Sealed card vs graded

Durant288 · 05-06-2021, 02:03 PM

Hi there guys

What do you think about sealed cards? Isn't it a cool addition to a PC or is it just a matter of getting it graded and maximizing the price?

Would a sealed card not offer some added value (of course if condition is 8-9-10), or will price generally be lower compared to a high graded card?

Thank you for your thoughts.

colbycolbycolby · 05-06-2021, 02:05 PM

Factory sealed (not breaker seal) over slab. Keeping all my Lebron eTopps in factory seals.

Durant288 · 05-06-2021, 02:11 PM

Yes factory seal ;-) And it was a Lebron I was thinking of opening for grading, but think that sealed could offer some buyers more value. They are cool cards those etopps.

eastbayak · 05-06-2021, 02:28 PM

I also prefer factory sealed cards over graded cards.

colbycolbycolby · 05-06-2021, 03:01 PM

For some cards, a raw is better than a PSA 9. And if the seal is from the factory, I'm sure as hell not opening it. I don't care what a PSA 10 goes for.

GOATcards · 05-06-2021, 03:14 PM

Ha, my first thought was "LeBron etopps".

Supposedly there's a fairly standard price for sealed LBJ etopps? Seems like they're around the price of a BGS 9, and given the percentage of these that grade out at Gem (and Pristine) it seems like it makes more sense to take the gamble, break the seal and submit for grading. But then again, maybe a lot of the sealed ones being sold are those with visible-enough defects to have no chance at a Gem or better. (Seems to be how it works with these things. What percentage of PSA 9s sold out there would qualify for a PWCC-S designation? Not the percentage of total examples - which by definition is "top 5 percent" for a PWCC-S - but percentage of examples circulating in the market.)

hairyangryfella · 05-06-2021, 03:35 PM

I would 1000% prefer a manufacturer sealed card over graded, ESPECIALLY something like Flawless base. I cry a little inside every time I see a 2012-13 Flawless base card graded, especially when it's an 8.5 or 9. Keep them how they came out the pack - anything you do is affecting the original item.

frankiecgsw · 05-06-2021, 04:16 PM

I think i've seen people take factory sealed stickers and putting it in other random mag cases to boost their sales...

Arianny_Fan · 05-06-2021, 04:39 PM

Uncirculated Finest, Pristine, Topps Chrome re/xfractors?

tyrith · 05-06-2021, 04:41 PM

For me, as a collector, it depends on how the factory sealed case looks. Some of them are beat to hell right out of the box, and that's no way to enjoy a card.

mindcycle · 05-06-2021, 09:02 PM

I always keep my Topps factory sealed cards sealed. For Panini, if the card was a redemption sent out with a mag and the Panini CS seal/sticker I usually keep those sealed as well.

With people grading anything and everything nowadays, I think keeping them sealed will be more appealing to people who actually collect cards years from now. Especially for guys like LeBron and such. There likely won't be many left at that point.

mindcycle · 05-06-2021, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyrith

For me, as a collector, it depends on how the factory sealed case looks. Some of them are beat to hell right out of the box, and that's no way to enjoy a card.

I've found that Meguiars Scratch-X and a terry cloth pad works really well on scratched cases. You can find both at pretty much any auto parts store.

I've used that combo on a couple of my sealed Topps Chrome cards that were heavily scratched with good results.

larryhughes · 05-06-2021, 09:12 PM

unless is Gem mint, factory sealed is prefer

I only pull for · 05-07-2021, 05:06 AM

Magnetic holders with a sticker hiding the magnet = eyesore.

Uncbuddha · 05-07-2021, 07:27 AM

The stickers on a lot of the etopps seem to come I stocked over time. I have a factory encases chris pail etopps rookie with the sticker starting to peel off. Will likely eventually have to take that one out.

Bob824 · 05-07-2021, 12:35 PM

I see a lot of Panini One and One cards being cracked and slabbed. I think to myself, why bother?

