Starting Jordan PC, need advice

[bakelle1]

I'm looking to start adding most of his base cards in PSA 10 and many of the key inserts in PSA 8-9 with good eye appeal. PSA grading is pretty cheap at $15 for bulk, would it be more cost effective to try to buy raw on ebay and submit for grading or just buy graded?

I'm not looking to flip this, so I don't really care about PSA waiting times. As an example, a 1993 Upper Deck PSA 10 goes for ~$100 and PSA 9 goes for ~$20. Should I just buy 5 good raw copies and submit them?

Maybe I'm completely over thinking this and all the potential 10s have already been sent in for grading and I'm just going to lose doing this. All of the raw key insert look pretty rough from what I've seen on ebay, so I would imagine these are completely picked over.

I know I'm going to get #@#@#@#@ about wanting PSA 10s for a PC, but there's something appealing about owning the "best" copy of a base card to me.

[cms11]

All of the raw key insert look pretty rough from what I've seen on ebay, so I would imagine these are completely picked over.

This is correct. If you want a 10 you're going to have to buy it already graded.

[Archangel1775]

You'd think buying a box or two would get you a 10 but that's not the case. I just purchased 5 boxes of a random football issue and have only found about 10 gradable cards. Centering was rough.

[thenwhatjk]

Why not do 9’s instead of 10’s and spend like 20% of the money and then spend that on more 9 jordans

[pingbling23]

You’ll go crazy buying and grading 20-30 year old cards. Just buy them at the grade you want.

[dengbang]

As long as you dont mind wasting money on PSA 10 base cards, then just buy them graded. Good luck

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[rhigh2390]

Why not do 9’s instead of 10’s and spend like 20% of the money and then spend that on more 9 jordans

My thoughts as well.

[Nomad]

Buy a 90s binder and you might gain a couple rando 10s.

[garyg21]

I have a PSA 10 Fleer ultra stars insert. Comps are @600. Send offer if interested via pm

[phdbeckett]

I started grading my Jordan PC last year. 10s are about 1:40 for me, but even 9s are tough. Some 9s are less than pop 20.

I keep my 9s, sell my 10s to buy back a 9, then buy more cards with the difference. Sometimes a 10 can be $10k whereas the 9 is under $3k. You can go far with this idea.

[MJGOAT23]

I concur with the board. Although I've busted junk wax and found raw cards at shows/ebay and converted them to 10's, it is increasingly rare. It seems easy, especially with 1990-1993 base and low end inserts, but it's not. Even 9's are rough and their prices barely exceed grading cost so buying already graded is definitely the way to go unless you just really enjoy a challenge.

[duron]

Graders can be very dumb and inconsistent.

For his inserts I’d buy BGS 8-9s and PSA 8s. It’s incredible how negligible the differences are between that range and higher grades.

Not to mention how many “gem mint” copies are just undetected alterations.

God bless the PSA 10 buyers.

https://i.imgur.com/QqGkwGU.gif

[discodanman45]

Collectors grade for 1990's is a 9. Chasing 10's will be expensive and difficult. If you are experienced with grading then you can buy raw to grade, but PSA gives out very few 10's from this era. I probably graded a dozen Jordan SP1 UD baseball cards and I only got two 10's and the rest were 9's. I vetted these cards carefully and thought they all had a chance at 10's. I did sell all the 10's at a big profit and kept my nicest 9. This would be my advice if you go the grading route. Grade a bunch of them that have chances at 10, keep the nicest 9's in your PC, sell the 10's, and use the profits to buy and grade more raw Jordans. There are tons of raw ones in great condition out there.

[jcardstore]

If you want 10s, buy 10s

[discodanman45]

If you want 10s, buy 10s

I don't agree with this. It is cheaper to buy raw 90's cards and send them to grade. I have gotten many 10's from raw cards in the 90's including many Shaq, Jordan, and Kobe. You just need a little bit of grading experience and know how to follow a rubric. As we have seen here, that is really hard for most people. One PSA 10 will make up for 100 PSA 9's that you might lose a few dollars on. If you are getting 8's at PSA for 90's cards, you either don't know what you are doing or the PSA grader doesn't know what they are doing.

[barberromo2008]

PSA 10's are what I would spend my money on especially Jordan's because they are rare. I would say right now it is better to buy graded copies as long as you make sure the certification number matches the records, there have been faked copies. For PC, I don't mind PSA 8's on older cards. Good luck with your collection.

