Changing my mind on grading....................

RonBurgundy

After being in to the grading scene pretty heavily for about three years, I realized the other day it was time to take a step back. Buying raw vintage cards and submitting them is not what it used to be. On the whole, the math just isn't there unless you're a dealer and buying them at wholesale prices. I had originally dreamed of owning registry sets from the 50's up through the 80's, but now that is going to be dramatically scaled back. I will still put together sets that are a combination of raw and graded, but the days of me putting together a completely graded set from scratch are over. I'm not going to buy a raw 1968 common for $5, get it graded for another $5 (at the least), get an 8 and have $11 in a card which won't sell for that, even though "SMR" is $12.

I will still buy graded cards - let some other person pay the grading fees - and occasionally I will take advantage of a special or two. But I'm not going to be stupid and get everything vintage I have slabbed, whether it's high grade or not. It's just not worth it.




Ron

storm888

"I will still buy graded cards - let some other person pay the grading fees ..."

////////////////////////////////////////////////

Most often that is a VERY wise decision.

Lothar52

buy raw to have graded is not worth it unless its a card that is raw with perfect centering that you have not been able to find or its a small set like a team set. Otherwise you are right...let someone else pay the grading fee's and get the card for free.

Loth

perkdog

You are not alone here, I am reading about alot of guys getting back into set building in binders. Someone said it best "crisp nm cards in binders" Good stuff!

bri2327

Good choice.

Unless its a card for one of my player sets that I just HAVE to have graded I wont bother.

Just like you stated, let someone else ( most often one of the big dealers ) spend the time, effort, and $$ submitting cards.

I too have gone back to the sets in binders thing. Its amazing how much joy you can bring back to your collecting by having nice looking cards neatly displayed in pages at your disposal to look through whenever you want.

MikeyLikesIt

With regard to complete sets, I agree. I started to complete a 76 Topps baseball set last year in PSA 8 or better, got to about 50% complete and realized that I could get just as much enjoyment out of putting together a nice mint raw set and I sold it.

On the other hand, I have started a few player sets on the registry and I find that pretty enjoyable.

bri2327

Player and team sets are the way to go if you ask me.

They can sustain your interest longer, be easier to complete, and are definately more affordable in the long run.

Unless you have the utmost focus and desire complete sets are a tough battle, not to mention an almost certain big time loss monetarily.

There is also the problem of storing a 500-800 card set when graded. Add in the odds of actually being able to sit there and look through all the cards and it becomes an even tougher game.

PSA 5-7 quality cards with nice centering and eye appeal can be more than adequate when in pages and album. As opposed to a graded card where you tend to scrutinize each card more carefully, a set in binders is taken and enjoyed as a whole, overlooking each cards slight blemish that reduce it from a PSA 9 to a PSA 7 card.

MikeyLikesIt

Totally agree with everything you said Bri.

2dueces

I came to the same conclusion earlier this year. I went back to how I collected as a kid. I'm still working on a NM 60's football set, but I'm happy to collect this one set in 7's. One the other hand I'm working on 6 raw football sets from the 60's and having a blast buying lots for under $30 and stars in ex-nm condition. Sellers know they aren't gradable but the sure look nice in my binders. i'm not going to stop buying graded completely, but I sure am not going to get into the registry madness for PSA 9's or 10's. A $.50 common in a binder can set you back $100 or more in a 9 and gosh knows how much in a 10. I'm quite happy with what I'm doing. Good luck in your venture.

BigRedMachine

<< <i>I came to the same conclusion earlier this year. I went back to how I collected as a kid. I'm still working on a NM 60's football set, but I'm happy to collect this one set in 7's. One the other hand I'm working on 6 raw football sets from the 60's and having a blast buying lots for under $30 and stars in ex-nm condition. Sellers know they aren't gradable but the sure look nice in my binders. i'm not going to stop buying graded completely, but I sure am not going to get into the registry madness for PSA 9's or 10's. A $.50 common in a binder can set you back $100 or more in a 9 and gosh knows how much in a 10. I'm quite happy with what I'm doing. Good luck in your venture. >>



I agree, well said.

stown

FWIW - I only have one registry set, all the others are mostly raw.

No complaints here

Volver

These binders everyone speaks of....are they just like years ago - Ultra Pro pages and a 3-ring binder or is there something different nowdays?

Pittfan

Is this the end of the registry as we know it?

