It is gem or bust. Collectors are losing interest in PSA 9 graded cards.
It is gem or bust. Collectors are losing interest in PSA 9 graded cards.
It is a new world out there. I am not sure if it is a brave new world, but it is a new world in the sports card community.
We are living in a time when raw cards are outperforming sales of graded cards.
The pre-COVID-19 way of thinking to value a raw to a Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) graded nine card was to add approximately 25% of the value.
If a raw card is trading at $100, the PSA 9 version should trade at $125. There are additional circumstances that can impact the raw sale of any card, with condition being the most important.
From a general perspective, a PSA 9 should be worth 25% greater than the same raw card. A raw card was pretty close in value to a PSA 8 of the same card.
Fast-forward to the present, that is no longer the case.
Using an Upper Deck Connor Bedard Young Guns as an example.
Recent PSA 9 sales average out to $347. The last four raw Bedard Young Guns sales average out to $358 according to 130point.com.
This is madness!
Maybe it is not madness, but it is certainly a new world out there.
This new-world pricing does is not limited to lower-valued cards. Case hits and cards of substantial value have been effected.
The above recent sales for Connor Bedard First Round Draft Red Outbursts are the biggest head scratcher to me.
Two recent raw sales did $4,438 and $4,357 respectfully. Less than 10 days later a PSA 9 of the same card sold for $4,049. An argument could have been made that the PSA 9 should have brought no less than $5,000.
Why are raw cards outperforming PSA 9 sales?
It is tough to find the logic in this. It could be hope vs. reality. With a PSA 9, you know what you have. A good clean card that was close to becoming a gem. With a raw card, it could be a gem. But it may not be a gem. You will not know until you submit the card for grading.
This also complicates things for those who submit high a high quantity of cards for grading. Cards that come back with a PSA 9 grade can be a loss when factoring grading fees and turnaround time.
In any event, it is a new world out there. Happy hunting and collecting!