Another PSA Grading Tier!?!? + Non-Sport Backlash & the ’90s Insert BOOM
The hosts discuss a successful September auction with 37,000 bids, their experiences at card shows including the Northeast Sports Card Expo and DCS Dallas, and debate PSA's new grading tier system and pricing strategy. They also address backlash against non-sports card collecting and explore the growing 1990s insert card market trend.
Summary
The episode opens with discussion of a very successful September auction that generated 37,000 bids with fair pricing and positive feedback from both consignment sellers and bidders. The hosts attended the Northeast Sports Card Expo in Connecticut (approximately 400 vendor tables, split 50/50 between TCGs and sports cards) and the DCS Dallas Card Show (700-750 tables). They describe attendance patterns, noting Sunday had family-oriented traffic despite flooding, and that the NFL season premiere affected turnout.
The hosts received good inventory at the shows, including rare cards like a 1986 Spanish Mercante Michael Jordan card (only ~286 PSA graded, priced around $2,200-$2,700), a 1958 Topps Mickey Mantle, and an Ohtani Wami card graded PSA 10. They highlight upcoming auction inventory featuring multiple Ruth cards, Topps Chrome Brady, Griffey rookies, and notably a Perry Sayers rookie card that exemplifies the massive price difference between PSA and SGC graded versions of identical cards (PSA 10 at $79,000 versus SGC 10 at $3,000-$4,000).
A significant portion addresses PSA's new intermediate grading tier introduced at $59.99, promising 90-100 business days turnaround, with the Value tier remaining closed until a 5 million card backlog is processed. The hosts criticize PSA's strategy of gradually lowering prices tier-by-tier rather than reopening the Value tier immediately, viewing this as exploitative and unnecessarily delaying customer value. They debate whether this temporary option will close quickly due to high volume.
The hosts address backlash regarding non-sports card collecting (presidential and political cards), engaging thoughtfully with a comment from listener Scott Vaughan about why pop culture icons like Star Wars, Batman, and Mickey Mouse sustain collectibility better than political figures. They analyze the difference between licensed, continuously-developed IP with corporate backing versus historical figures, noting Mickey Mouse cards maintain relevance through new media releases while retired players fade from public consciousness. They discuss the potential of 1990s insert cards, particularly Jordan and Griffey cards from sets like 1997 Reserve Metal, as a sustainable market trend driven by genuine collector appeal rather than temporary hype.
Regarding specific grading decisions, the hosts decline to grade a Jordan Sharpshooter insert card at current $79 fees unless it's in gem condition, preferring to wait for cheaper tiers. They note that insert card grading has become much stricter at PSA, with very low gem percentages. The episode concludes with practical advice on separating 'bricked' or stuck-together cards from wax packs, recommending humidity and warm air (hair dryer) methods rather than force.
About this episode
PSA just opened a new $59.99 grading tier — but is this actually good news for collectors? On this episode of the Collector Investor Podcast, Thor and Texas Snowman break down PSA’s latest grading option, the massive backlog, turnaround times, and whether PSA is slowly working its way down through pricing tiers instead of bringing affordable grading back to collectors. We also recap a HUGE weekend in the hobby, including the Dallas Card Show and Northeast Sports Card Expo, discuss whether collectors are starting to experience card show fatigue, and show off some incredible cards headed toward Collector Investor Auctions. Plus, we dive into the massive price difference between PSA 10 and SGC 10 cards, the explosion of ’90s inserts, Michael Jordan cards, Disney and other non-sports cards, vintage football, and where we think the sports card market could be heading next. And we answer collector questions about whether you should grade Jordan inserts now or wait for cheaper PSA tiers — plus what to do when junk wax cards are “bricked” together inside packs. Chapters 00:25 September Auction Recap 03:05 Northeast Sports Card Expo Recap 05:59 Dallas Card Show — Is 4 Days Too Much? 08:44 Are Collectors Getting Card Show Fatigue? 10:53 Big Card Show Pickups 12:09 Rare 1986 Michael Jordan Card 14:08 Vintage Cards & Upcoming Auction Preview 15:29 INSANE PSA 10 vs SGC 10 Price Difference 20:10 PSA’s NEW $59.99 Grading Tier 21:06 Is PSA’s Turnaround Time Realistic? 22:08 Is $60 Grading Worth It? 24:03 PSA Grading Rant — Are Collectors Being Milked? 27:54 Comment of the Day 29:45 Why Non-Sports Cards Have Exploded 32:17 Is Vintage Football Next? 32:33 Disney Cards vs Sports Cards 35:22 Presidential Cards — What Has Staying Power? 