Buccaneer

There is nothing wrong with having a set that is fully graded but I agree that it makes no sense now to buy raw/pay for grading (unless very high grade of course). This esp. true when you can buy many 50s and 60s PSA 7 commons for LESS than grading fees, let alone less than buying raw/grading fees. And that downward trend will only continue.

I bought hundreds of raw cards from Mickey a couple of years ago and that was worth it only because his raw prices were low and at least 35-40% come back a full grade higher than what was bought at. But that was a couple of years ago and despite renewing my PSA membership, I do not plan on doing any more big submissions.

ArchStanton

Great topic. I spent a few hours tonight finishing up puting my 1961 baseball set in ultra pros.

Elemenopeo

I understand completely. Over the last few years, I've really bought into grading, but it absolutely makes it more difficult to view and casually enjoy the cards together in a set -- and that bothers me. I've been able to alleviate this a tad by scanning all the new cards that come in before they get tucked away in a box so that I can at least view them together on my computer monitor, but, of course, it's not quite the same.

I just started on a new set, the T218s, and I've bought a few graded and some raw... but eventually I'm either going to go one way or the other for the whole set. I just can't decide which.

RonBurgundy

I see a lot of comments about having nice sets in binders and I couldn't agree more. That's one reason I'm changing course and I've heard rumblings at shows about other collectors doing the same thing. The registry will live on, of course - and I confess that it's cool to perhaps have maybe one fully graded set (perhaps your favorite set, set of your birth year, etc.) - but nothing will ever take the place of being able to have nice raw cards in binders that look great.


Ron

perkdog

One thing though that has not been mentioned is always the risk of a card getting "dinged" I have at times hit a corner while putting a card in ultra pro's. You certainly cannot beat the protection that a graded holder has to offer. Be safe! and have Fun!

JVette

I enjoy collecting both raw and graded. I am working on most 1960 Baseball sets in raw, while concentrating on the 62, 63 and 65 PSA sets (in addition to my raw set). And yes, I have been known to crack a few PSA 6 and PSA 7's to place into sheets for my raw sets. It is simply too easy to store and display sets in sheets and binders rather than the space to store 600 slabs. But then again I fully understand the benefits of a professionally graded (I only do PSA) sets.

So for those of you that argue that graded is better than raw - and for those that say that raw is better that graded - I just have to say --

I AGREE WITH YOU !!

- Jack

Buccaneer

<< <i>I see a lot of comments about having nice sets in binders and I couldn't agree more. That's one reason I'm changing course and I've heard rumblings at shows about other collectors doing the same thing. The registry will live on, of course - and I confess that it's cool to perhaps have maybe one fully graded set (perhaps your favorite set, set of your birth year, etc.) - but nothing will ever take the place of being able to have nice raw cards in binders that look great.


Ron >>



And that is exactly what I have done, esp. for my favorite sets from when I started collecting in the 1970s. About 20 years ago, I completed all of the sets from 1970-1977 (except 1975) and I still have my two favorites, the 1970 and 1971 sets, in binders. I just don't believe that it is feasible anymore to build a completely graded 1970s raw set, unless it's all PSA 10 (9 stars) or the 1971 set (in any grade). In fact, I had been thinking about my next set after the 1957s and I am leaning towards building a really nice 1972 raw set. I had, at one time, thought about doing this in graded but it makes no sense to me now.

WinPitcher

I agree sets in the binder is the way i am going too. I will only get hi dollar cards graded and that is for authentication and protection it affords.

I have a 52 bowman set. last week i sent in the Mantle and the Mays for grading. those 2 and the Berra are it for me. The 3 slabs fit nicely on the inside cover slot and the rest are in the pages.

Ditto for my raw 66 set, only the mantle will stay graded. i also find it cost effective to buy 5 , 6, and 7's and break them out for certain cards.


I have now sold off 380 of 598 cards from my 65 set. I am on a course to get my dough back and possibly make a lil too.

It was just too much of a burden storing all those cards. When grading first came out i thought it was for grading the hi dollar cards not commons. What happened though was the commons turned out to be rarer then the high dollar cards and thus they became almost as valuable!

