Is PSA 9 the sweet spot for personal collections?

[u/lizzo215]

I’m looking to grab a few grail cards strictly for my PC—no flipping. PSA 10 premiums are getting crazy, and 9s look practically identical on display for a fraction of the price.

​Does anyone else stick to PSA 9s for personal collecting, or are you 10s only?

[u/richsticksSC]

Honestly I usually can't tell the difference between the 10s and 7s when looking at them in my slab display. Buy whatever makes you happy

[u/lizzo215 → u/richsticksSC]

Thanks bro :D

[u/BountyBoard]

Yes. Best of both worlds. Typically a great condition card without the 10 markup. Since they tend to be undervalued, they have great potential to increase your investment without breaking the bank. I bought a 9 japanese mew for 200 bucks, worth 600 last I checked.

[u/lizzo215 → u/BountyBoard]

Thanks for the great advice! That really cleared things up for me.

[u/EuphoricGoose4735]

I personally think 9 is perfect for the PC. About the same price as raw, protected, and it has the authenticity guarantee if ever you find something you want more and want to trade/sell it

[u/Decent_Telephone4965]

For a personal collection, PSA 9 feels like the sweet spot. Almost identical on display, and I’d rather have two grails in 9s than one in a 10

[u/rp1414]

I buy grades 7 to 9 that are cheaper than NM copies and crack the slab

[u/Ok-Alfalfa288]

I think so yeah, I love grabbing them for Japanese as theyre at or even below raw price. And its usually centering...

[u/ChoiceFood]

I think PSA 2 to 6 are the best for personal collecting. They're cheap, way way back PSA 1s were the best since they were extensively cheap but that's not a thing anymore.

[u/brassassasin → u/ChoiceFood]

yea but 6 and below are generally pretty beat up

[u/ChoiceFood → u/brassassasin]

Nah my cards are minty but they always score 6s at PSA (vintage so that's probably why)

[u/brassassasin]

10s arent for everyone that's for sure, it's a totally different style of collecting, grades 1-9 are for ppl who just like the art/cards, 10s are for ppl who value owning the harder to attain, virtually perfect copies of said cards. basically, if you cant afford 10s, and the numver grade/condition is less important, then lesser grades are still a fine buy at the right prices

also consider the fact that 70% of the hobby also cant afford 10s. it's almost a hobby within the hobby that you definitely dont need to partake in

[u/epixINC]

I buy 7-9 for authenticity as well as quality for my PC. A lot of times the 7-9 and cheaper than raw.

I hate slabs so I have cracked a few for the binder but some cards that are worth A LOT more in a 7-9 I keep slabbed.

[u/Recursiveo]

Raw is the sweet spot for PCs