What are slabbed cards?

In cards, slabbed means inside of a slab, which is the container a card is encased in by different card grading companies. Each grading company has their own slab style, with the PSA slab a relatively slimmer and lightweight encasing while BGS offers a bulkier option. So, a slabbed card is usually a graded card.

What is the point of grading cards?

Card grading is the practice of submitting a trading card to a third-party service. The card is inspected for authenticity and ranked, usually on a 10-point scale, for the condition. The card is then assigned an overall grade, sealed in a tamper-proof holder and, finally, assigned a cataloged serial number.

Are graded cards worth more?

Graded cards are generally worth more than their counterparts that aren't graded because graded cards have been examined, authenticated, and assigned a condition by an expert. Thus, a card deemed to be gem mint is going to be valued higher than one that looks mint in “raw” condition.

How do cards get slabbed?

A slab is a card that has been graded by a third-party company and placed in a specially suited transparent plastic container. PSA began grading cards in 1991 and has become the biggest and most respected company in the field.

Are graded cards worth it?

Much to the surprise of novice collectors, getting cards graded does not always increase their value. In fact, most cards, once graded, will return less than if they were sold raw.

What is the cheapest way to grade cards?

At this point, CGC is going to be the cheapest (& quickest) grading option for your cards. They charge $8 per card at a 50-card minimum. They have a 60 day turnaround.

Why are PSA cards worth more?

First, liquidity. Since PSA grades more cards than its competition, it has more of its cards flowing through the market and therefore more sales data. This helps with liquidity and selling that card, as it is easier for people to understand true value. Take, for example, the 1986 fleer Jordan rookie.

What is the junk wax era?

What is the Junk Wax Era? The junk wax era, if you're unfamiliar with it, roughly started around the middle to late 1980s and lasted through the early 1990s. Collector opinions may differ on the opinion of the exact years of the era, but I typically consider these years to run from about 1986 through 1992.

What is a graded slab?

In construction, a grade slab is a relatively flat concrete structure built on top of the soil at ground level. This simple slab design differs from the reinforced slab technique used for elevated concrete floors, and does not require support from underground footers or foundation walls.

Is Beckett or PSA better?

Firstly, PSA is a bit more expensive and it takes longer for them to grade your cards. However, their graded cards usually sell better and for more than BGS cards. On the other hand, BGS is faster and less expensive and has a more complex grading system. Their cases and labels are often preferred to PSA's.

When should you grade a card?

For leading grading companies' standard services, many collectors have been waiting for more than six months to receive their cards back. If you're looking to sell your card in the short term, think carefully before sending away for grading unless you are using one of the fastest turnaround services.

Does PSA 10 add value?

Then a PSA 8 is worth $100. A PSA 9 is worth $300. A PSA 10 is worth $700.

What makes a card PSA 10?

The corners must be sharp, with no staining and original focus in tact. Note that PSA does allow cards that are slightly off-center to earn a PSA 10 grade, but not to exceed 55/45 to 60/40 in the front or 75/25 on the reverse.

Is CGC grading worth it?

Most comics from the 80s are overprinted and are really easy to find, even in high grades. If your modern comic looks like a 9.6 or worse, then chances are that it isn't worth sending to get graded. You would need to get a 9.8 from CGC on most newer books in order to make them worth your time and money.

Can PSA graded cards be fake?

For others, PSA or BGS graded cards are much easier to flip to make a quick profit. The thing with graded cards, though, is that they can be faked by those with questionable intentions.

Can you trust PSA grading?

What is this? Yet while SGC is viewed at the most trustworthy, PSA is viewed as the most accurate as shown below. Collectors most definitely have their concerns about the grading companies, yet believe that grading is a needed part and valued resource for the hobby.

Can you open PSA graded cards?

The wire cutters will be used to crack the case. Once the case is cracked, the flat-head screwdriver will be used to pry open the case. The soft sleeve and the top loader are on stand by to protect the card when its birthed from the card case.

Why are 90s baseball cards worthless?

If you're looking to sell your late-80s and early-90s cards, you're not alone. The cards are worthless because nobody's buying. Don't blame the card shop owner for not wanting them. They won't be able to sell them, so if they take them off your hands, they're merely adding to a potential fire hazard.

What brand of baseball cards are worth the most?

If you think of your favorite player, their most valuable card is most likely from Topps. If you think of your dad's favorite player, their most valuable card is most likely from Topps. Topps was first introduced with its series of red and blue backs all the way back in 1951, and acquired Bowman in 1955.

What are O Pee Chee cards?

O-Pee-Chee was a 20th-century Canadian company that produced candy, and later trading cards. It was started in London, Ontario in 1911 by two brothers, John and Duncan McDermid. Today, the O-Pee-Chee brand of trading cards are produced by The Upper Deck Company.

Will PSA prices go back down?

With the return of Regular, PSA is taking another step towards bringing back lower priced service levels in 2022. But they are also in this to make a profit. So, if pack breakers continue flooding them with demand, we will unfortunately never see any price adjustments lower.

Should I get my card graded by PSA?

Whether it's for protection, storage, potentially increasing their value, or simply making buying and selling your cards easier, PSA is a great option when it comes to third party grading.