And I mostly collect slabbed cards. I still wouldn't crack a factory sealed card myself.

bloodwings19 · 05-07-2021, 01:42 PM

I would never grade Topps Dynasty, or autographed card that was redeemed with a sealed sticker. Breaking the seal is like tampering with the card. There was a guy who wanted to sell a top 3 baseball player card that was a redeemed autographed with a sealed sticker. I told him if you break the seal and try to sell it, it will have a lower value because it went through inspection for grading. Such noob.... I know he isn't a regular on BO

sethc1020 · 09-03-2021, 02:07 PM

I have always thought about this myself but I can tell you now NEVER LEAVE SEALED! I had a huge Luka RC card that was factory sealed up until the National. I finally decided that I would crack it open and submit it to PSA because it looked really good and I didn't have to worry about sending such a big card through the mail. I cracked it at the PSA booth and low and behold there was factory damage on the back of the card that could not be seen while in the mag case. I took it straight to Panini and waited several hours to talk to a CS rep and was told that it should be able to be replaced and gave me her email. After a month of emails I finally heard back from her today and they no longer have any of them in house to replace it with, checked to see if they had any stock left over from 2018 to have it remade and nope, and since its past the replacement threshold I cannot replace it with another card. This will be the last time I ever keep a redemption in the factory sealed case, I will crack out and inspect as soon as I get them from now on.

Spacemanspif · 09-03-2021, 02:21 PM

I inspect with magnification through the Panini case just like I would looking at a card through a graded slab for crossovers. Anything blatant should still be visible through the casing.

ragingbull · 09-03-2021, 02:46 PM

Factory over Graded!

hermanotarjeta · 09-03-2021, 03:22 PM

A graded sealed card means it has been tampered with, even if it gets a 9.5 or 10.

A sealed card is in it's original form - a true collector's preference.

I prefer sealed, especially if the rest of my collection is in sealed form.

sethc1020 · 09-03-2021, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spacemanspif

I inspect with magnification through the Panini case just like I would looking at a card through a graded slab for crossovers. Anything blatant should still be visible through the casing.

I did all of this as well, this one had a surface issue that you just couldn't see clearly in the mag. Through the mag it just appeared to be imperfections in the plastic and could only be slightly seen at the right angle.

20210801_162230 by Seth Cavins, on Flickr

GOATMJ · 09-03-2021, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryhughes

unless is Gem mint, factory sealed is prefer

This

eastbayak · 09-03-2021, 06:17 PM

drobfan8 · 09-03-2021, 06:40 PM

I have some Flawless and 100% prefer factory seal.

Unfortunately the 12/13 Duncan and D. Robs I have are BGS 9s..gross.

05-06-2021, 02:03 PM	#1
Durant288 Member Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 47	Sealed card vs graded Hi there guys What do you think about sealed cards? Isn't it a cool addition to a PC or is it just a matter of getting it graded and maximizing the price? Would a sealed card not offer some added value (of course if condition is 8-9-10), or will price generally be lower compared to a high graded card? Thank you for your thoughts.

05-06-2021, 04:16 PM	#8
frankiecgsw Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,122 frankiecgsw	I think i've seen people take factory sealed stickers and putting it in other random mag cases to boost their sales... __________________ Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors, Aaron Rodgers IG: frankiecgswcards

05-06-2021, 04:39 PM	#9
Arianny_Fan Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: On a rock in the middle of the sea. Posts: 3,576 basketballfiend	Uncirculated Finest, Pristine, Topps Chrome re/xfractors? __________________ IG: @basketballfiendcards @ariannycelestecards Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/139631202@N06/albums

05-07-2021, 12:35 PM	#16
Bob824 Member Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 577 bikerbobing	I see a lot of Panini One and One cards being cracked and slabbed. I think to myself, why bother? And I mostly collect slabbed cards. I still wouldn't crack a factory sealed card myself. __________________ Long-time Lakers fan (now rooting for Rip City, Go Blazers! ). PC is PSA 8 or higher Kobe Bryant Rookie Year cards. Looking for Noir and on-card autos of Showtime to Kobe era Lakers, Kobe error cards, and Kobe Anthology 10/24 cards. IG: bob824cards

09-03-2021, 02:07 PM	#18
sethc1020 Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Indiana Posts: 5,651 sethc_1020	I have always thought about this myself but I can tell you now NEVER LEAVE SEALED! I had a huge Luka RC card that was factory sealed up until the National. I finally decided that I would crack it open and submit it to PSA because it looked really good and I didn't have to worry about sending such a big card through the mail. I cracked it at the PSA booth and low and behold there was factory damage on the back of the card that could not be seen while in the mag case. I took it straight to Panini and waited several hours to talk to a CS rep and was told that it should be able to be replaced and gave me her email. After a month of emails I finally heard back from her today and they no longer have any of them in house to replace it with, checked to see if they had any stock left over from 2018 to have it remade and nope, and since its past the replacement threshold I cannot replace it with another card. This will be the last time I ever keep a redemption in the factory sealed case, I will crack out and inspect as soon as I get them from now on. __________________ https://www.flickr.com/gp/151086784@N06/28H47r

05-06-2021, 02:05 PM	#2
colbycolbycolby Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: ATX Posts: 632	Factory sealed (not breaker seal) over slab. Keeping all my Lebron eTopps in factory seals.

