Cracking a graded card: Are you morally/ethically obligated to tell future buyers?

[TheFrenzy]

I see a similar thread in Basketball got a little traction, but died quickly during the pandemic.

I've got a BGS 9 coming in the mail.

I don't like BGS slabs and I'm going to crack it out.

I'm planning to keep the card, but should someone who cracks a card be obligated to list its previous subjective grade from a failing TPG company?

Whether you're answering yes or no, please show your work and explain your reasoning.



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EDIT: I've added my take in a post below.

For the record, my position is that it's either all or nothing.

Either the hobby says grades matter intrinsically and so sellers should disclose previous grades of cracked cards and resubbing for higher grades should be seen as a form of scamming.

Or the hobby says grades are ephemeral and so there's nothing for a seller to disclose once they've cracked a card and all is fair in resubbing as many times as you need to get that "10" label.

[speedyjg13]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

I see a similar thread in Basketball got a little traction, but died quickly during the pandemic.

I've got a BGS 9 coming in the mail.

I don't like BGS slabs and I'm going to crack it out.

I'm planning to keep the card, but should someone who cracks a card be obligated to list its previous subjective grade from a failing TPG company?

Whether you're answering yes or no, please show your work and explain your reasoning.

Depends on the sellers honesty and ethics.

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by speedyjg13

Depends on the sellers honesty and ethics.

"Whether you're answering yes or no, please show your work and explain your reasoning."

[ThoseBackPages]

yes, i think the seller should mention it in the listing

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

yes, i think the seller should mention it in the listing

If a grade is a grade (as in, a card graded BGS 9 is a "9" whether it is slabbed or not), then is it unethical to resub cards hoping to get a higher grade?

Because if the grade of a card is simply "whatever is on the label," then no label would mean no grade and therefore nothing to disclose.

I'm interested to hear your full reasoning.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

If a grade is a grade (as in, a card graded BGS 9 is a "9" whether it is slabbed or not), then is it unethical to resub cards hoping to get a higher grade?

Because if the grade of a card is simply "whatever is on the label," then no label would mean no grade and therefore nothing to disclose.

I'm interested to hear your full reasoning.

to sell raw cards on the internet in itself is a bit deceiving, as the seller is trying to get as much money as possible and will more often than not overstate the condition of their cards

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

to sell raw cards on the internet in itself is a bit deceiving

[LVDan]

This again

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by LVDan

This again

Got a link to a recent thread?

I posted a link in the OP to the most relevant thread I could find with the forum search feature. Did you read the OP?

[ThoseBackPages]

na, no way dude

[keenejd]

would the raw card sell for more than the graded card?

[towerymt]

Originally Posted by keenejd

would the raw card sell for more than the graded card?

I cracked a PSA-8 and sold it raw. I stated the condition and the specific flaw that (likely) caused the 8. I said it was previously graded a PSA-8. It STILL outsold a PSA-9 I listed at the same time.

Before I graded some of these, I wanted to find out why this got an 8. The only flaw was this line. I used these photos in my listing:



I think it's fine if you give the condition of the card in the description. However, a lot of sellers do not provide the condition in the description. Stating "near mint or better" or "nm-mt or better" is not the same as stating the condition of the card.

Therefore a buyer may feel cheated when receiving a card with a dented corner described "near mint or better". Seller did nothing wrong...buyer didn't heed the warning. But buyer is still disappointed.

[TheFrenzy]

For the record, my position is that it's either all or nothing.

Either the hobby says grades matter intrinsically and so sellers should disclose previous grades of cracked cards and resubbing for higher grades should be seen as a form of scamming.

Or the hobby says grades are ephemeral and so there's nothing for a seller to disclose once they've cracked a card and all is fair in resubbing as many times as you need to get that "10" label.

[Bcr]

Buy the card, not the grade.

[KhalDrogo]

Shouldn’t someone with 44k posts know the correct sub-forum to use?

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

Shouldn’t someone with 44k posts know the correct sub-forum to use?

We've got contest threads outside the contest forum.

Being a Blowout vet means learning how to go with the flow.

[BGT Masters]

No. Do people that send the same card in several times to get grade bumps disclose it? As long as you're honest about condition who cares. Grading is subjective anyways. Considering how many cards in slabs are trimmed, fake and/or doctored does it even matter anymore?

[Archangel1775]

When you die, you can't pass that info to someone and so nobody is going to give a sh*t.

[imbluestreak23]

My general rule would be if the item graded low due to a major flaw, noticeable or not not, but major flaw, then yes.

Crack a 9? Don't disclose. Crack an 8, maybe if you can see a hidden flaw. Crack a 6 because of a surface dent. Yes. Crack a 3 because of a surface wrinkle/crease? Yes.

Equivalent of selling a used car that's about to blow up on the buyer. Karma

[PLB9eight]

Originally Posted by imbluestreak23

My general rule would be if the item graded low due to a major flaw, noticeable or not not, but major flaw, then yes.

Crack a 9? Don't disclose. Crack an 8, maybe if you can see a hidden flaw. Crack a 6 because of a surface dent. Yes. Crack a 3 because of a surface wrinkle/crease? Yes.

Equivalent of selling a used car that's about to blow up on the buyer. Karma

This sums it up well

[bloodwings19]

Originally Posted by imbluestreak23

Equivalent of selling a used car that's about to blow up on the buyer. Karma

eBay Authenticity will help the buyer. I'm sure a lot of dealers will not disclose it just like car dealerships of the flaws on their cars. This is on the buyer to check and ask questions. If your too lazy to open the magnetic case, or take card out of the top-loader, it is on the buyer.

[imbluestreak23]

Originally Posted by bloodwings19

eBay Authenticity will help the buyer. I'm sure a lot of dealers will not disclose it just like car dealerships of the flaws on their cars. This is on the buyer to check and ask questions. If your too lazy to open the magnetic case, or take card out of the top-loader, it is on the buyer.

I have gotten two cards from eBay authentication with surface dents (would have graded a 6 max)

I've also gotten cards from ebay authentication that did in fact grade 6s likley due to dents.

Trying to return dented cards is not allowed, auto rejection. That system doesn't help, but does help to funnel dirty cards > 250 to buyers without buyers having recourse unless the seller is Top Rated and accepts returns, which return requests are automatically accepted (also learned that the hard way recently )

[mc1]

Originally Posted by imbluestreak23

My general rule would be if the item graded low due to a major flaw, noticeable or not not, but major flaw, then yes.

Crack a 9? Don't disclose. Crack an 8, maybe if you can see a hidden flaw. Crack a 6 because of a surface dent. Yes. Crack a 3 because of a surface wrinkle/crease? Yes.

Best answer in the thread.

If its an 8 or 9? No need to disclose.

If it is below an 8 then you should probably disclose the grade or at minimum the flaws and defects to prevent angry returns.

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by Archangel1775

When you die, you can't pass that info to someone and so nobody is going to give a sh*t.

When it arrives I'll scan it in its slab and log it on the purchase spreadsheet of the collection database I keep.

Then I'll crack it, scan it in the one-touch, and log it into my collection spreadsheet as an ungraded card.

It's serial-numbered, so it will match across the data.

[hermanotarjeta]

You are as obligated as giving your own opinion of the grade of the card.