Steve

gemint

I haven't bought expensive raw commons for years. It quickly got to the point where I could buy an already graded card in an 8 holder for less than the cost of the raw cards. I'm building a 1961 PSA 8 set mostly from eBay purchases. I was about 15% complete from my own submissions when I started buying already graded cards. I'm up to 75% complete and I've only paid over SMR for a few cards (including the Pirates team). I'm about $2500 below SMR so far not including the cards I submitted myself early on which include a PSA 9 Jim Bunning. I know there are still some toughies out there I haven't purchased yet but I plan to get either 7's or scour dealer inventory over the years in the hopes to stumble across those.

By the way, that $2500 figure also factors in my shipping costs for the auction wins. I've been selective in bidding as well. I don't bid on poorly centered 8s, ones with print dots or ones with the common for 1961 black print smudge on the border.

Estil

<< <i>These binders everyone speaks of....are they just like years ago - Ultra Pro pages and a 3-ring binder or is there something different nowdays? >>



Yep, pretty much. But I've found BCW pages to be just as good (perhaps better) than Ultra-Pro. I just bought a whole case of them (1000 pages) for less than $92 shipped.

kcballboy

I too once had ideas of building graded sets. Now, I've come over to the "raw in binders" side. I just think it's more enjoyable to flip through the pages. I may still buy the occasional graded card if it is a key rookie or big $. But for my money I'd rather have em raw.

BobS

Raw dog here as well. Always have been, always will be.

PasadenaMudSlide

I am reading about alot of guys getting back into set building in binders

This describes me.

Time to exit the rat race. No chance of breaking even anymore.

I'll miss the pulse-pounding grade poppage and the oooohs and aaaahs from posting grades.

No longer makes any sense, though.

I've come to realize card grading is actually kind of a goofy concept.

BobaFett72

" Someone said it best "crisp nm cards in binders" Good stuff!

booyeah!
thumbs up on this.

jmbkb4

PSA raising fees so ridiculously (modern for $10 ea, etc.) is an idiotic business move. Guarantee they'll lose more than they will make in raping their repeat customers.

WinPitcher

Grading has its place in the hobby. I for one would rather buy a graded 1000.00 dollar card then get the same card raw. At least graded I am getting a card that i can feel comfortable with. The same card raw could have problems. Plus when it comes time to sell the graded card will fetch more.

jmo

Steve

nascar20

I agree that raw is the way togo ,I'm building only 74 topps in graded psa 9(year I started collecting),when I can get them at a good price.So if anyone has raw cards wanted in my sig lmk
later jeff

gemint

One other thing to keep in mind as a result of the grading phenomenon is that NM or nicer raw cards are fetching big money. Just look at waverly's auction results. In many cases, I can buy a PSA 8 for less than a raw NM+ version of the same card. It all depends on the year though. If you're collecting 1970s and newer cards, then the binder approach is the economical way to go. If you're buying pre-1970, often a combination of buying graded (high pops) and raw (low pops) is the way to go. For the low pop commons, it's unlikely you'll find NM+ raw cards for cheap. For raw low pop commons, you'll either need to settle for EX-MT or worse grade because anything nicer would be sent off for grading. It may be cheapest to buy a decent PSA 6 or 7 and crack it out to return it to raw form.

The show dealers I used to purchase high grade raw cards from have priced themselves out of the market in my opinion. They are typically charging SMR PSA 8 prices for raw cards. Often I can get that card on eBay for a fraction and not risk a faint flaw that I could miss in a poorly lit showroom. So I've found myself moving in the opposite direction where I'm purchasing more graded cards and fewer raw cards. As the populations of the graded cards go up and the inventory of high grade raw cards go down, the price differential becomes blurred.

In any event, high grade registry sets aren't going away. There will always be deep pocket collectors willing to ante up the $ to own a world class set.

GOODLIEU

Ultimately all of us have to be content with our collections. Graded cards to most of us is something we got into in the last 8 years or so as we all had our cards in Binders and speaking for myself I was very proud of my collections than and eager to show them to other collectors. I truly enjoy the Grading aspect of card collecting and at this point I am continuing to have graded or replaced with a graded card every major card in my collection but it does come with a pretty steep financial commitment. Its ironic but it is like two different stages of collecting using the same sets.In the larger scheme of things it all boil's down to what makes us happy and of course what we can afford wether Graded or Raw.

jrinck

I've long felt the set registry creates an artificial demand for commons, and eventually it will give way to those collecting only major cards with significance, like stars, or hard to find cards. As such, prices for commons, even vintage, will experience a drop in demand in the coming years, except for maybe vintage commons in PSA 9 or better.

