Raw vs Graded Cards: Making the Right Choice for Your Collection

Raw vs graded cards create a tough choice that affects how well cards keep their value and make money. Most collectors believe graded cards sell at higher prices, but reality tells a different story. The market shows that most cards actually bring in less money after grading. The numbers back this up - a 2013 Panini Select Giannis Antetokounmpo #178 goes for $100 in PSA 9, while an ungraded copy fetched $124.

The value of grading cards depends on several things. Graded cards stay in better shape as time passes compared to raw ones. Collectors often pay big money for cards with high grades. All the same, a card needs at least a grade of 7 to be worth more than its ungraded version. Note that knowing which cards not to grade can make you just as much money as picking the right ones to grade. On top of that, grading costs quite a bit, and you might wait over six months for standard service from major grading companies.

This piece dives into what collectors should think about when choosing between raw and graded cards. You'll learn how to line up your choices with your collection goals.

Understanding the Basics: Raw vs Graded Cards

Card collectors deal with two basic types of cards. These differences are the foundations of smart collecting decisions.

What is a raw card?

Raw cards are ungraded and straight from the pack. No services like PSA, BGS, or SGC have evaluated or certified them. These cards remain untouched and original, but that brings risks. You can't trust their actual condition or know for sure if they're genuine.

Raw cards cost less than graded ones, making them more available to collectors watching their budget. Buyers must trust their own review or what the seller says about the card's condition. The accuracy of these descriptions can vary a lot.

What is a graded card?

A graded card is when a third-party grading company has reviewed the cards. Skilled graders inspect surface condition, corner sharpness, and centering. They assign a grade between 1 and 10. A perfect card gets the highest score of a 10.

The company seals the card in a sturdy tamper-proof plastic slab. This case displays the card's grade and authenticity details. It prevents damage and confirms the card's condition and legitimacy.

Why are graded cards worth more?

Graded cards outshine raw ones in cost, demand, and value retention. Card graders verify their condition giving buyers assurance about their purchase. This confidence often results in higher sale prices.

The price gap between ungraded and graded cards can be huge. You might pay $500 to $800 for a raw 2003 LeBron James Topps Chrome Rookie card. But the same card with a PSA 10 grade has gone for over $25,000. A raw 1999 Pokémon 1st Edition Charizard card could cost you $800 to $1,500. Its PSA 10 counterpart though, may have sold for more than $300,000.

Furthermore, the protective case guards cards against scratches, damage from handling, and other harm that could lower their value. It keeps cards in prime condition and protects their worth as a long-term investment.

Grading turns personal opinions about condition into a standard that all collectors understand and value. This common language for condition helps everyone buy and sell cards with more confidence.

Benefits of Grading Your Cards

Graded cards give collectors more than just good looks. They turn regular collectibles into secure, verified assets that stand stronger in the market.

Long-lasting safety and care

Experts in grading seal cards inside tough tamper-proof holders. These cases act as shields against moisture, sunlight, and dirt. Cards kept in regular sleeves or binders do not offer as much safety. Graded cards remain flawless for years. The hard holder prevents scratches, bending, or fading, which often ruin unsecured cards. This type of protection preserves the card as it was. A like-new card stays like-new no matter how it's handled.

Authentication and fraud prevention

Today's collecting world faces a serious threat from counterfeit cards. Grading services have authentication experts who look at every detail to verify each submission. Buyers can rest easy because they know they're getting real items instead of sophisticated fakes. The tamper-evident cases come with advanced security features - from holograms to special metallic labels. These holders show visible "frosting" on the edges if someone tries to open them. This adds another layer of protection against fraud.

Higher resale value for high grades

High-grade cards sell for much more than their raw versions. Some graded cards bring in two to ten times more money. A Victor Wembanyama 2023 Prizm Base Rookie Card tells the story - PSA 10 copies sold for $110, while PSA 9s brought just $39.18. Rare cards show even bigger price differences. Serious buyers prefer graded cards, and these cards sell faster than raw ones. This creates a more active market.

Online certification and traceability

Big grading companies keep detailed online records of every card they grade. These digital databases can allow collectors to check certification numbers, see grades, and look at high-quality images of slabbed cards. Population reports show exactly how many examples exist at each grade level. Collectors can learn about their card's rarity quickly. They might find that among 5,000 copies of a card, only 50 earned a perfect 10 grade.

