Nice to have a trading card signed by Wade Boggs in his Yankees uniform. Thanks Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Is the PSA TRADING CARD Slab Finally Dead?
Well it seems like the time might finally be arriving for the "Trading Card" slab to disappear for good. If you don't know what I'm talking, I've done a video in the past about this topic and you can find more information there, but basically, if you don't want your card to be graded, you just want it to simply be authenticated as a real card and have any autographs on it authenticated as real autographs, and put in a slab, you can get it in the "Trading Card" slab.Β
The slab doesn't have any special information on it. It doesn't list the full info of the card. Like if it was a Jerry Rice 1986 Topps card, it wouldn't have all that information on it, and people in the past I think mainly just used this PSA option because it was cheap and fairly quick on the turnaround time, compared to getting the card actually graded by PSA. I know that was the big reason I used it in the past anyways, because it just let me get cards moving in and out faster, and that was kind of the name of the game. For instance, it used to cost something like $15 to get a card slabbed this way, now of course that was a bulk rate, but still, $15 was a great price!
However, PSA has recently started dropping their prices and lowering turnaround times. Basically, everything collectors have ever wanted! The price for grading a card used to be like $300 before the pandemic, then it dropped a few times, and now you can find the "Value Service" at a price of $36. Wow. According to Nat Turner, PSA is aiming to get the turnaround time of any card, no matter what the service, down to a max of 90 days. We'll have to see if that actually happens, but if it does, that return time for that price would be amazing.
Additionally, PSA just announced on their website that bulk orders of the value service will be even lower at $22 a card. So prices are really coming down for us collectors, and that means we really have to be asking ourselves, "Why not just get the full card info on the slab?"
For me, all the info really adds to the value of the card. For one, it just looks good, and what more reason do we need in an industry like sports memorabilia collecting? Really. It looks good, and that always means value goes up.Β
Now I'm not trying to hate on the "Trading Card" slab here. When PSA first started offering it, it absolutely made sense. Like I said, I used to use it fairly often as well, but now it just doesn't make sense. PSA is offering options at pretty fair rates right now, and it just makes sense to take them up on those offers. At this point, the only thing I think PSA should add to their options, is a super cheap and slow return time option. That way we still have an option for the price of the "Trading Card" slab, but we can make the choice to get that price by sacrificing turnaround time. That seems pretty fair to me.
Do I think PSA will actually create such an option? No, I don't. PSA is just too much on their game right now. They're at the top in terms of grading companies, and so they really don't have a lot of reason to cater to desired like these, but it's still nice to hope, and in the meantime, $36 is still a lot better than $300, right? I mean look at it this way, if you've got a signed Chris Mullen card, you probably don't want to spend $300 to get that card slabbed, but would you pay $36? I think you would, I know I would.
Plus, people really do get pretty confused about what the "Trading Card" slab even is. I know I had a hard time when I first jumped into the industry. It's the whole reason I made a video about it, and still people struggle with it. It's just time to go. Remove the confusion, slab cards in a way that looks good and adds value, and we can all be happier for it.
Also, it is more helpful for customers or people that don't really buy cards but are just doing it for gifting reasons. Everyone wants to feel secure when they are making an expensive purpose. We don't need non-enthusiasts getting scared about fakes because this slab only says "Trading Card" and that slab over there has a ton of info on it. I've said this for a lot of different things throughout this channel's life. The simpler we can make the industry as a whole, the better things will get.
Β 
So that's what I've got to say this week. It's simply, but I do think it can have a lasting effect on the industry going forward. It's time for the "Trading Card" slab to go.
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Customer Reviews
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Nice to have my Rookie Card signed by Manny Ramirez himself. Thanks Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Nice to have an autograph from Dr. J himself. Thanks Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Another exceptional autograph experience with Powers! Thanks again!
Great experience once again! From start to finish Powers Sports Memorabilia hit it out of the park on my Ricky Williams Newpapers.
Finally caught the ghost!!!
Great to add another one to the 70 Topps set. Fantastic service!
All hail the Chief!!! Robert Parrish .. 4x NBA champion inscription.. Double 00..
I waited a long time for this one especially being a huge fan of the Showtime era Lakers. Kevin Mchale was a thorn in my side but I have the utmost respect for him and the Celtics.. A great addition to my growing collection..
The Hall of Fame ticket!! Earl Campbell thanks to the team at PSM!! Keep up the good work!!
My new favorite Funko!! #1 β¦ Warren Moon
Nice autograph
The autograph looks great and full
Signature smaller than I requested...
Came out great!
Came out good
PSM always does an excellent job. They took care of my Dream rookie card. I like the fact that when I send my items into PSM I never have to worry about them.
The CJ auto hits for me. Upper Deck, sharp placement, and honestly, it makes my collection much better. Greatly appreciate the auto.
AWESOME
So awesome
Beautiful
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Great piece
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Smooth transaction
AWESOME
Beautiful piece of memorabilia!!!
To finally get one of my baseball idols is an absolute dream come true but to get this card with an on card auto really made it all worth the wait! Thank you!!
Excellent service with this signing. Thank you!
Autograph came out great!
Awesome experience as always, Iβd highly recommend Powers to anyone looking to expand their sports memorabilia collection!
Once again, Powers Sports came through big time! I had been waiting for many, many years to have this mini helmet signed by Carson Palmer. With special thanks to Natalie and Mathew, they were able to coordinate this endeavor exactly as I wanted it. Excellent autograph, perfectly positioned, using the exact paint pen requested and the C.O.A. sticker positioned right where I wanted it. Thank you folks so very much!
Matt and his team did a great job as usual. I highly recommend powerβs!
Always great dealing with Powers. Got to watch Earl Singing on their website. Couldn't be happier with the helmet and the signature. Another perfect purchase. Thanks Powers crew!
I submitted 2 cards for signing by Dennis Rodman and came back very nice but one of the cards corner was damaged when returned back. Thank you Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
I submitted 2 cards for signing by Hakeem Olajuwon & came back very nice. Thank you Matt Powers and his team for this signing event.
Power Sports Memorabilia is the best and always my "go to" autograph company to deal with. They are so accommodating and always get what you want and how you want it !!!! A+ on ALL counts !!!
I wasn't at the convention to be there for his signing. However, he has a killer autograph very happy with this autograph
Another great jersey signing!
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