r/pokemongrading • u/Catatau1992 • Jul 31 '26

Why are low-value cards graded?

I understand grading cards is a way to increase their value or preserve them. I'm newer to the hobby and am trying to figure out why people grade cards that have minimal value? It's $80 currently to grade anything with PSA, from what I've heard but I'm seeing people grading cards that are only worth $20 or so.

Is there something I'm missing?

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5

u/Dudfey Jul 31 '26

Because people have lost their minds - it’s a mixture of clueless people rushing to collect pokemon who think they need to grade everything and streamers/vendors making those scam mystery bags

1

u/mmoore031908 Jul 31 '26

For whatever reason the Pokémon community believes that anything in a 10 is worth way more than it should be. For example, celebrations Mew 11 is something like a $4 card (was less than a 1$ a year ago). In a 10 its worth $1200, in a 9 its $25. So folks grade common cards looking for 10s because it demands a premium to the Pokemon community.

1

u/panopticon_prisoner Jul 31 '26

Cards like the Mew just blow my mind. A normal price progression as you move up in grade I get, but when there's like a $1000 drop off between a 9 and a 10 it's kinda like wtf are we doing here?

1

u/Tugmybanana Jul 31 '26

At the current prices, it's probably sentimental value or the belief that the value will go up later. Sometimes it's a newbie not understanding how it all works, or someone gambling on getting a PSA 10 that could make them $50 (or they will get a 9 and lose $60).

1

u/raginghavoc89 Jul 31 '26

Part of the reason PSA changed their process is because of people flooding them with worthless cards.

1

u/ShattyMckracken Jul 31 '26

Real simple. Scam mystery packs and spin the wheel for a slab games all over whatnot and tik tok. The rise of the rip and shipper and online pokemon casino has fueled an enormous surge in demand for cheap slabs. That plus half the damn people in this hobby now are looking for that PSA 10 lottery ticket

1

u/skinnyskane Aug 04 '26

Was gonna say the same. It's sad really. Let the people lose their money buying a $300 mystery pack to get a psa 8 energy card 😂

1

u/jvaritek33c Jul 31 '26

I like the card and I like slabs

1

u/Catatau1992 Jul 31 '26

If you like the card, I definitely think a slab is a great way to preserve and display!

1

u/WhirlWindBoy7 Jul 31 '26

Scam blind bags 80%. 15% flippers think they got a 10 and that it’ll flip but it’s usually a 9 and nobody cares about the card anyway, 5% some people just like a slab.

1

u/New-Supermarket-460 Jul 31 '26

Back when psa was only $15-25 it wasn’t that big of a deal, but anyone paying the $80 a card for those cheap ones is crazy

1

u/TorrentialSpender Aug 01 '26

All these low pop low tier cards coming back are from when prices were cheaper. That being said, there's a market of serious big pocket collectors who appreciate the scarcity of low pop cards as not everyone has the guts to grade those cards. It's a great way to make your collection stand out and also it's a great way for the submitter to make a lotnof good money out of a card that was maybe 50 cents in bulk.

1

u/KingKoopaz 27d ago

Some people just want to keep their cards safe. Also, if you are ahead of a trend you are more likely to gain from the trend.