General Forum

I'd just like to poll collectors on their feelings towards those types of cards that come with a clear protective film that is supposed to be peeled off.  Do you peel it off or not?  Also, from a value standpoint, does a peeled card have less value?  I'd think it would come down to one question; Why am I collecting the card?  If I'm acquiring it solely as an investment, I keep the film on.  If I'm getting it because I just enjoy looking at the cards then I peel off the coating and enjoy it.

 As a collector I usually leave that protective coating on and keep the card how it came out of the pack. If I found the card from a dealer or person with it off then its not an issue I would still get it. I feel that the value is the same either way and go off the condition of the card itself and not a peel off protective coating.

For cards going into our personal collections, we have peeled the coating off, especially those with large lettering or a large sticker on the peel - so the card could be visible. If we opened packs, we left the peels on.

 I have found that taking off the peel invites scratches to the surface it is trying to protect.  Generally the peel off protection is covering an easy to nick foil or gloss.  In my opinion those nicks will depreciate the value. So I leave the plastic on.

 I've never taken the film off, mostly because I'm a huge chicken and am too scared to do it. I'm afraid I will ruin the card.  I've found a few of the refractor cards in the 25 cent box at my local card store. One of these days, I'm going to buy two of the same refractor card, and take the film off one. One of these days...

 I generally leave the peel on, but it's mostly a matter of personal preference.  As far as value, the cards are worth the same either way.  A card graded 10 with the peel would be worth exactly the same as a 10 without it.

OK, so far most votes have been for leaving the film on.  My problem is I peeled off the film on a card I have a duplicate of and that glossy finish is just awesome.  I want to peel off the film of all the cards of that type I own, but I'm worried the finish will get damaged somehow.  I guess the perfect solution is to just get two of every one.  That way I can peel one and enjoy the beautiful finish while also preserving another one for future enjoyment.

Any solution that results in me having to buy more cards can't be all bad. 

I saw this exact same question on a blog recently. I think most, but not all said to go ahead and remove it.

http://wrigleywax.blogspot.com/2014/07/keep-protective-coating.html

I guess it is sort of like the "to scratch or not to scratch" dilema of scratch off cards, or "to rip or not to rip" of rip cards. Except in the case of the protective coating I don't think it effects the value like those other things would.

 Finest cards look so much nicer without it. I always peeled them back in the day.