Home› Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum

When to break them out of their slabs...

MajorDanbyMajorDanby Posts: 1,343
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I am new to the grading card buzz as i have recently just came back to the hobby. Over the past few months, i have bought several graded cards....many of which i plan to keep for a long time. But, i really don't like the way they look in their cases....regardless of who grades them. Maybe it's just a personal preference, but i prefer my cards in a traditional screw down slab. But, i am not sure if i want to break them out of their graded cases. Maybe it's just a psychological barrier i need to cross...that barrier being that feeling that i bought the case/grade and not the actual card.

So, my question is how many of you who buy graded cards for you personal collection break them out of their cases?
My Auctions

Comments

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,276 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm new to collecting graded cards also, not new to collecting. I can't see any reason to crack them unless re-submitting hoping for a higher grade. If you ever need to unload them for financial reasons you will not get back what you paid for the graded cards. But hey, you like what you like!

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • milbrocomilbroco Posts: 2,732 ✭✭✭
    The graded cases are probably safer. I had a 1979 Gretzky rookie in a screw down holder and last year took it out for grading. Some of the blue chipped off the surface near the corners due to the tight compression of the holder. I will never use a screw down now.
    ebay seller name milbroco
    email bcmiller7@comcast.net
  • cardfan07cardfan07 Posts: 680 ✭✭
    I will second the notion of keeping cards in a graded holder - for return on investment and for keeping cards in the desired condition. For one thing, selling your graded card(s) should mean higher prices realized compared to raw. With all of the scam auctions on ebay, I don't even look at raw cards, unless they're from a reputable dealer. If your cards are very desirable (Mantles, Ruth, Jordan, etc), there is high suspicion that it's fake or altered in some way.
    As for condition, the screwdowns will keep your cards safe if you drop them, but I thought I heard a long time ago that keeping a card tightly screwed down will change it's shape (flatter and longer). Not sure how that happens now that I think about it...but that's what I heard.
    Plus, those screw downs are typically much thicker than most graded card slabs-you gain space leaving them alone.
    Just my 2 cents.
    Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock player collector
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,407 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i> I had a 1979 Gretzky rookie in a screw down holder >>


    Bob
    Amen to that brother! I had a 55T Robinson with a corner crush that made submitting an otherwise NmMt
    card not worth the trouble - you can torque down one screw more than another and kill a card!
    On the cracking thing - IMO, bad idea. Unless for regrading - as the saying goes: if the grades don't fit, resubmit...otherwise they are safe and at home in those holders.
    That's my nickel's worth of free advice.
    your friend
    Mike
    Mike
  • Steve1124Steve1124 Posts: 198 ✭
    To those who suggested breaking the card out and sending it back in hoping for a higher grade, let me ask you this: Would it be better to send the card back in, in the graded holder, asking for a REVIEW, in hopes of getting a higher grade, or breaking the card out of the holder (and here you must be careful, not to damage the card in the process!), and sending it in as if it were the first time being graded, all over again?
  • MajorDanbyMajorDanby Posts: 1,343
    I recently bought a PSA 6 Hank Aaron Rookie. I have an Ernie Banks rookie, but ungraded. Bought it a few years ago when i last collected. I have the banks card encased in a really thick holder. Maybe it's about perspective...but, having a card in a thick holder makes it look important and prestigious. I placed the Aaron rookie right next to it and the banks holder dwarfs it. Of course, i could go ahead and grade the banks card (my guess, Ex or Ex Mint based on what the aaron card graded...although, i am realizing that cards...regardless of the company, are not necessarily graded the same way)...but i dont really need to because it's staying with me for a long time.

    Anyway, i will probably leave these cards in their graded cases. Who knows what will happen in the future and i may be forced to sell them??...my wife may have a heart attack, my girlfriend may get pregnant or i may need to buy a half eaten grilled cheese sandwich with an image of the virgin mary etched on it.

    My Auctions

  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,407 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Would it be better to send the card back in >>


    Steve
    This is just my experience and that of my friends - if you want a higher grade...crack it out....especially if it were in another holder like GAI e.g. It would be human nature to be prejudiced by the holder in front of me.
    your friend
    Mike
    Mike
  • Steve1124Steve1124 Posts: 198 ✭
    Mike- Thanks for your reply. Of course this could backfire. For example, if i have something graded an 8 by SGC for example, and crack it out of the holder, and send it in to PSA hoping for an 8 (or better), and then have it come back a 7, this would be most aggrevating!
Sign In or Register to comment.