When Grading Might Not Be Worth It

Graded cards offer benefits, but grading isn't always a smart investment. Let's learn about these drawbacks to help collectors make better decisions about their collections.

High grading costs and long turnaround times

Card grading hits your wallet hard. Services charge between $15 to $600 per card based on service level and card value. PSA's Express service costs $200 per card. Their Super Express and Walkthrough services run $300 and $600. These costs add up fast and can eat into any value gains, especially if you're watching your budget.

The wait times create headaches too. PSA's standard submissions take up to 65 business days. Beckett needs 45+ business days for their base service. These timeframes aren't set in stone and can often stretch even longer when things get busy.

Low-value or overproduced cards

Cards made in huge numbers, like 1990s Donruss or Fleer baseball sets, don't make sense to grade. Here's a simple rule: if grading costs more than the potential value boost, keep it raw. 

Storage and display challenges

Graded cards take up more space than raw ones. Storage boxes and binders for slabbed cards exist but cost more and fit fewer cards. On top of that, it becomes impossible to use graded cards in games or store them with ungraded ones in binders.

Risk of receiving a low grade

Getting a card graded doesn't mean you'll like the result. Damaged or altered cards might cost you more in grading than they're worth. Most modern cards graded below PSA 6 put you in "negative territory" on your investment. Sometimes older cards can hold value better at lower grades, but there's still a point where the value drops below grading costs, making it no longer worth the investment.

How to Decide if I Should Grade My Cards?

Smart card grading decisions need a good look at several key factors. You'll save time and money by taking a strategic approach instead of rushing to grade every card you own.

Evaluate card condition and rarity

Start with taking time to examine a good look at your card's condition. Good lighting helps you spot surface issues like scratches, dimples, and creases that might hide at first glance, and affect your card value. A single scratch can drop a potential Gem Mint 10 to a Mint 9. Modern cards need almost perfect condition to get top grades. Vintage cards from the 1970s and earlier might get good grades even with small flaws.

Centering plays a vital role in grading. Both PSA and BGS want near-perfect centering to give a card a 10 grade. Take a close look at corners and edges because wear in these spots can affect grades by a lot.

Compare raw vs graded card prices

Research recent sales of both raw and graded versions to understand potential returns. PSA 9 cards used to sell for about the same price as raw cards plus grading fees, but the market has changed. These days, good-looking raw cards of high gem-rate chrome cards might sell for 10-20% more than PSA 9s.

The price gap between raw and graded cards gets much bigger for high-value cards in excellent condition. Cards with perfect grades often sell for 3-4x more than those graded just one point lower.

Consider your goals: collecting vs flipping

Let your collecting goals guide your grading choices. Preservation might matter more than profit if you're building a personal collection. For profit-focused collectors, calculate your potential ROI this way:

• Add acquisition cost, grading fees, and shipping costs
• Research likely grades and corresponding sales values
• Multiply each potential grade's resale value by your estimated probability of achieving it

Card flipping has become highly competitive. Success needs deep knowledge and experience. Many top flippers use strategies that others can't easily copy at scale.

Use expert pre-grading services

Pre-grading services offer professional assessments before formal submission. These experts check condition, verify authenticity, and provide safe storage. Cards that pass pre-grade review succeed 86% of the time. This service can save you big money on formal grading costs.

Pre-grading helps most with cards that have uncertain condition or borderline cases. Services like COMC Pre-Grade Review cost USD 5.00 per card and give you peace of mind before spending more on formal grading.

Conclusion

Raw or graded cards? The choice depends on what matters to each collector. In this piece, we've seen how graded cards are a great way to get advantages through authentication, preservation, and a full picture of their condition. Professional grading changes regular cardboard into protected, verified assets that usually fetch higher prices in the market.

All the same, not every card deserves grading. Cards with low value, mass production runs, or obvious flaws won't return more than what you'll spend on grading and shipping combined. On top of that, you'll need to think over the long waiting times, storage issues, and display limits that come with slabbed cards.

Smart collectors should get into a card's condition and check market prices for both raw and graded versions before submission. They must also be honest about their collecting goals. People who build personal collections might value preservation and authentication more, while profit-seekers have to weigh potential returns against costs.

The best collectors know that spotting cards that shouldn't be graded is just as crucial as finding prime candidates. A strategic approach based on condition, rarity, and market demand works better than rushing to slab everything. The most successful collections blend both raw and graded cards, each picked with clear purpose and deep knowledge.