"Junk Slab" discussion

[alchemyst]

@pizzachu

Nevermind I posted saying this should be in unpopular opinion, but it was moved here by moderation because of heavy discussion not to flood that thread. Sorry didn’t notice that.

It’s all good. I remember the gist of the rest of what you said. I can respond to that though

[jac2357]

One persons junk is another persons treasure.

[alchemyst]

@lamplamp

After reading through the thread, I wanted to add a point that I feel hasn’t been touched on: the junk slab influx to PSA was so bad (for all types of cards) that their turnaround time is still over a year for the lower tiers. From a business perspective, that is absolutely insane. Customers aren’t happy, PSA employees probably aren’t happy, and PSA has to spend tremendous amounts of capital scaling their business for demand that may or may not materialize in the long run.

All of those factors meant that anyone wanting to submit cards to PSA has to either pay prohibitive prices for cards that are going into their personal collection or only submit cards for resale that are worth paying those prices. Effectively, Timmy submitting his shoebox of beat up Base 2 commons hoping to flip on eBay has clogged the system for everyone else. So when those cards come back with a flat or negative expected value and get posted for sale, the rest of us see wasted time and capacity that could have been spent on grading cards for our own personal enjoyment

This is where we differ. What little Timmy does, doesn’t affect me like it does others. I’ll be clear. I make 50,000 a year with full bennies. I’m not rich at all. I just look at and treat time and money differently than a lot of people. (Even from my twin) This is why I said what I said, in the unpopular thread.

Oh, and I did tweak my opinion a while back. It’s that I don’t think the term should exist.

[alchemyst]

@muk

@alchemyst, let’s take a real-life example. In late 2020, Flipper X sent 200 unlimited Base Charmanders in LP-MP condition to PSA for $10 each. He obviously isn’t emotionally attached to these cards at all, he only wanted to capitalize on the 2020 craze (that is now long gone).
When he gets them back sometime in late '21/early '22, he’s now sitting on 200 obscenely common PSA 3-6 cards that he can’t sell for anything but a big loss. The only emotions they evoke in him are probably anger and despair.
We also know for a fact that, apart from the obvious financial loss, grading these cards has cost valuable, limited resources like time, work power, storage space at PSA’s facility, crude oil for the cases and gas for shipping.

And it was in fact - inarguably - all for nothing, because Flipper X would’ve been better off (and happier) selling them raw, resources would’ve been saved and the time could’ve been used by PSA to grade cards that have actual value (both sentimental and monetary).

How could you not understand why we call such slabs “junk”?

I do understand why you call them junk. I said that pages ago. I just don’t like the term being used by people who have influence over others. Especially by those who are well off

[TCGFish]

there is no such thing as ‘junk slabs’. Peace and love. Every card has its story behind.

[cosrob]

ITT people who can only afford junk slabs being told their collection is worth less than the cost of grading.

[milhouse]

Junk Slab = A low grade non-desirable low rarity card that someone has graded purely to try and net a tiny profit margin. Just needs to be cleared out because the space it takes up isn’t worth it.

A CGC 5 Base Set Common is a junk slab, a CGC 5 Japanese Shining is not.
It is ok to collect junk slabs. It is also ok to call a card a junk slab.

Stop caring what other people think lmao.

[alchemyst]

@milhouse

Junk Slab = A low grade non-desirable low rarity card that someone has graded purely to try and net a tiny profit margin. Just needs to be cleared out because the space it takes up isn’t worth it.

A CGC 5 Base Set Common is a junk slab, a CGC 5 Japanese Shining is not.
It is ok to collect junk slabs. It is also ok to call a card a junk slab.

Stop caring what other people think lmao.

I agree. People shouldn’t care what I think lol. Then again, I wouldn’t say a trophy card is junk, but I’d never want one. No matter the grade. Something that was awarded to someone else, isn’t something I ever want. It’s worthless to me

[japanime]

Is it even possible to slab your junk?

Sounds painful.

[alchemyst]

@wittyfawn

If everyone had the same passion for junk slabs that you do, this thread wouldn’t exist.

I don’t have a passion for “junk slabs.” I just don’t like the negative implication of the term.

[TCGFish]

@alchemyst

@milhouse

Junk Slab = A low grade non-desirable low rarity card that someone has graded purely to try and net a tiny profit margin. Just needs to be cleared out because the space it takes up isn’t worth it.

A CGC 5 Base Set Common is a junk slab, a CGC 5 Japanese Shining is not.
It is ok to collect junk slabs. It is also ok to call a card a junk slab.

Stop caring what other people think lmao.

I agree. People shouldn’t care what I think lol. Then again, I wouldn’t say a trophy card is junk, but I’d never want one. No matter the grade. Something that was awarded to someone else, isn’t something I ever want. It’s worthless to me

I actually do agree on this, trophy cards are awarded to the winners, exclusively.

[japanime]

@alchemyst

@milhouse

Junk Slab = A low grade non-desirable low rarity card that someone has graded purely to try and net a tiny profit margin. Just needs to be cleared out because the space it takes up isn’t worth it.

