Toploaders?

[the 'stache]

I have to disagree. 95% of the cards I buy, including 100% of the cards from comc.com, are in top loaders. I have purchased about 400 cards from various sources over the last three years, and have not received a one in a card saver. Not a one. Penny sleeve, top loader, and team bag.

So card savers are hardly the "standard", at least for modern cards. They don't offer enough protection for cards. Now, for shipping to a tpg? Yes, that's what they want. But the card(s) and card savers are taped in between pieces of cardboard, then placed in a box with bubble wrap or peanuts. I would never store my cards in card savers.

[cubsfan-budman]

yeah, I'm torn on this.

i totally agree with Bill that Card Savers are the "standard". top loaders are far more common from my perspective.

that said, i feel like i bang up corners inserting cards into penny sleeves, so i have started moving towards card savers myself. i have found that some card savers do tend to yellow over time, while my Ultra Pro toploaders seem fine after many years.

card savers are great for removing cards from them (which is why i think they're great for grading submissions), but i find them not great for inserting the cards...if the corner is somewhat dinged, when sliding them in the saver, i think it can exacerbate the corner wear.

Anyhow, its a toss up. Find something from Ultra Pro or BCW in my opinion. Acid free, etc.

[the 'stache]

Christian, I understand the problems you've had with penny sleeves. I've been there. I've become fairly comfortable using them now. I take the leading edge of the card, and press it into the interior of the penny sleeve and it opens the back side up more, making it easier to get the card in.

There are also specially cut penny sleeves (I have never used them), which make insertion easier.

[Paul S]

Originally Posted by cubsfan-budman

yeah, I'm torn on this.

...card savers are great for removing cards from them (which is why i think they're great for grading submissions), but i find them not great for inserting the cards...if the corner is somewhat dinged, when sliding them in the saver, i think it can exacerbate the corner wear.

Most cards I have (including pre war intage) that fit, is stored inside a penny sleeve inserted into a toploader. Easy to put in and remove -- I just grab the sleeve. Mid 50's that are a touch longer than a loader get a sleeve on each end, and then again into a loader.

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by the 'stache

I have to disagree. 95% of the cards I buy, including 100% of the cards from comc.com, are in top loaders. I have purchased about 400 cards from various sources over the last three years, and have not received a one in a card saver. Not a one. Penny sleeve, top loader, and team bag.

So card savers are hardly the "standard", at least for modern cards. They don't offer enough protection for cards. Now, for shipping to a tpg? Yes, that's what they want. But the card(s) and card savers are taped in between pieces of cardboard, then placed in a box with bubble wrap or peanuts. I would never store my cards in card savers.

I have to agree with Bill, but certainly none of the current methods of storing are perfect. I have had better luck using penny sleeves & top loaders though.

[glynparson]

Way better and less possible damage than top loaders, heck the vast majority of cards get slightly damaged when put in a penny sleeve. Way to much side to side movement in top loaders way to easy to slide out the top as well. This should not even be a question.

[Leon]

I use toploader and penny sleeves for all of my raw regular sized cards....I also use 4 x 6 toploaders, 5 x 7 toploaders and 8 x 10 toploaders...all with sleeves.. and then for even larger items I have huge toploaders with no sleeves. Just my preference.....

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by glynparson

Way better and less possible damage than top loaders, heck the vast majority of cards get slightly damaged when put in a penny sleeve. Way to much side to side movement in top loaders way to easy to slide out the top as well. This should not even be a question.

Sure there should be a question.

Side to side movement in a top loader...the penny sleeve protects it. And if the toploader is in a team bag, there's zero chance the card slides out.

A card saver has zero rigidity. Far too easy for a card to get bent. And sliding a card in to a card saver is like spinning a gun's cylinder, sticking it to your head, and pulling the trigger. If anything goes wrong, your card is borked.