyone around them, and end up either in a terrible mess when the time comes to sell, or worse yet, end up burdening their loved ones due to their stupidity. Sure, such people may have enjoyed the ride, but it's impossible to argue that they "did it right", especially when sitting across from a young widow with three young kids balling her eyes out because she's no way to pay the mortgage, and was counting on a pile of near worthless junk to save her home (true story).
You're right. "It's impossible to argue that they "did it right", especially when sitting across from a young widow with three young kids balling her eyes out because she's no way to pay the mortgage, and was counting on a pile of near worthless junk to save her home." It's also impossible to argue that he "did it right", especially when sitting across from a young widow with three young kids balling her eyes out because she's no way to pay the mortgage, and was counting on a pile of PCGS/NGC coins to save her home. What her dead husband did wrong wasn't buying raw "junk" it was spending that kind of money on a hobby at all before he took the steps necessary to provide care for his future widow and kids with insurance and investments !