A CGC 5 Base Set Common is a junk slab, a CGC 5 Japanese Shining is not.
It is ok to collect junk slabs. It is also ok to call a card a junk slab.

Stop caring what other people think lmao.

I agree. People shouldn’t care what I think lol. Then again, I wouldn’t say a trophy card is junk, but I’d never want one. No matter the grade. Something that was awarded to someone else, isn’t something I ever want. It’s worthless to me

Even though I was one of the first collectors to have ever bought a trophy card, I actually agree (at least to a certain extent) with what you are saying.

When I bought it, I did so in large part for the publicity it would garner my then-fledgling company. And it worked, as the purchase was covered by several media outlets. But it did initially feel somewhat weird owning a “prize” that I hadn’t personally won. (Today, however, I consider the card to be just as much a part of the history of my company as it is of the history of Pokemon.)

My question for you is this: If a card that was actually awarded to a player is “worthless” to you because it isn’t something that you won, would you ever want to own one of the non-awarded “extra” prints of those trophy cards that have found their way into the hands of collectors?

[milhouse]

@japanime

@alchemyst

I agree. People shouldn’t care what I think lol. Then again, I wouldn’t say a trophy card is junk, but I’d never want one. No matter the grade. Something that was awarded to someone else, isn’t something I ever want. It’s worthless to me

Even though I was one of the first collectors to have ever bought a trophy card, I actually agree (at least to a certain extent) with what you are saying.

When I bought my it, I did so in large part for the publicity it would garner my then-fledgling company. And it worked, as the purchase was covered by several media outlets. But it did initially feel somewhat weird owning a “prize” that I hadn’t personally won. (Today, however, I consider the card to be just as much a part of the history of my company as it is of the history of Pokemon.)

My question for you is this: If a card that was actually awarded to a player is “worthless” to you because it isn’t something that you won, would you ever want to own one of the non-awarded “extra” prints of those trophy cards that have found their way into the hands of collectors?

To add to this as well: Do the people who don’t want to own trophy cards because they didn’t win them also not want to own any of the cards you earnt from attending events and cashing in points? (Daisuki Club etc). Cards that were exclusive to attending events(you didn’t attend them) or cards that were given out at Pokemon Centre Openings(you weren’t there). I am just wondering where people draw the line.

[c0ll3ct0r]

@milhouse

To add to this as well: Do the people who don’t want to own trophy cards because they didn’t win them also not want to own any of the cards you earnt from attending events and cashing in points?

You didn’t have to win anything significant (although you certainly could have) to get cards from the other categories you mention, maybe there is a divergence there? Then again, with extra copies in circulation I guess the same thing applies to obligate trophies as well.

…so maybe cards printed for the sake of being obligate trophies (the awarded trophies + backups) is where some draw the line?

[japanime]

@milhouse

@japanime

Even though I was one of the first collectors to have ever bought a trophy card, I actually agree (at least to a certain extent) with what you are saying.

When I bought my it, I did so in large part for the publicity it would garner my then-fledgling company. And it worked, as the purchase was covered by several media outlets. But it did initially feel somewhat weird owning a “prize” that I hadn’t personally won. (Today, however, I consider the card to be just as much a part of the history of my company as it is of the history of Pokemon.)

My question for you is this: If a card that was actually awarded to a player is “worthless” to you because it isn’t something that you won, would you ever want to own one of the non-awarded “extra” prints of those trophy cards that have found their way into the hands of collectors?

To add to this as well: Do the people who don’t want to own trophy cards because they didn’t win them also not want to own any of the cards you earnt from attending events and cashing in points? (Daisuki Club etc). Cards that were exclusive to attending events(you didn’t attend them) or cards that were given out at Pokemon Centre Openings(you weren’t there). I am just wondering where people draw the line.

Not to mention the fact that packs and boxes of Japanese cards are all marked “For Sale in Japan Only.” Are those cards also “worthless” if they are in the collections of people who don’t live in Japan and have never been to Japan?

[pokemon_matt]

Ah interesting - I always assumed that “junk slab” meant the cost to actually slab the card was higher than the card itself.

[cardgames12345]

If a card has been played with and beat down, cards which love beacuse I played against freinds and tournament with them and did some what well.Why would I all of a sudden want to put it in a slab. That is what I don’t get when people summit their beat up cards even if just for yourself. It lived without a slab why put it in now what the point of the 3.5 graded card in a slab that has been played with.If it’s rare like tournament cards and only a few exist that fair enough.But everything else I don’t see the point

[Coop13]

There are 8 pages so far and I haven’t read through the majority of this thread. While I think there are junk slabs for low grade common cards nobody wants, there are also entire companies of junk slabs that are the basement graders with 0 value. If you aren’t PSA, BGS or CGC I probably consider it a junk slab.

[null_user]

One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.

I think there are junk slabs. Usually ones that cost less than the price of grading. Cards that can be easily and cheaply acquired and offer no real chase. A good example - “Darkness Ablaze Klink Reverse Holo PSA 9” for $27 would fall into this category.
While someone may like this card, the majority are going to think it’s junk and not worth the space it takes up.

[beggles]

Sleeve your junk, folks. Double sleeve if you have to. Better safe than sorry.