General Forum

I found a bunch on ebay of some of the Phillies I wanted to complete those years' team sets. The graded cards were had for about $3 - $4 each - the price I was willing to pay for the equivalent card ungraded. Since my entire Phillies collection is in pages in binders, it didn't make sense to have these "commons" PSA graded (they ranged from 4.5 to 6, nothing outstanding). I did pick up one that I left graded - it's the Sparky Anderson RC (I for get the grade now, but it was decent), and it came with a pretty good story. It looks like I'm the 3rd owner of the card. The guy who pulled it from a pack back in the 1950s had just sold it to the guy I bought it from. I forget now which one of them had it graded. But, since it's a nice enough card, it sits on display. But the commons, I broke out.

Oh, and I had bought the 1992 Fleer Update set and 3 or 4 of the "key" RCs (or XRCs, as the case may be ) were slabbed. Again, since I had put the regular and update sets in pages, out they came. (And the price of the set was the lowest one I saw on ebay for a pretty long stretch, hence the reason I bought it.)

Thank you, sandyrusty.

At least I amuse myself sometimes.

v3

The only ones I have graded are 1990 pro set fact Cincinatti cards which I bought that way, the problem I have is that some of the stars are 9's and the Marino is a PSA 10, the only time I would get something graded is if the card stock was know to degrade over time for something rare for my collection

I am also not into grading but I would maybe look to see if you would be more ahead if you sold the graded cards on ebay and then just bought an ungraded card?  Maybe after the shipping it wouldn't be worthwhile?

Before I started opening slabs I took them all to my local hobby shop.  I asked to swap the graded cards for the same ungraded cards.  They said they didn't want the graded cards because very few of their customers want graded cards.

Ha! Okay, you got me. I was quite confused for a second. But yes, I did mean that i was trading with him.

I never considered selling and buying again. Very interesting option.

Most of the graded cards I have are from yard sales where I bought them for $2 or less. I've never opened them but this thread has me considering it. First off, I do not understand why someone would pay to get a card graded but then be willing to sell for $1 or $2. 

As others have said in the past my main value for grading is from an authentication standard of hoping it increases the chances I don't get scammed buying vintage online. Clearly not fool proof. I've never done it yet, but that is the only reason I can see searching for a graded card. 

I have cracked open a couple in the past.  I've used a power miter saw once, but the last time I used a small thin screw driver.  I damaged one, was getting it out of the slab, it slipped out of my hand and landed on the corner bending the card.  Take your time and don't rush or force it.