Same for me. I also have almost all my cards in binders. I right now have 18 A4 office binders for my ungraded Pokémon collection and one binder for my PSA-graded collection, and the rare ungraded cards are in toploaders in a box. Actually need one more binder for cards and sealed cards in toploaders.
I prefer NM ungraded overall, but there are a select few cards I have graded and also prefer graded. Right now my collection has five different categories of graded cards:
My Moltres WotC #21 promo artwork collection, including my BGS-BL10 POP-1 Moltres, which I’m very happy with. And also PSA-10 of both English and both Japanese cards. I will probably send a sealed Moltres to PSA as well once it’s possible through Ludkins, just for funsies.
The rare Japanese exclusive FA Supporters. I collect all FA Supporters in Enlgish, and also include the Japanese-exclusive artworks. This is actually my favorite collection in terms of binder-collection. It’s so satisfying to browse through it in my binders, and I’m glad I started collecting these. The PSA-graded ones I have are The Masked Royal promo (PSA-10); both Team Rocket brief case promos (PSA-10); and I currently have the three Extra Battle Day promos and Master Collection set Alola Friends at PSA as well, hoping for some 10s (although I think one of them will get an 8 or 9 tbh, due to some minor whitening at the back - but we’ll see).
Some random Pikachu cards. I’ve only graded one Pikachu card myself, which is because I had it duplicate and it’s a 1k USD card, so why not grade one of them. I don’t really like sending in cards I can’t easily replace in case they somehow got lost. I prefer them ungraded than not at all. But since I had the 175/XY-P with Event Organizer stamp two times anyway when I bought it as a pair, I decided to grade the best looking one, which is as a 10 in my collection. Still need to sell the other one. I also have a few other random Pikachu cards graded, and not only PSA, but also BGS and MAP. I couldn’t find them ungraded at the time, so I bought them graded as alternative and just kept them that way.
PSA-graded cards I received as gifts. Mostly Secret Santa gifts, and one from a giveaway here on the forum, the first time I ever won a giveaway.
Going against the trend of this thread I’ll say why I don’t prefer binder collections.
Like many here I have a binder collection of the first couple of WOTC sets from the late 90s (I keep it ungraded for pure nostalgic reasons). However, most of the cards ended up getting white marks along the edges and some even got ring indents. Most of this is avoidable with the ringless side loading binders which I was unaware of when I was younger. While I agree binders have better visual presentation of a card set, having the protective case from PSA makes the card feel much more secure and premium. As for purchasing cards (specifically online) PSA in almost all scenarios guarantees mint quality should you purchase a 9 or 10 (and much cheaper than buying and opening packs for WOTC era cards). I know there exists poor examples that are graded as MINT but those are rare.
I’m in the works of building a display case that can fit an entire set collection behind UV protective glass. It’s quite a bit bulky though so you’ll need an entire room dedicated to displays if you do more than one set. Dimensions are a bit more difficult as that will change depending on set size and you need to take into account of making room for error cards/promo cards (should you want to display those along with the set). For example my base set display will have to hold 115 cards.
You can also frame a set in protective sleeves but if you use PSA cases it’s just too heavy (though possible but you’ll need a strong wall foundation and bolts to mount)
Edit: I don’t believe PSA cases are necessary compared to just a plastic case fitted for cards specifically, but I like the information tag that goes along with the card as well as the grade indication.
I am with @bdog07. Honestly, I do some binders for sets that I really like. It isn’t necessarily the “hype” you mentioned about the PSA cards, but I love to display my cards because once they are put in binders, I kind of forget about them and their beauty. I go back from time to time but I put a lot of my favorite cards in frames to display.
@sacari I’m with you man. Imagine showing your collection to a non Pokemon fan and you simply dig out hundreds of PSa graded cards. They will quickly lose interest. Compared to easily showing binder pages. Not to mention the heavy premium per card. For the price of 1 PSa 9 or 10 you can fill a whole binder page or two with top notch cards usually including whatever said PSa card would have been ungraded. Some circumstances do call for graded cards for some of our favorites but i don’t see a need in having hundreds graded unless I’m on the verge of selling which would make my cards a little more liquid. That’s just my mindset it just depends. Sometimes a card I want ungraded is very close to PSa 8-9 cost which is when I buy graded. Or if I love that particular card so much I don’t care about paying the premium
Definitely a binder collector, the satisfaction in seeing all the cards together with no gaps is great!
For when I find PSA for the same/similar price I don’t intend to crack them, just take a photo of the slab and print it out onto card into a sleeve so I have no gaps and don’t have to crack cases!
Now as I’m in lockdown with with 2 kids under 2, it’s halted all my card arranging, but not buying so now I have thousands of unsorted cards that I’m desperate to get through lol.
I’m almost at 50% of all cards for master sets of everything, which isn’t bad going since November last year! I’m stuck in 1st edition set price craziness at the moment though!
@mattytommo Master sets huh? I love the drive! I’m planning to go back for the Commons uncommons rares once I have everything else I need from every set. Don’t get me wrong I like the Commons uncommons etc but they are less likely to do huge spikes especially for ungraded. So I can pretty much take my time on those while chasing big hitters from sets
I don’t have any fancy binders for my collection because I couldn’t afford to buy 80+ of any that cost more than a couple bucks but I do like the way mine look on my shelves! So many unfinished sets though…
@thatpikachuguy The extra money on better binders is well spent all day. I get ones that zip closed and are side loading. But good lord that’s a lot of binders haha congratulations. I understand $30 a binder times 30 binders or however many you have would be intense but still worth the upgrade
Just grabbed this beautiful Mew to crack for my binder low grade but almost flawless until I noticed a scratch only seen when closely looking in certain light imgur.com/a/xO9rIcx
I started out as a binder collector, and honestly the original binder I focused on putting together is one of my favorite parts of my collection.
I have this: www.amazon.com/Ultra-Pro-Pikachu-9-pocket-PRO-Binder/dp/B016QVA58I with 1st edition base through rocket and black star promos from the same time period. Basically, I consider it a snapshot of my childhood with the TCG (though this was assembled as an adult), and I love it.
I also have almost all my cards in binders. I right now have 18 A4 office binders for my ungraded Pokémon collection and one binder for my PSA-graded collection, and the rare ungraded cards are in toploaders in a box. Actually need one more binder for cards and sealed cards in toploaders.
And also PSA-10 of both English and both Japanese cards. I will probably send a sealed Moltres to PSA as well once it’s possible through Ludkins, just for funsies.
but I do like the way mine look on my shelves! So many unfinished sets though…
