The concept of “looking at the card” is foreign to so many new collectors unfortunately. Why buy a card when you can buy a cert number?
Kurt Kum is actually a serious issue. We know it can lead to delamination due to disintegrating the glue that holds cards together. If you buy a new cert altered card now, it might look fine for a short period of time but then it’ll fall apart on you. I avoid new cert cards when I want collection copies for this reason. Of course, I also look at the card whenever I buy a graded card to make sure the card’s condition fits my expectations.
You should just buy the card as opposed to the grade. There are weak newer certs and weak old certs so using your eyes is always the best way to judge a slab unless you’re just specifically after new certs in and of themselves.
Agree. New certs also have the added benefit of clear scans available on the PSA website, which is a big plus. A lot of sellers on eBay tend to post blurry photos, so it’s easier to verify the card’s authenticity. Plus, it helps reduce fraud—if you’re at a card show, you can cross-check the cards in person against the online scans.
The amount of clearly paid influencers on Tiktok and IG that wrapped their entire content around “come clean this card with me” short form videos that have thousands of followers is concerning…. and not a single one ever shows the grade on return…. but they never forget to link their affiliate to Kurt products.
It likely doesn’t happen in every case where a card is altered (and might not be from Kurt Kum specifically but other similar products), but stuff like this should definitely make you concerned about altering if you aren’t already.
Back when I was around more in 2015-2020 cleaning cards for improved grades was still a thing. I can’t speak to before that really however, although I believ Rudy from AlphaInvestments had discussed it in a video dating earlier than that. I never cleaned when submitting, but I know of people who did.
I’m not familiar with the Kurt Cream being discussed mind you. I remember a solution of some kind was used in conjunction with a soft cloth, but I never really committed the practice to memory as it wasn’t something I was interested in. Didn’t trust my hands to not make things worse lol
I’d assume anyone that can take advantage of the market boom would – hence why prevalency of things like this would increase now. Sellers of said cream benefit, users of said cream also benefit if looking to flip – long-term affect on the cards is a non-issue if you’re flipping it in a month or two
EDIT: @fourthstartcg probably remembers whatever was used on cards in the time period I refer to, but it’s probably something simple that I’m just being forgetful over
Do we know if this is dependent on the amount used? I’m generally not vehemently opposed to restoration of collectibles like most here, if it’s done tastefully. I wonder how many people are doing very, very light touch-ups, as opposed to globbing the crap on the surface and brushing away. Most people don’t have tactful, artistic hands…
+1, Idk why kurts card care is so hated, because if you can’t buy a card that has any Kurt’s, you also can’t buy restored paintings, books, or any peice of art overall lol. If you can buy restored paintings, books, or art without a problem, you’re generally hypocritical.
Pokemon cards are art too, and we seem to forget that.
I’ll bite, even though this discussion has made several times here..
Regardless if you see shiny mass-produced cardboard equivalent to one-of-one pieces of art.. The bottom line is card cleaning users will never disclose if their cards have been cleaned/altered. The sole purpose is to sell at a condition higher than what the card deserves. It’s deceiving and unethical. And for folks who are okay with kurt’s juice on their cards, if they have the option to buy a cleaned card (advertised as such) vs one that is not, who would go out their way to buy the kurted one…
If card cleaning were to become more widespread, it needs to be disclosed by both the submitter and especially by the grading company.
There are some individuals who won’t mind buying a cleaned card and just want a perfect grade, but there are also many of us who are not comfortable with the practices and want to know whether what we’re buying was graded in its original state or touched up.
We literally don’t know that for certain, and even if they disclose it, does it really mean much else? Either way it would face backlash and condemnation. We say buy the card and not the grade but snuff our noses when the card isn’t "authentic.
That’s literally called restoration
1st option is always better, but in case you can’t find one in such good condition, a restored one would definetly be a way to go. Kurt’s Card care is for restoration purposes only, and art can be restored in a manner that’s acceptable. Are there some unethical means that can happen? Yes. Are there uses to having a card restored? Also yes.
What are you even trying to argue? How does “buy the card, not the grade” even equate with authentic vs unauthentic. Which strawman is even snuffing their noses at this on e4?
Vert, let’s be real: for every individual restoring cards for their own collection, there are 50 more cleaning them to flip a profit. “Kurt’s Card care is for restoration purposes only” is just legal talk so the company doesn’t get in hot water for saying “yeah, use our cream so you can turn PSA 6 cards into PSA 10s and flip a massive profit”. Anyone who’s been around for longer than a few months can read between the lines.
We literally don’t know that for certain, and even if they disclose it, does it really mean much else? Either way it would face backlash and condemnation. We say buy the card and not the grade but snuff our noses when the card isn’t "authentic.
Suppose you are shown two cards.
They look the same
They are both PSA 10
Everyone agrees they look PSA 10 quality
They are the same price
Now I tell you one of the cards had Kurt’s “restoration” work done to it. The other one did not.
Do you honestly think they are equal? Would you really not have a preference for which to buy? You don’t think the card that once had damage is less ideal?
Anyone being honest would choose the one that has always been gem mint. The one that didn’t have chemical work done to it. Why would you take a risk on a card with chemicals that might age unpredictably? Where’s the benefit?
