The difference between lucite holders and slabs

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Posted By: Patrick McMenemy

I just read an interesting post on another thread by Barry Sloate, which has prompted this post.

Barry stated, "One of the topics that I actually find amusing is the debate between raw and slabbed, and the bickering that ensues. What's particularly funny to me is many of the people who hate slabbed cards will take their raws cards and store them in screw down holders. When you think about it, is there really much of a difference between a plastic slab and a lucite holder? The former has a label placed on it by a third party, and that singular opinion seems to be a constant source of dismay among various collectors. It seems like so much fighting is over so small a distinction. But that's why I say I find the board fascinating."

I happen to be one of those individuals that hate slabs, and use lucite screwdown holders. Although both lucite and slabs can physically protect cards, that is where the similarity ends.

I use the lucite screwdown holders to display my baseball collection. The lucite holders come in many sizes that "protect" cards, photos, cabinet cards, etc. In addition to protecting my collection, the lucites are aesthetically pleasing to view.

The main purpose of the slabs is not to protect cards, but to generate a huge revenue stream for the grading companies. The grading companies realize that there is money to be made "slabbing cards," because they have created the illusion that if a card is slabbed "it's safer to buy." If it is slabbed then the card must be real, unaltered, not trimmed nor bleached or soaked. Unfortunately, this is nothing but an illusion, because every day cards are slabbed that are fakes, altered, trimmed, bleached, and soaked. The individuals that submit cards really have no idea who the person is at the grading company that will be giving their card a "subjective" grade. Having seen mistakes too numerous to mention, I can only imagine what qualifications and experience or lack there of that some of these expert graders may have.

In addition to the "safer to buy" myth, the grading companies also capitalize on the fact that they realize many collectors are competitive. To strengthen "brand loyalty" further, the concept of the card registry was created to capitalize on this "I have the top set" type of collector.

Let there be no mistake with regards to slabbing...you need only to follow the money. The grading companies and the individuals selling these artifically inflated priced slabbed cards are the ones making the large profits.

My lucite holders have screws, but the slabbing companies are screwing the hobby. That's the differences that I see.


Patrick