Besides, who needs a 1974 Topps Pepe Frias in MINT 9, anyway? Oh, yeah, I do, for my player set.

RipublicaninMass

I think it is sad that a raw commons for the 50's goes for 1$ even with the shipping say 3$, IMO I think Beckett ruined the raw card market, I would rather grade the common and sell it for 10$ even though it is a break even proposition, I cant justify giving away raw vintage cards

gosteelers

I just can't justify losing money on graded cards anymore. Unless you get a 10 a lot of times, you're going to lose money...

bxb

I agree with Ron.

I have about 20 raw sets in binders, all stored on one bookshelf. they are easy to look at, whenever I want to. They will never get slabbed, because of the cost.

I have 3 fully slabbed sets that fill the rest of the room, and although great cards, I can only check about 20 at a time.

Also agree with Ron's point about cost of grading commons - money loser for most sets 1960 and up.

You know what gave me great fun? I was in the supermarket today and I bought 5 packs of 2007 Topps cards. When I got home, I opened each one, and chewed all the gums too. I didn't give a hoot about corners, creases, stains, or storage. The gum flavor only lasted about 5 minutes, but brought me back to the good old days for the rest of the day.

Larry

lowstartmick

For me it hasn't been as much of a change of mind on grading. It's more of being soured on the graded card "industry" , from the conspiring shenanigans of the auction houses and grading companies, big dealers with small consciences who cannot resist the easy lure of making a dishonest buck on the backs of collectors who have been so eloquently been referenced as the armpit of the hobby, as well as the elitist uppercrud. That's not to mention that card doctors are becoming very proficient at duping the grading companies and slipping there handiwork into high priced slabs. Even more nauseating are the Ebay sellers who will unashamedly list such slabbed hack jobs for auction (do a completed items search of PSA 8 t206), and all this, at a time when collectors with a huge stakes in the graded card market call for reform. Such hypocrisy while hiding behind altruistic intentions is enough to make men with the strongest of constitutions want to puke all over their tamper proof plastic.
There was a time when grading was thought to be the savior of the hobby but lately it seems that the hobby has come full circle and grading is biting the hobby in the butt.
Sure, there will always be the die hards, those who just don't care and those who choose not to see the writing on the wall. This hobby is a lucrative industry in serious need of Federal oversight, just like with stock and commodities exchanges. It will never be perfect but at this moment fraud and deceit are running rampant and you only hear hear about the guys who aren't as skilled at turning a dishonest buck or at least those haven't been caught yet.
Statistics do indicate that most criminals get away with 5-10 times the number of crimes they are arrested for. Translate that ratio to the number of unscrupulous operators in the hobby and there is plenty of opportunity for all of us to get many raw deals , whether we realize it or not. Even if one tries to maintain a heightened level of vigilance against all of the ills you have to wonder if the payoff for a "HOBBY" is worth such a taxing effort . Especially when you can still find some nice cards for binder sets and buy plenty of new wax (or paper) to rip.
How many among us would seek advice or approval of an expensive purchase from the weary looking guy working nights at Home Depot in an effort to pay the rent? If you answered no , you are probably wrong.
Find a place where you are comfortable in the hobby and try not to think too much. You should be OK. Oh, and look for the auction where a dealer states "although the card is graded Mint 9 by GAI (or other companies) it appears to be altered, there is someone you can trust !

gosteelers

IMO, a 'true' T206 PSA 8 does not exist!

jmbkb4

<< <i>IMO, a 'true' T206 PSA 8 does not exist! >>



I hear you.

RonBurgundy

Great feedback on this thread so far. I do agree with Winpitcher and others that grading has its place in the hobby. Certainly with stars and important cards the safe bet is to buy them graded rather than take the risk of alteration issues, etc. But further comments on this thread seem to bear out that with respect to most sets and cards, the math to do completely graded sets just doesn't work for most collectors. It only works for two groups: dealers who buy at wholesale prices, and collectors with tons of dough who don't care about the math.

I am a little surprised that the grading companies get the business they do with the fees that are charged. A regular price of $15/card seems crazy.....$30/card at a show is insane. Graders are typically paid $.75 to $1.25 per card for every card they grade. Add in the cost of the holder and overhead and you probably wind up somewhere around $2 to $2.50 in costs per card for grading, although that seems high. The point here is not to knock the fees themselves as too high, but rather that for most collectors it's essential to look at the math - including sales prices on the market - before you send something in. From my vantage point when you do this, for most cards starting somewhere in the 60's it becomes a money loser.



