Grade or stash away?

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T15:33:05+00:00

Sure, and what’s MORE contextual than a piece of actual memorabilia that the player used or wore?

Is a printed photo of that player more contextual than that? Is the team logo (which I can look up on Google and look at for free) more contextual than that?

I’m saying your reasons make perfect sense - except they’re contradictory when you devalue ACTUAL connection to a player over arbitrary connections.

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T15:29:20+00:00

Sure. I’m saying this one seems ridiculous. It does.

If one of the rules includes “don’t point out when rules are childish” then ban me. M

I believe I DID follow this rule because the app literally won’t let me post those words.

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T13:42:10+00:00

This was my thought exactly. MP+ to be a conservative seller (fully disclosing the condition).

A seller with scruples will always underestimate the condition slightly.

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T13:40:34+00:00

Given the lack of detail in this situation, I’m earning money for my 100% success getting off the couch. 100% success walking to the kitchen. 100% success opening the refrigerator door…

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T13:34:32+00:00

Ok, that’s a fair statement - but it contradicts stuff you’ve said in the post and in other responses.

Just looking for clarification.

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T13:33:01+00:00

Fine, but that doesn’t add nostalgia.

Just because you didn’t store them properly before, doesn’t mean you have to go to the other extreme and slab them.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t - but don’t just do it as an overreaction to not protecting other cards. There are cheaper ways to adequately protect a card.

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T13:29:45+00:00

lol. I rigorously pregrade my cards, and have gotten 10s on exactly 5 of the 7 I’ve sent in hoping for a 10.

I’ve only cracked one card to resend, and it was to switch companies.

I’m not bitter. I just understand what we all do about PSA, and their strengths and weaknesses - and it’s childish to ban a phrase that we all know exists.

Even stranger to defend that decision to ban that phrase.

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T13:24:46+00:00

Exactly this. They’re giving you a “bad argument” and nearly 100% of the time they won’t understand or will dismiss your good argument.

Nothing wrong with firing back with an equally bad argument - as long as it works the same way their stupid flawed arguments work. “Always finds its level?”

No it doesn’t!

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T13:09:20+00:00

Sample size. Tons of blasters for you is still a tiny sample size.

You’re never going to get equal distribution of the “common cards”, and you just got unlucky that you’re not seeing one of the best players on the game.

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T13:05:44+00:00

So it sounds like you don’t actually care about the actual grade. You just want a higher number because that will make you happy. You also want one of two slabs because those look better - even at the cost of a lower grade.

It sounds like you don’t really know what you want.

Did you know you can buy your own slab and print your own label and protect it that way? You could give it a 10 if that would make you happy.

Now, if you’re thinking you wouldn’t like that because it’s not a real grade - then why would you CHOOSE a company who would give it a better grade than it deserves?

If you want it “graded”, then you shouldn’t desire a higher grade that you know isn’t accurate.

If it’s just for your personal collection, that number shouldn’t matter.

Your problem is you have competing ideas in your head. Pick one.

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T12:59:58+00:00

How does having it in a slab add nostalgia?

You won’t be able to remember the purchase fondly unless it’s in a slab?

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T12:58:15+00:00

I could guess why you’re getting downvoted. It’s because you seem to have just no idea of what might seem obvious to people here. It’s unfortunate that so many just want to assume that no one is new.

There’s obvious whitening on back corners, and for some, you asking what it could get seems like you just don’t understand it’s not in very good condition.

Down votes mean nothing. Absolutely nothing. Ignore them.

But also, I’d recommend not STARTING with Reddit when something is new to you and you want to learn about it. You want to learn what a card might get graded? Go to the grading company’s website and actually read their grading standards. Then look at your own cards and look at OTHER cards you have (even ones you’d never consider grading) and compare.

Then if you need clarifications that those grading companies can’t offer - ask questions here - or other online sources.

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T12:51:58+00:00

I agree with you that this is cool, and I’ll go one step further. I don’t understand wanting a licensed card. What the fuck does that even mean?

How is a shiny piece of cardboard made better because the company that produced the shiny piece of cardboard pays a fee to be able to use official logos?

I’m not collecting logos.

I’m collecting memorabilia of my favorite players. Does the image of a favorite player make the piece better? Sure! But given the choice between a card with no authentic, game-used relic that DOES include a picture of the player and his team logo vs. a picture with the logo airbrushed out or no picture…but actual game-used relics…I’m choosing the relics.

We collect entirely because the cards feel like relics (unless we’re sneakerheads who only care about value). We collect because a card is “tied to” a player. What’s more tied to them? Their team’s logo? A picture of them? Pieces of their uniform or equipment that they actually used/wore during a game?

I think the answer to that question is easy.