37:02 Viewer Question: Grade Jordan Inserts Now or Wait? 42:01 The ’90s Insert Revolution 42:49 Can ’90s Insert Prices Keep Rising? 44:29 Where Is the Sports Card Market Headed? 47:53 How Do You Unstick “Bricked” Cards? Topics include: PSA grading prices and backlog PSA vs. SGC Dallas Card Show Northeast Sports Card Expo Card show fatigue Michael Jordan cards ’90s basketball inserts Vintage sports cards Disney and non-sports cards Sports card market predictions Junk wax and bricked cards Collector Investor Auctions What do YOU think about PSA’s new $59.99 tier? Would you submit now, or wait for cheaper grading to return? Let us know in the comments! If you're interested in reaching out to Chris and Jeremy to sell your collection, you can email them directly at [email protected] If you would like to consign your collection or bid in the next CIA auction, you can visit- https://collectorinvestorauctions.com CIA YouTube Channel- https://www.youtube.com/@CollectorInvestorAuctions Check out Chris YouTube Channel- @collectorinvestordealer VCP for 2 Weeks FREE- http://thevcp.com/?promo=CIACARDS Disclaimer: This channel is for entertainment and hobby discussion purposes only. Nothing discussed should be considered financial or investment advice. Be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and turn on notifications for more sports card market discussion, collecting news, auctions, card shows, grading talk, and hobby opinions. #SportsCards #SportsCardCollecting #SportsCardCollector #SportsCardInvesting #SportsCardInvestor #TheHobby #CardCollecting #CardCollector #CardCollectors #CardInvesting #CardMarket #SportsCardMarket #HobbyNews #HobbyTalk #TradingCards #TradingCardCollector #VintageCards #VintageSportsCards #VintageCardCollector #BaseballCards #BasketballCards #FootballCards #MichaelJordan #MichaelJordanCards #JordanCards #90sBasketball #90sInserts #90sCards #CardInserts #PSA #PSAGrading #PSACards #CardGrading #GradedCards #GradingCards #PSAvsSGC #SGC #SGCGrading #DallasCardShow #CardShow #SportsCardShow #CardShowPickup #CardShowPickups #CardShowLife #CardShowVlog #CardShowDeals #NonSportsCards #DisneyCards #VintageDisney #JunkWax #JunkWaxEra #CardPrices #CardValues #CardMarketNews #SportsCardNews #SportsCardPodcast #CollectorInvestor #CollectorInvestorPodcast #CollectorInvestorAuctions
Key Insights
- The September auction achieved 37,000 bids with fair pricing across items, resulting in high satisfaction from both consignment sellers and bidders, demonstrating a healthy market with active participation.
- PSA's strategy of gradually lowering grading prices tier-by-tier (from $60 to $59.99) rather than immediately reopening Value tier at $25-$30 delays customer value and exploitatively maximizes revenue by creating artificial demand.
- A 1986 Spanish Mercante Michael Jordan card is exceptionally rare with only approximately 286 PSA-graded copies existing, making it a compelling collectible despite modest pricing around $2,200-$2,700 relative to rookie cards.
- The price disparity between PSA Grade 10 and SGC Grade 10 of identical cards is extreme—a Perry Sayers rookie sold for $79,000 in PSA slab but $3,000-$4,000 in SGC slab—creating illogical market valuations based solely on grading company branding.
- Pop culture properties like Mickey Mouse, Star Wars, and Batman sustain collectibility better than political figures because they receive continuous corporate development through movies, media, and new card releases that keep them culturally relevant.
- 1990s insert cards, particularly 1997 Reserve Metal sets of players like Barry Sanders and Griffey, represent a sustainable market trend because the designs are genuinely excellent and these cards have become the most valuable cards for many players.
- PSA grades insert cards significantly more strictly than before, evidenced by very low gem percentages—for example, Inside Outside Jordan cards show only 1.16% gem grades despite 4,400 cards rated, making expensive grading fees unjustifiable for most submissions.
- Card show fatigue is occurring as the frequency of shows has dramatically increased over the past five years, forcing collectors to selectively choose which events to attend rather than visiting all available shows.
Topics
Transcript
[0:00] If you start the auction at $25 or $30 , you will have to wait a year . I do n't think that's strange. I view it as delaying the provision of the value that customers rightfully deserve. I think Thor and Texas Norman would be good. What do you think ? Yes, I think it is right to bring out the best part last. How are you? Yes, I am doing well. How about Thor's Hammer? Well, I had a long weekend and [0:31] went to a card show in Connecticut. It was a place that took about six and a half to seven hours from home . I came back at 10 last night and watched the…
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