I know that there are a lot of folks that spurn TPG graded coins for various reasons. That is fine. They feel that TPG grading is inaccurate, and want to own raw coins. That is fine. However, what boils my blood is the ubiquitous picture of the raw coin, in a stapled cardboard flip, with some dealer’s wildly unrealistic comments or grades written on the holder. It ticks me off, as too many buyers are naive enough to think that the grade on the flip has any validity. Seeing coins sold like that on eBay, or in a coin shop reminds me of the old adage “When you go to buy the coins, they are all BU. When you go to sell the same coins, they are all AU or XF.” Brings back the “ bad old days” of coin grading.
Uncirculated ++++++. I see what you are saying. It only took me a few times of being burned on coins to learn how to grade for myself. One of the dealers I go to says, I never buy what it says on the flip. But he will often put it in his case with the same writing on it. That is when I offer him a price that I feel is conservative. We have a discussion about the coins grade and come up with a fair price. This also includes coins in slabs.
Also, one other thing that frosts my mug is when dealers put a $200 coin in a cardboard flip. Be decent, and invest in some non-pvc flips, instead of the “staple coin scratcher” flips.
I just coincidentally discovered this when searching for images. I thought it fit quite nicely with your "wildly unrealistic comments" observation. The link did not work, so this is all I have.
Yikes, that would turn me off bigtime... A nice, simple title with several GOOD pictures is LOADS better IMO
Looks XF and cleaned to Meow. Meow would be pissed to get that in the mail after expecting Mr. +++++++!
It's called using our eyes. Don't worry what someone writes on the flip, use your own eyes and ask for good photos. This might be prejudice to blnid people though.
Some dealers at shows have tables with cases full of these kinds of flips. Usually with huge markups that would make the Redbook jealous. I usually just skip them. All the scribbling on mylars seems to be made to attract new unsuspecting collectors or old people who fall for TV Coin networks and Indian tech support scammers. At least the TPGs have standards lol