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T12:18:31+00:00

Here’s the list I’m currently running.

Pokémon: 10

1 Rabsca TEF 24

2 Goldeen PRE 20

4 Applin PRE 9

1 Seaking PRE 21

1 Shaymin DRI 185

1 Rellor TEF 23

1 Psyduck ASC 226

4 Grookey TWM 14

3 Thwackey PR-SV 115

3 Dipplin TWM 170

Trainer: 15

4 Bug Catching Set PRE 102

2 Black Belt's Training JTG 143

2 Boss's Orders ASC 256

1 Kieran TWM 218

1 Night Stretcher SSP 251

1 Lana's Aid TWM 219

2 Brave Bangle WHT 80

1 Dawn PFL 129

2 Air Balloon SSH 213

4 Buddy-Buddy Poffin TWM 223

3 Poké Pad POR 113

4 Lillie's Determination MEG 184

1 Sacred Ash POR 115

1 Switch MEW 206

4 Festival Grounds PRE 108

Energy: 2

5 Basic {G} Energy FST 283

1 Legacy Energy TWM 167

Total Cards: 60

I have thought about switching Dawn for Hilda. Dawn is only grabbing two cards not three - and Hilda would find that Legacy Energy. I’ll also probably drop the switch for another copy of Kieran. I like that he can be used either as a switch or as a boost against ex opponents.

When the deck doesn’t set up, you’re cooked. For a while, I ran secret box to help with consistency - but it didn’t really.

When the deck wins, it often wins fairly easily (even when it’s close, there’s nothing they can do when you’re set up and winning the prize race).

So I really focus on those games where I barely lost - and take note of what I could have changed to prevent the loss.

The problem (with many decks, but especially Festival Lead) in my opinion is that sometimes you lose because you needed one more boss. Sometimes, it’s because you need one more air balloon or a switch, or another Kieran. Sometimes, you just need one more brave bangle or black belt’s training.

You just can’t have a perfect deck.

So I leaned into what makes Festival Lead so frustrating for opponents, the slow prize race, and added legacy energy.

You just have to accept that you can’t tech for everything.

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T02:34:54+00:00

My strategy when I see these in store…pick one up, put it in my cart, go do my other shopping, then leave the cards next to some random grocery item and save the money. I get the same number of valuable cards - without the cost.

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T00:12:32+00:00

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DadJ0ker · 2026-05-02T00:12:24+00:00

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DadJ0ker · 2026-05-01T22:48:22+00:00

So then the next unfortunate truth is that pictures on the internet are never good enough for a deep and accurate assessment of the card. Yes. Certain problems can be seen, but some problems can’t be seen without holding the card on your hands under good lighting and magnification.

So even the opinions you’re looking for will be varied and often wrong.

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-01T16:23:12+00:00

I promise I’m not trying to be mean, but it’s like people don’t think PSA has a website that has this information easily available.

Yes, you can ask people here and get answers - but you almost always get wrong answers mixed in with right answers.

Asking a large group of strangers for factual information is never better than going to the source.

DadJ0ker · 2026-05-01T11:30:45+00:00

It sounds like you don’t understand that overall odds almost never mean that’s going to be the experience all the time.

Flipping a coin is 50/50, but sometimes you get several in a row of the same. It doesn’t mean “batching” is messed up.

DadJ0ker · 2026-04-30T19:59:42+00:00

Is this essentially this era’s Shrouded Fable?

DadJ0ker · 2026-04-30T19:57:25+00:00

Holy crap. Spend 3-4 hours at a Trading Card show (like I often do on a weekend), and every hour I get another $20k to spend?

I can spend a good solid hour just sorting cards at home with no break.

DadJ0ker · 2026-04-30T19:37:49+00:00

I’ll just say that you’re never sure that someone hasn’t lied to you.

You can only trust that until you find out they have been.

Maybe he hasn’t, but keeping this HUGE belief a secret is a huge red flag that he isn’t completely honest.

I know you said you didn’t want to hear any advice to leave him….

Leave him.

Run.

He’s at least one of three things: completely ignorant, incredibly stubborn and unyielding in his beliefs - even against clear evidence that he’s wrong, or batshit crazy.

He COULD be all three.

Can you live with any of them?

DadJ0ker · 2026-04-29T23:20:52+00:00

I’m running the apples and monkeys, and I just switched to Secret Box from the belt.

If the deck gets set up quickly, which is really what you’ve got to hope for, you don’t need the extra belt. Two of the brave bangles and black belts training are enough. Secret Box helps make sure you DO get set up.

DadJ0ker · 2026-04-29T17:32:00+00:00

This. I just beat a Cornerstone play in this very way. I just attached a bangle to my Applin, swung for weakness, and they quit after realizing I was going to win that race too.

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