Graded cards... like a lot of things in the hobby... you either like them or you don't. But we've covered collector's opinions on this topic before: HERE.
Nope... today we're going to branch off and focus on graded cards and their values.
In the last six months, I've picked up a bunch of PSA 10 graded rookie and insert cards for less than the actual grading fee price.
2001 UD Collectibles Playmakers #SE2 Ichiro Suzuki RC $2.83
1998 Bowman's Best "Refractors" #60 Greg Maddux (#'d to 400) $5.38
1995 Studio "Platinum Series" #8 Cal Ripken Jr. $3.75
1995-96 Ultra #274 Kevin Garnett RC $7.50
1992-93 Ultra #328 Shaquille O'Neal RC $3.36
1992-93 Hoops #442 Shaquille O'Neal RC $3.36
1998 Stadium Club Chrome "Refractors" #SCC6 Emmitt Smith $3.75
1998 Stadium Club Chrome "Refractors" #SCC14 Jerry Rice $5.38
1999 Finest "Refractors" #80 Barry Sanders $5.38
2009 Topps National Chicle #151 Michael Crabtree RC $2.69
2001 Pacific Dynagon "Retail" #108 LaDainian Tomlinson RC $4.03
1998 Stadium Club #182 Hines Ward RC $5.38
1995-96 Select Certified #114 Shane Doan RC $2.25
These are just the ones I spent under $7 for. I have a bunch of others I picked up in the $7 to $10 range.
Aren't the grading fees $6 to $7 alone? I don't get it.
Why even bother getting these graded if you're going to sell them so cheap?
Am I missing something?
Am I buying fakes?
Are graded cards a fad... and if so, is the fad officially over?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Happy Wednesday everyone... I hope all of you enjoy the rest of your week. Sayonara!
4 comments:
I think half of it is,
These cards are graded when they're hot eg months within release date and demand a premium as time goes by the value falls like a lead balloon.
Vintage cards still seem to command a premium in top grades... but I can't really see why you'd be bothered to get new stuff slabbed unless it was an odd size and you wanted to be sure it was protected.
There are a bajillion different cards of every current star, so the odds that any one of those cards will become iconic are virtually nil. Then you figure that every collector is saving all of their "good" cards now, so most of them will survive in pack-fresh condition. Why *should* anything made since the investment mentality took hold command a premium?
Personally, I don't care for "slabbed" cards at all. Can't hold them or enjoy them when they are encased in the plastic. There may be certain instances where slabbing is necessary, but for me it really does nothing.
Grading was never meant for modern cards. Sure, there are some instances where it would be recommended for cards such as 1993 and 1994 SP where the big rookies are all condition sensitive, but that's about it. Other than that, it should just be reserved for vintage cards. You see so many low priced graded cards at big shows these days that it's ridiculous.
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