Are PSA 9 and PSA 10 cards worth the premium people pay for them?
11235813
Posts: 610
I believe that this was the question that "plifter" was trying to ask....
Given that PSA 9 and PSA 10 cards often sell for 5x-20x PSA 8 cards, are they worth the premium people pay for them?
To me, the answer is generally no, for several reasons.
1) Most people cannot tell the difference between a PSA 8 and a PSA 9/PSA 10 with their naked eye unless their are easily visible differences in condition such as centering issues or print marks. Even then, such difference are usually only noticable under close inspection.
2) The subjectivity and inconsistency of grading means that any given PSA 8 may actually be in just as nice condition and have just as much eye appeal as any given PSA 9 or 10.
3) Especially when it comes to modern cards (post-1980 for the purposes of this argument), even PSA 10's are not truly scarce. Although there are many recent cards who have low populations in PSA 10, this is more a factor of people not bothering to get cards graded than of true condition scarcity.
I'm guessing that prices for PSA 9's and 10's are generally being driving by registry competition. If the registery did not exist, I'm guessing that the premium would shrink quite a bit, maybe to 2x for PSA 9's and 3x-5x for PSA 10's.
Thoughts?
Given that PSA 9 and PSA 10 cards often sell for 5x-20x PSA 8 cards, are they worth the premium people pay for them?
To me, the answer is generally no, for several reasons.
1) Most people cannot tell the difference between a PSA 8 and a PSA 9/PSA 10 with their naked eye unless their are easily visible differences in condition such as centering issues or print marks. Even then, such difference are usually only noticable under close inspection.
2) The subjectivity and inconsistency of grading means that any given PSA 8 may actually be in just as nice condition and have just as much eye appeal as any given PSA 9 or 10.
3) Especially when it comes to modern cards (post-1980 for the purposes of this argument), even PSA 10's are not truly scarce. Although there are many recent cards who have low populations in PSA 10, this is more a factor of people not bothering to get cards graded than of true condition scarcity.
I'm guessing that prices for PSA 9's and 10's are generally being driving by registry competition. If the registery did not exist, I'm guessing that the premium would shrink quite a bit, maybe to 2x for PSA 9's and 3x-5x for PSA 10's.
Thoughts?
0
Comments
This topic is on the verge of "beating a dead horse." No offense to you at all, but you can think that it's not worth it all you want, that's not going to change that fact that it is worth it to many others. And I'd be willing to bet that it will never change.
edited to add: Grading companies exist, and as long as they do, people are reading those numbers that they put on the cards. Everyone has the option to take those given grades however they choose to.
ebay i.d. clydecoolidge - Lots of vintage stars and HOFers, raw, condition fully disclosed.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////
BUT, it does exist.
<< <i>Thoughts? >>
Have they discovered life on Mars yet?
I want a mansion, on a 100 acre lot, overlooking the blue sea, with a trophy wife at my side, and his/her matching Lamborghinis in the garage.
That should cost the same as a mobile home in a trailer lot and a worn out stripper named Candi, right?
Sometimes.
<< <i>If you don't like the prices being paid for "premium" product, then don't buy them.
I want a mansion, on a 100 acre lot, overlooking the blue sea, with a trophy wife at my side, and his/her matching Lamborghinis in the garage.
That should cost the same as a mobile home in a trailer lot and a worn out stripper named Candi, right? >>
Actually, in reply to stown... sometimes.
<< <i>If you don't like the prices being paid for "premium" product, then don't buy them.
I want a mansion, on a 100 acre lot, overlooking the blue sea, with a trophy wife at my side, and his/her matching Lamborghinis in the garage.
That should cost the same as a mobile home in a trailer lot and a worn out stripper named Candi, right? >>
HEY!!! I have that life!...are you interested as I am looking to move-up to the "premium life"?
Candi is REALLLLLY nice!
mathew
drugs of choice
NHL hall of fame rookies
It's not YOUR money so stop worrying how someone else spends their money on what THEY want.
mathew
drugs of choice
NHL hall of fame rookies
"If I ever decided to do a book, I've already got the title-The Bases Were Loaded and So Was I"-Jim Fregosi
But for me, a 9 has to look absolutely perfect. If it doesn't, then I'm not interested.
A 10 is nice to show off, but it's like a diamond. If you can't see the inclusions with your naked eye, then it really doesn't matter, so why get hung up on flawless? Pick a VS1 or 2 and nobody will ever know the difference--or care.
<< <i>1) Most people cannot tell the difference between a PSA 8 and a PSA 9/PSA 10 with their naked eye unless their are easily visible differences in condition such as centering issues or print marks. Even then, such difference are usually only noticable under close inspection. >>
I completly disagree with this statement, as my submission results show, I can pick a PSA 9 or 10 from an 8 with success at a ratio above 98%. This is not as hard as people think. The real problem is most submitter's optimism is too high.
<< <i>3) Especially when it comes to modern cards (post-1980 for the purposes of this argument), even PSA 10's are not truly scarce. Although there are many recent cards who have low populations in PSA 10, this is more a factor of people not bothering to get cards graded than of true condition scarcity. ? >>
AGREED. This is why I stopped trying to outbid Porkchopper on low pop PSA 10s. I just found a couple hundred and subbed em myself.
<< <i>I'm guessing that prices for PSA 9's and 10's are generally being driving by registry competition. If the registery did not exist, I'm guessing that the premium would shrink quite a bit, maybe to 2x for PSA 9's and 3x-5x for PSA 10's. >>
AGREE. You see this now even in registry sets where there is not a lot of competition for key cards. I pay about 2X for 9's and 4X for 10's for the Pucketts.
Mike
Kirby Puckett Master Set
To the people buying them they must be.
Steve
<< <i>If you don't like the prices being paid for "premium" product, then don't buy them.
I want a mansion, on a 100 acre lot, overlooking the blue sea, with a trophy wife at my side, and his/her matching Lamborghinis in the garage.
That should cost the same as a mobile home in a trailer lot and a worn out stripper named Candi, right? >>
What? Only one?
<< <i>What? Only one?
Touche'
But when they are in these slabs and have the number "10" on it many a clown with too much $$ and no common sense will pay 10-20X+ more for the 10, even though the one that is an 8 is also just as sharp.
Buy the card, not the slab.
<< <i>a worn out stripper named Candi >>
memories........
First, in most cases I do believe there is a very noticeable difference between an 8 and a 10. Sure, in many cases an 8 looks as good as a 9; and a 9 as good as a 10. But from the 10's that I've seen up close (Not being particularly affluent nor one who attends cardshows, I'm afraid I haven't seen a whole heckuva lot of 'em.), a 10 is much nicer looking than an 8.
Secondly, are the mint cards worth the high premiums? Of course not, in a practical sense. They're just pieces of cardboard that cost pennies to produce. But, as with all collectables, the cards are worth ONLY what buyers are willing to pay. Competition among collectors naturally drives up the prices. Just like owners of MLB teams vying for free agent pick ups. Was Darren Driefort worth the huge contract LA payed out years ago? No way. But to keep him that's what they HAD to pay. It's a simple matter of supply and demand. As long as the supply of mint cards is relatively low while demand is high, they will command high premiums.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ahhh Yes Mammeries . . mammeries
Those were the good old days , remember when she wasn't so worn out and the goose wasn't hangin