Graded football cards - pros and cons

[gregr2]

For me, being new to collecting, graded cards give the ability to see what an actual 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 card looks like. It's one thing to look at pictures of graded cards online and another to be able to examine them in person. This has given my a greater insight into raw cards as it makes it somewhat easier to judge condition.

[jefferyepayne]

All good thoughts!

I went back and forth as to whether graded cards are easier to display or not and left it off the list but I can see why some might think so. Some cards do seem to look better in slabs while others do not.

I like the comment about the registry being a "community" and kinda fun to be involved with. Also like the idea that inspecting graded cards helps someone learn how to grade.

I know there's been some awesome threads on the main forum discussing ways to display cards. I'd recommend using the search function to find those threads if you're looking for display ideas.

jeff

[Il Padrino]

Jeff,

This question is one I struggle with a lot, in fact I believe I finally arrived to what works best for me: The Raw.

The method of how I arrived to this answer was via my Ohio State collection and the fact that nothing is graded because there are no cards involved. I feel more in touch with the collection through the rawness of each item and although each item is within a holder, I scan all images raw and unrestrained from the prison walls of an SGC or PSA holder.

Now that is just me and I can certainly see the utility of having a card graded, in particular the old stuff that may be prone to trimming or similar issues, so when it comes to items like my Nagurski, Poe, etc. then I desire for them to be in a graded holder.

So, long story short:

HIGH END CARDS - YES, graded.
EVERYTHING ELSE - NO, raw.

[PowderedH2O]

I sold my entire graded football collection earlier this year for about $20k. Best decision ever. I am no longer concerned with the grade and I can enjoy the cards. I paid $275 for a Doug Atkins rookie. I replaced it with a raw one for $14. I paid $100 for a Tom Fears rookie. I now have two ungraded ones that I paid $50 for the pair. I am so much happier being off of the registry and back to collecting.

[Il Padrino]

Another issue with trying to keep up with the registry listings would be the high number of cards that are cracked out of their cases for re-grading thus the entire registry is skewed based on that alone. Meaning it cannot possibly be accurate as people crack items plus move from PSA to SGC and vice versa.

As stated before, I like items raw.

[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by Il Padrino

Another issue with trying to keep up with the registry listings would be the high number of cards that are cracked out of their cases for re-grading thus the entire registry is skewed based on that alone. Meaning it cannot possibly be accurate as people crack items plus move from PSA to SGC and vice versa.

As stated before, I like items raw.

+1000

At this point the registries are nowhere NEAR accurate. There's no way to track cards that have been resubmitted 10 times for bumps, crossed back and forth, cards that have been ripped out of their slab, etc.

Population reports are a joke.

jeff

[Il Padrino]

Originally Posted by jefferyepayne

+1000

At this point the registries are nowhere NEAR accurate. There's no way to track cards that have been resubmitted 10 times for bumps, crossed back and forth, cards that have been ripped out of their slab, etc.

Population reports are a joke.

jeff

Population reports are a joke = WIN!!!!!

Anyone that says otherwise has too much invested in their graded cards and fears the truth. Like when a woman asks her man "does this dress make me look fat?" and the TRUTHFUL response is "no sweetheart, you make the dress look fat!"