Ron


PS. As an aside I'm going to a small show this weekend where there will be a national dealer who typically has a lot of nice raw stuff. As he and I got to know each other and he learned how much I was getting graded, he started playing games with me and adjusting his pricing. In fact, instead of having his stuff already priced, he would leave it unpriced, then wait for me to look at it, then price it "accordingly". I've continued to buy from him, but that game is going to come to a screeching halt this weekend. I'll report back on the reaction.

detroitfan2

This is an outstanding thread and it has made me think a lot. For the most part, I am very surprised by the opinions stated, given that this is a PSA board!

I will certainly agree with the fact that graded sets present a storage challenge, and are also very difficult to "flip thru". For me anyway, that is offset by a number of things. (1) Silly as it may sound, I like the protection that graded holders provide. Nothing is indestructable, but no other storage means will keep your cards safer in the very long term. (2) I like knowing (at a fairly accurate level) the fair "grade" of my sets, as well as knowing that cards are not altered. This is certainly not an ego booster, as I'm a PSA 5 guy, but it's just a nice feeling to know. (3) I do enjoy the set registries. Again, I couldn't tell you within 10 positions where I stand on most of my sets, but I just like the feeling of adding cards when I get new ones.

Most of all, from a financial perspective, graded cards just make sense to me. This probably has to do with what I collect (mid-grade 1950's sets), but I sit and watch my dad go to card show after card show and pick up commons and stars for his 1956 Topps or 1955 Bowman baseball sets, and he's thrilled when a dealer sells him a card for 50% of high beckett because that's what beckett says the price of an Ex card should be, and I know he can get the card already graded in PSA 5 or 6 for less money and it will be a far better card. Plus, he has no way of knowing if the card is altered. When all is said and done, he and I will have similar investments in our sets, and mine will be completely graded. If the need ever arises to sell, the graded sets will do much better, obviously.

Maybe I feel differently than others due to the fact that while I own maybe 1000 PSA graded cards, I have yet to submit a card. So I can certainly understand the frustration of those of you who have submitted and have a hard time getting your money back when you go to sell.

Anyway, not sure if any of this makes sense. Once again, a very interesting thread, and I must admit I am having a difficult time resolving the opinions stated here with the fact that PSA can't even meet the current demand for grading requests and is even looking to hire additional graders!

-detroitfan2 out

Blackborder

I totally agree. This has been a fun hobby since I started last year and I've taken several twists and turns. I love graded cards but I just don't have the money to buy (let alone submit) a 600+ graded card set. You can build a nice NM set in a binder for a fraction of the cost, which is what I'm currently doing. I still love graded cards, but man, they really need to grade them for $2 or something similar, especially moderns.

jmbkb4

<< <i>I still love graded cards, but man, they really need to grade them for $2 or something similar, especially moderns. >>



I'm not sure we will fully understand the long-term implications of their most recent asinine price-gouge, but it will hurt PSA severely in the end. I really hope it does.

2dueces

<< <i>Grading has its place in the hobby. I for one would rather buy a graded 1000.00 dollar card then get the same card raw. At least graded I am getting a card that i can feel comfortable with. The same card raw could have problems. Plus when it comes time to sell the graded card will fetch more.

jmo

Steve >>



Steve, I agree 100%. That is exactly why we have grading companies. I wouldn't buy a high $$$ card without it being graded. But I can't bring myself to paying huge prices for commons. I don't mind paying $15 for a PSA 8 for my graded set, but I'm not shelling out $200 for the same card in 9. Card grading will always have it's place, but for me raw in binders has it's place also.

Stone193

Ron

I'm late to the party and haven't had a chance to read all the responses.

I can't argue with your reasoning - the Registry was an immensely clever and effective marketing tool which
IMO has little to do with why I like graded when it came out in the early 90s.

Buying graded thru the mail was just plain easier. But once dealers realized that a vintage 8 could be sold at a premium the world changed.

Couple that with the Registry and from a collector POV the whole thing got crazy.

One of the nicest people I've actually had the pleasure of meeting - Bishop - has the best Topps run you will ever see - it's neatly in binders and from a collector's view just as nice as any top set in the registry.