05-06-2021, 02:11 PM	#3
Durant288 Member Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 47	Yes factory seal ;-) And it was a Lebron I was thinking of opening for grading, but think that sealed could offer some buyers more value. They are cool cards those etopps.

05-06-2021, 02:28 PM	#4
eastbayak Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 16,331 eastbayak	I also prefer factory sealed cards over graded cards.

05-06-2021, 03:01 PM	#5
colbycolbycolby Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: ATX Posts: 632	For some cards, a raw is better than a PSA 9. And if the seal is from the factory, I'm sure as hell not opening it. I don't care what a PSA 10 goes for.

05-06-2021, 03:14 PM	#6
GOATcards Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 6,492	Ha, my first thought was "LeBron etopps". Supposedly there's a fairly standard price for sealed LBJ etopps? Seems like they're around the price of a BGS 9, and given the percentage of these that grade out at Gem (and Pristine) it seems like it makes more sense to take the gamble, break the seal and submit for grading. But then again, maybe a lot of the sealed ones being sold are those with visible-enough defects to have no chance at a Gem or better. (Seems to be how it works with these things. What percentage of PSA 9s sold out there would qualify for a PWCC-S designation? Not the percentage of total examples - which by definition is "top 5 percent" for a PWCC-S - but percentage of examples circulating in the market.)

05-06-2021, 03:35 PM	#7
hairyangryfella Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New Zealand Posts: 13,219	I would 1000% prefer a manufacturer sealed card over graded, ESPECIALLY something like Flawless base. I cry a little inside every time I see a 2012-13 Flawless base card graded, especially when it's an 8.5 or 9. Keep them how they came out the pack - anything you do is affecting the original item.

05-06-2021, 04:41 PM	#10
tyrith Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 1,897 tyrith	For me, as a collector, it depends on how the factory sealed case looks. Some of them are beat to hell right out of the box, and that's no way to enjoy a card.

05-06-2021, 09:02 PM	#11
mindcycle Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 5,043	I always keep my Topps factory sealed cards sealed. For Panini, if the card was a redemption sent out with a mag and the Panini CS seal/sticker I usually keep those sealed as well. With people grading anything and everything nowadays, I think keeping them sealed will be more appealing to people who actually collect cards years from now. Especially for guys like LeBron and such. There likely won't be many left at that point.

05-06-2021, 09:12 PM	#13
larryhughes Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 118 laur-1985	unless is Gem mint, factory sealed is prefer

05-07-2021, 05:06 AM	#14
I only pull for Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,460	Magnetic holders with a sticker hiding the magnet = eyesore.

05-07-2021, 07:27 AM	#15
Uncbuddha Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 215	The stickers on a lot of the etopps seem to come I stocked over time. I have a factory encases chris pail etopps rookie with the sticker starting to peel off. Will likely eventually have to take that one out.

05-07-2021, 01:42 PM	#17
bloodwings19 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,997	I would never grade Topps Dynasty, or autographed card that was redeemed with a sealed sticker. Breaking the seal is like tampering with the card. There was a guy who wanted to sell a top 3 baseball player card that was a redeemed autographed with a sealed sticker. I told him if you break the seal and try to sell it, it will have a lower value because it went through inspection for grading. Such noob.... I know he isn't a regular on BO

09-03-2021, 02:21 PM	#19
Spacemanspif Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 5,861 Spacemanspif	I inspect with magnification through the Panini case just like I would looking at a card through a graded slab for crossovers. Anything blatant should still be visible through the casing.

09-03-2021, 02:46 PM	#20
ragingbull Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Philippines Posts: 768	Factory over Graded! __________________ Main PC: TIM DUNCAN! Instagram: timduncan21_cardcollector Youtube: Revi Mayuyu’s Hobby Vlogs

09-03-2021, 03:22 PM	#21
hermanotarjeta Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 21,911	A graded sealed card means it has been tampered with, even if it gets a 9.5 or 10. A sealed card is in it's original form - a true collector's preference. I prefer sealed, especially if the rest of my collection is in sealed form.

09-03-2021, 06:17 PM	#24
eastbayak Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 16,331 eastbayak

09-03-2021, 06:40 PM	#25
drobfan8 Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 17,837 drobfan8 drobfan8	I have some Flawless and 100% prefer factory seal. Unfortunately the 12/13 Duncan and D. Robs I have are BGS 9s..gross. __________________ Wanted, 03/04 Exquisite Base Gold Tim Duncan and 05/06 Exquisite Base Gold /25 Michael Jordan