Are graded cards the future of vintage?

[G1911]

It will be a lot cheaper and easier to just submit yours if you want them with a pretty little slip. Selling all your raw cards and taking the huge tax hit, then buying everything over again in a slab will prove far more costly in the end. If you want to hop on the bandwagon, hop on it.

[homerunhitter]

True but then you have to wait over a year to get your cards back from psa! I’m getting psa graded cards for $10-$20 already slabbed on eBay right now! Lots of bargains to be had as in general people are buying less due to the recession we are in.

[Zach Wheat]

I can see both sides of this discussion. Up until recently, I have never had a card graded and prefer my cards raw. However, my hobby has now turned in to something more - and I need to be more cautious about storage and how I view these items.

I was surprised to see there was an active market buying raw 1991 Topps Desert Shield cards of all the issues - one issue you certainly want to be careful about when buying. Still not sure what to make of this.....

[homerunhitter]

Can you elaborate on why you need to be more cautious about storage and how you view these items? I ask because I have the same thoughts as you but what to see if I’m right or wrong about my gut feeling as I keep going back and forth on this issue. Please explain! Thanks

[scmavl]

No, it's not $100 and no you don't have to wait a year anymore. PSA has opened levels down to $18 per card. Those might take a few months, but the $30-50 card levels get back to you in 3-10 weeks, in my recent experience. I'm no raving PSA fanboy, but I don't like it when folks who don't submit cards quote inaccurate information.

[homerunhitter]

Meow Meow!

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

Can you elaborate on why you need to be more cautious about storage and how you view these items? I ask because I have the same thoughts as you but what to see if I’m right or wrong about my gut feeling as I keep going back and forth on this issue. Please explain! Thanks

Cards I purchased are now worth significantly more than when I viewed them as a hobby. Most of my cards were ungraded; some have deteriorated due to handling. For example, one set of cards, (1930 Fleer Whiz Bang) I noticed has surface wear. I have hardly taken these cards out of their original holder since their purchase. I figured this happened when I moved the storage container, which I have done several times, and they got jostled. They were stored in the original packaging (large Toploaders) and there wasn't one particular size that fit this issue due to its shape. So I submitted them for grading, hoping this adds a layer of protection. This is the first time I have ever had a card graded.

I collect Kellogg's issues as well. The cards develop cracks over time and it seems to be dependent upon how they are stored - mainly moisture and temperature. Having them graded won't solve this issue but I ended up buying a number of refurbished ammo cases with new rubber gaskets. A 7.62mm ammo case holds graded cards perfectly. I added a couple of silica gel packs and this seems to have solved the problem of variation in humidity. The rubber gasket on the cases seems to help keep the humidity constant. I am going to start keeping all of my graded cards in refurbished ammo cases. If you go this route - make sure to get refurbished cases with new gaskets. Some sellers don't replace the gasket. The larger ammo cases seem to be more suited to holding raw cards in top loaders snugly. They even have large size ammo cases (actually night vision goggle cases) which fit large cards like T3 Turkey Reds or 1951 Wheaties Premiums.

[homerunhitter]

That’s awesome! I never thought about ammo cans but that is a very cool idea. I’ll check into that option as well. For most of my vintage cards I think the psa graded case would offer so much more better protection long term. To my personally, the only down fall I see with graded cards is all the space they would take up! I could get more cards store in albums in a much smaller space. So storage wise. Albums see better than those bulky slabs!

[Exhibitman]

I drop stuff, so a slab is a good idea for anything condition sensitive. I am pretty much agnostic on grading but it is definitely a thrill to get a high grade from a TPG on something you send it. Talk about freakish spontaneous wealth creation. I got the grade on this one last week and was pretty pumped about how it graded out:



it is a 1/1 card with very sensitive foil finishing, so a 10 is pretty, pretty good. Damn thing looked perfect to me but what do I know, right?