And last - this is a statement of fact from where I sit and not a value judgement but:

1. Collectors who buy for the sheer joy of the hobby sleep at night.

2. Collectors who buy for investment of any kind may not.

Good luck.
mike

spazzy

Just my 2 Cents....i think that grading 60s and 70s stuff is very risky if you are looking for a return on investment.Major stars from that time is alright. I have seen in the last year many new vending boxes of 60s and 70s coming from auction houses that will absorb in the hobby eventually. I still think that a small 50s set is worth total grading such as a 54 Dan Dee Set or a 1951 Ringside Set because much of that stuff has been trimed or altered and I want to protect my investment...Although these are my views, I respect everyone who grades a complete large set..It can take lots of patience and money. I believe that if a person can afford a large graded set from the 60s or 70s, they can afford to buy another set to put in binders to enjoy. I think it depends how much of a pure collector you are . I sense that many people are fed up with what is happening on Ebay and other auction houses for graded material. We then have a recent post concerning if a collector should bid up a simillar item they own on ebay to keep the prices high....Greed has taken over even more...

Blackborder

How about this idea: PSA offers slabbing service (not grading) for $1.00 a card, minimum 100 cards, for modern cards. You can skip the graders and go straight to the slabber. Get a raw NM set slabbed for less than a grand. PSA gets it's name out there on millions of cards. Collectors who like the protection of slabs get their collection slabbed. PSA makes some easy money. Everyone is happy.

Stone193

<< <i>How about this idea: PSA offers slabbing service (not grading) for $1.00 a card, minimum 100 cards, for modern cards. You can skip the graders and go straight to the slabber. Get a raw NM set slabbed for less than a grand. PSA gets it's name out there on millions of cards. Collectors who like the protection of slabs get their collection slabbed. PSA makes some easy money. Everyone is happy. >>

Not a bad idea Bb.

I remember when Hager was selling these - if you wanted quantity I'm thinking he would sell them for like a buck? He is the inventor of the PSA holder for any really new collectors to the game.



For the ease of looking - I like thumbing thru cardsavers myself - tho not has protective as one of these holders.

mike

Blackborder

Thanks Stone. I looked at their website but didn't see where you could buy just the holder. Do you know where you can buy them? Also, it was interesting that I recognized them from my coin collecting days. AH doesn't have a good reputation with some collectors. I had no idea they were involved with sports cards.

Boopotts

<< <i>

<< <i>I still love graded cards, but man, they really need to grade them for $2 or something similar, especially moderns. >>



I'm not sure we will fully understand the long-term implications of their most recent asinine price-gouge, but it will hurt PSA severely in the end. I really hope it does. >>




PSA still seems to think that the 'future' of TPG lies in cards from 1952-1975, which I think will end up being a very costly miscalculation. Sure, 150,000 'vintage' cards will keep rolling in every year, but one thing we're definitely seeing is that the number of big spenders who are attracted to vintage sets is not going up at a rate commensurate with the increasing supply of graded vintage, which explains the slow but continual price drop for all but a few key cards. Beckett, at least, seems to have this figured out; while the vintage stuff will eventually dry up, or come close enough to drying up such that it will be hard to keep the revenue numbers steady within the next 5 years or so, the modern stuff offers a ceaseless stream of new cards. THAT's where they should focus their attention, IMO, but they show no interest in doing so.

lowstartmick

<< <i>Beckett, at least, seems to have this figured out; while the vintage stuff will eventually dry up, or come close enough to drying up such that it will be hard to keep the revenue numbers steady within the next 5 years or so, the modern stuff offers a ceaseless stream of new cards. THAT's where they should focus their attention, IMO, but they show no interest in doing so. >>



I agree that vintage, defined as pre -1960 or so is close to "drying up" (but there is still plenty of raw collections out there) ,but there are still pallets of unopened 70's material to be circulated .
Many will continue to crack out the same cards to get bumps and people will crack out cards to have a "doctor" do so some work on them ...like Mastro. Cards will also continue to be reholdered for purpose of deceiving bidders as to the origin of such cards. As long as a profit can be turned people will continue to submit and ways of turning the profit will become more creative and more technologically "advanced". Beyond that, perhaps PSA is already attempting to insulate themselves with the price increase for a standard grading service.

As far as grading modern or new stuff I'm not sure if that will ever take off, the "need" for grading cards pulled by consumers straight from packs doesn't seem to be as strong as the want. And the want for what ? Speaking for myself why would you grade new cards unless it's the next big rookie ?