[Uncbuddha]

I would say buy high grade copies but don’t focus on PSA only if you aren’t flipping and don’t mind having a mix of grading companies. PSA is king now but who knows who will be in 5 or 10 years. BGS once was king (and gives you sub grades). Sgc may be better and more consistent. CSG/cgc can’t decide on a name but are in bed with fanatics so they could be king one day.

Just get some nice high grade copies and one day in the future you could resubmit with whoever is king at the moment and get all of your stuff to match if it makes sense in that future sports card economic environment.

I also think AI could really shake up the grading industry. If you are planning on holding for the PC then paying an up charge on a subjectively graded card in the present could come back to bite you in the future.

[duron]

PSA 10's are what I would spend my money on especially Jordan's because they are rare. I would say right now it is better to buy graded copies as long as you make sure the certification number matches the records, there have been faked copies. For PC, I don't mind PSA 8's on older cards. Good luck with your collection.

Personally I could never justify paying the premiums when it comes to his inserts. For example, there are certain 1 per box psa 10s now going for as much as case hit 9s. Wild.

[mbrahv1984]

Personally I could never justify paying the premiums when it comes to his inserts. For example, there are certain 1 per box psa 10s now going for as much as case hit 9s. Wild.

Which cards are you referring to?

[Hellcat]

Save your money and make a play on his only rookie the Star 101. All these other carde are mass produced and everyone has them. Buy the card not the grade quality over quantity. Trust me you will have alot more enjoyment and pride out of owning his only rookie.

[GOATcards]

Save your money and make a play on his only rookie the Star 101. All these other carde are mass produced and everyone has them. Buy the card not the grade quality over quantity. Trust me you will have alot more enjoyment and pride out of owning his only rookie.

you wouldn't happen to be known as the aesthetically challenged Star 101 pumper around here, would you?

[drobfan8]

Forget his base PSA 10s.

Quality over quantity is the way to go.

Grab his best 90s inserts.

I bought a 93 Upper Deck box recently a year or 2 ago and subbed the best base Jordan and got an 8.

PSA do a pretty good job of not blowing out their pop count from here.

[hxcmilkshake]

Save your money and make a play on his only rookie the Star 101. All these other carde are mass produced and everyone has them. Buy the card not the grade quality over quantity. Trust me you will have alot more enjoyment and pride out of owning his only rookie.Stop it you're gonna make me borrow from my 401k

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[Nomad]

So a 93 UD 10 should be in the $10k range. Not just one way to light Rome.

Oh wait, probably around $299 going by eBay sale (https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=michael+jordan+PSA+10&_sacat=0&rt=nc&LH_Sold=1&LH_Complete=1) of 1993 STADIUM CLUB MICHAEL JORDAN #169 PSA 10 GEM MINT.

Those UD boxes better be $35 or less.

So, despite expectation, 10s are cheap. Go get em.

They weren't doing this with pack fresh cards back then.

https://i.imgur.com/1MH7mjXl.jpg

[Hellcat]

you wouldn't happen to be known as the aesthetically challenged Star 101 pumper around here, would you?
Let me guess another Jordan collector who can't afford the 101! It's ok not everyone can afford one. I know who doesn't have one. :D

[wiper]

https://i.imgur.com/1MH7mjXl.jpg

[emoji44]

[GOATcards]

you wouldn't happen to be known as the aesthetically challenged Star 101 pumper around here, would you?

Let me guess another Jordan collector who can't afford the 101! It's ok not everyone can afford one. I know who doesn't have one. :D

so that's a yes

[Nomad]

I remember buying a lot in the Philippines with a Star in the middle. And it was fake. And when I complained they said, "even the fake is worth $100 here." I gave it to them. 4,000 pesos or not, it's fake.

[Uncbuddha]

so that's a yes

You’re wrong. He’s right. Move on.

[rustywest]

You have already convinced yourself you need base cards in PSA 10. You need to shake yourself outta that mindset = 1st piece of advice. There are plenty more pieces of advice but only after completion of the 1st stage they unlock...

[discodanman45]

My advice for making a first big purchase for a Jordan collection, is a graded 7/8 1987 Fleer Jordan #59.

Some of the 1990's base stuff in a PSA 10 is the worst investment you can make. There are tons of that stuff still available raw in amazing condition that can be graded. People will also have lots of 9's to crack and send in to gem. What scares me the most is the acceptance of card restoration. In the future, more and more people will "restore" cards and we have seen how bad PSA and other companies are at detecting this.