Are graded cards the future of vintage?

[Lucas00]

I actually find it far easier to sell anything except major stars raw. Primarily talking about Topps sets of the 50s/60s. Say a '61 maris PSA 4 goes for $100. If I get a nice Ex raw copy I can sell it for $90 all day and sometimes even more than a similar card that is graded.
So many people are building sets and so many cards are being graded I think it's annoying for set builders trying to find cards that fit their sets that should be in the $10-20 range just sitting on eBay in a psa 3 listed for $30 not moving. I know it is very annoying for me sometimes. Look at Greg Morris and this becomes very apparent how many people are looking for nice raw cards for their sets.
Not to mention the time it takes to sell. When I post a graded card it usually will take minimum, a day to sell. A nice raw copy equivalent can sell in minutes priced only 5%-10% less.
If I was a dealer I would absolutely be dealing in raw cards. Sure you can get 10% more graded, but turning over cards almost as fast as you get them certainly makes up for it to me.
Just my thoughts and opinion.

[Kutcher55]

I like graded cards and raw cards. I collect both. Most graded cards should not actually have been graded in the first place. And that trend has only gotten worse. Although I guess the higher prices to grade cards might keep some of the rifraf out. It’s hard not to chuckle when I see a freshly graded 73 topps star in a 3 or a 4. And don’t even get me started on modern.

[homerunhitter]

After reading the comments above I wonder since so many vintage cards are now being graded, if raw cards one day will be more scarce and in turn more valuable than graded cards? Good discussion guys. Lots of great points being made!

[G1911]

Raw will never be worth more. If it was, everybody would start cracking like slabs I do and it wouldn't last more than a week.

Too many little ego's need the validation and bragging rights that graded brings.

More seriously, even if one only cares about $$, I don't see it as worthwhile to get ones cards graded until it's time to sell. If you're planning to divest in 10/20/30/40/50 years, it's not worth it. We don't know what slab you'll need then, and there's already a price gap depending on when the card was graded and what generation slab it is. In 20 years the hobby may well be using some new grader that uses a computer algorithm, and will consider PSA 2022 slabs to be junk from a horribly corrupt and outdated process. Save the cash unless one plans to sell soon.

[cgjackson222]

Originally Posted by G1911

Raw will never be worth more. If it was, everybody would start cracking like slabs I do and it wouldn't last more than a week.

Too many little ego's need the validation and bragging rights that graded brings.

More seriously, even if one only cares about $$, I don't see it as worthwhile to get ones cards graded until it's time to sell. If you're planning to divest in 10/20/30/40/50 years, it's not worth it. We don't know what slab you'll need then, and there's already a price gap depending on when the card was graded and what generation slab it is. In 20 years the hobby may well be using some new grader that uses a computer algorithm, and will consider PSA 2022 slabs to be junk from a horribly corrupt and outdated process. Save the cash unless one plans to sell soon.

Yeah, I don't think it makes economic sense to get something slabbed until you want to sell it. Too many people care too much about the look of the flips. In 10 years, today's flips may not be in style.

And I don't buy that it is necessary to slab something in order to preserve it. Acid-free sleeves and holders seem to do just fine.

[homerunhitter]

If you check out card shows and social media like Instagram, Facebook and you tube, graded cards are thriving and it seems like they are pushing that graded cards are cool. At card shows you see nothing but slabs in the cases and people walking around with handful of slabs and backpacks full of slabs.

When it comes to protection of cards. Top loaders have been used for decades with no problems at all. I must say graded card slabs do give the card a more solid protection. But slabs do take up way more storage space.

Great point on older slabs. Especially with rumors of AI and robots doing grading in a few years. Psa slabs might be outdated eventually. Look st how the slabs have changed in the past few years. Psa added hologram stickers now I’m seeing done with QR codes on them. And your right because if you look at some older psa slabs from like 10 years ago. They look funky and not as cool as the newer psa slabs.

I wish there was a happy medium and not a do I collect raw or do I collect graded debate that I constantly keep asking myself!

[BobC]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

After reading the comments above I wonder since so many vintage cards are now being graded, if raw cards one day will be more scarce and in turn more valuable than graded cards? Good discussion guys. Lots of great points being made!

You do know that anyone can simply break a card out of its' graded holder, right? So why would anyone pay more for a raw card when they could then buy a cheaper graded card, and just remove it from the holder?

[homerunhitter]

We here on this site are smart, educated and the very best in the hobby. But there are a lot of people in this hobby that well let’s just say….their cornbread ain’t done in the middle!

[BobC]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

We here on this site are smart, educated and the very best in the hobby. But there are a lot of people in this hobby that well let’s just say….their cornbread ain’t done in the middle!

LOL

You have a point!

[homerunhitter]

Graded vs raw the struggle is real!