Springboarding off of the raw vs. graded discussion in another thread, I thought I'd start a discussion of the pros and cons of graded cards. Here are my opinions and hope to hear yours. Let the discussion / debate begin!
Pros of graded cards:
Increased likelihood the item is authentic
Provides added protection against damaging the item
Grade assigned by an unbiased professional based upon defined criteria
Higher price when you sell
Easier to sell (?)
Easier to track previous sales / value
Cons of graded cards:
A temptation to purchase the slab vs. the card
They take up a lot more storage space
It's more difficult to sit and look at large sets
Lose the tactile / sensory connection with the cards (touch, smell)
Costs additional $$$ that could be spent on other things
Possible pricing bubble for high grade cards (?)
The player is suffocating inside the case
Various grading companies all with different slabs that don't stack well
Your thoughts?
jeff