PSA Set Registry - Is it worth it?

[STL1944]

Question from a newish collector...

I have been gradually putting together a 1953 Bowman Color set (I think it is a stunning set!). I have 130/160 cards of which 75 are PSA graded. When I look at the official PSA set registry, if I stretch it a little bit, I could complete the set and be in the top 20 (18 or so).

My question for the group is... is being #18 on the set registry worth it? Outside of "my set is nicer than your set" are any other advantages of going all in and building a PSA registry set?

Thoughts from the group?

[pokerplyr80]

I think it's nice to have all cards in the same holder for display and storage reasons. The registry is free and the psa cards will hold their value better. If I was going to build a set again it would be all psa for sure.

[swarmee]

Not if that's all you plan to do: complete one set. However, once you upload everything, you can continue to track the value with their SMR values that are part of your set registry.

You can also upload images of all your cards into an online album, so if people want to see your collection, you can forward them a link like this:
http://www.psacard.com/PSASetRegistr...x?setid=178133

It's up to you, but to me it's worth it.

[Estwd]

I am building the Ted Williams master set with PSA, but had no idea the link thingy was a feature.

How do I do it?

Thanks!

ESTWD

Originally Posted by swarmee

Not if that's all you plan to do: complete one set. However, once you upload everything, you can continue to track the value with their SMR values that are part of your set registry.

You can also upload images of all your cards into an online album, so if people want to see your collection, you can forward them a link like this:
http://www.psacard.com/PSASetRegistr...x?setid=178133

It's up to you, but to me it's worth it.

[swarmee]

[/url]https://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/baseball/player-sets/ted-williams-master-set/publishedset/256017[/url] is your link to your registry. They can see the pictures on the left side. If you want to create an Album, you need to go into the set and follow the instructions.

Just take off the [/url] tags on the outside. Had to keep them to show you the whole link.

[wilkiebaby11]

#18 wont get you anything.

If you are a PSA member, you can get free grading submissions if your sets are the best (maybe even go up to top 3 in the more popular sets). But I think that's the only thing you get outside of bragging rights.

[STL1944]

Great thoughts. Thank you all for your continued education

[MetsBaseball1973]

Registry is a good organizer tool as said earlier.

Competitive component is misleading to me because I have browsed sets there that have lots of cards graded in past grading eras, which would definitely not get the same grades if submitted today.

I love 1970's sets, and some guys have for example a #20 rank set with much nicer and more centered cards than a guy with a #10 ranked set.

For ranking you can just buy an ugly OC PSA 9 with a fish eyeball on it, and not care at all if it has great eye appeal or centering.

[Peter_Spaeth]

If you plan to sell the complete set that's one thing, yes a homogenous set will be better, but if you just like the set and are collecting it for that reason, once you start focusing on completing it in a certain grade blah blah you are going to end up spending more money than necessary and at the end you may not be sure why you did it.

[brian1961]

Jim---

Depends upon what your ultimate objectives are. As the one comment curtly implied, being the #18th best among all PSA registrants for the 1953 Bowman baseball set will not get you extra money should you sell, or any genuine privileges from PSA itself, or even a lot of extra congratulations.

Put it this way, mate, you have genuine good taste. The '53 Bowman baseball set was a landmark set. Stunning indeed. I think the pond of frogs that have completed or are working on completing the set is pretty sizable. You would have every right to be justifiably proud of your achievement. Sure, seventeen other chaps have a better set.

So what?

The key is that this is a set that struck your fancy, and you are doggedly pursuing them with the necessary tenacity towards completion. Is it worth it? If this pursuit is fulfilling to you, you better believe it is worth it. While I have not always gone with PSA, for several reasons, PSA is the best when it comes to selling and getting top dollar for what you have.

The 1953 Bowmans are breathtaking; don't let anyone rob you of your joy. Sure, you can upgrade until ..... Again, so what? It's about your personal satisfaction and gratification in the journey of putting the set together. Use it as a springboard to researching what actually was occurring in Major League Baseball that year, or in 1952, for which the 1953 set celebrates.

After all is done, you could start another set, or a player run, or a theme, or an era of Type cards.

It's your collecting life. Few will encourage you or compliment you. For so many of us, we could never even contemplate doing what you are doing. So for some, they won't say anything, perhaps out of jealousy. I'm out of the ball game, so to speak. Still, I think what you're doing is terrific, and I have a lot of respect for you. THAT IS ONE GREAT SET.

So, ask yourself, "Have I had fun collecting these? Has it been worth it, personally, to put this set together?"

If you're telling yourself "yes" on both questions, you're on the right road, mate. Keep having fun.

---Brian Powell

[STL1944]

Brian,


What a well written post. Thank you for your thoughts.

Interestingly, I restarted collecting again 2 1/2 years ago as an outlet when my wife started having health problems. I rediscovered baseball cards as something I could do late at night or in the "in-between" times.

I was blown away when I started looking at the '53 Bowmans. The Warren Spahn card just pops with color. The best looking ever Stan Musial card. Of course the first ever "action" card of Pee We Reese. Fantastic.

Of course I thought "with only 160 cards (not including the B&W), how hard could it be to complete a set." 2 1/2 half years later I still have a ways to go (Mantle, Ford, Feller, Berra, etc.).

The journey is fun... I am leaning towards getting everything in PSA holders as it seems to make things easier with consistency. I appreciate all your alls thoughts and education.

[jayandbutton]

Originally Posted by wilkiebaby11

#18 wont get you anything.

If you are a PSA member, you can get free grading submissions if your sets are the best (maybe even go up to top 3 in the more popular sets). But I think that's the only thing you get outside of bragging rights.

i am top ranked in a couple of sets and in the top three in others but never was told about anything being free. kindly enlighten us all how that happens. sure news to me. pm is jeswartz@cpp.edu

[swarmee]

https://www.psacard.com/PSASetRegistry/benefits
They just sent out an email that said they were going to start rewarding set registries even more. But for most people, that would mean reduced grading fees for commons. However, one PSA message board member just posted that even with a prospective order of 5,000 cards, PSA wouldn't budge from their $8/card bulk price right now.