Tools I Use for Pre-Grading

Do I use any tools that can help cards have a better shot at grading a PSA 10? Where do I buy my supplies?

If you need help grading with some best tips and tricks, I suggest this article. It may change the way you grade, so always be informed. You don't need to necessarily follow what I do word for word. This article is a guide that tells you what tools I use for grading.

Refer to this YouTube Video as well (I am a bit new to videos but this should be helpful): Video

Tools: I use a variety of tools for grading. Approximate cost for these can range depending on quality and brand. 

Here is a comprehensive checklist:

1. Lint Roller
• Why?
• To grade cards, you need to make sure you have a clean surface so that no dirty/lint/dust goes onto your card before and after you sleeve
• How?
• ALWAYS wash your hands with soap and water, then clean off your playmat or whatever surface you use to grade cards. Oil from your hands can be picked up by grading companies. You can simply use the lint roller to pick up any other dust or particles from your mat but rolling them on with a fresh layer of tape from the lint roller.
• Where?
• Amazon 3pk $13
2. Playmat/Clean Surface
• Why?
• You should have a clean surface that soft to the touch in case your hands put any pressure onto your card. This will make it so your card doesn't scratch
• How?
• Simply lay down the playmat on a surface that's flat and away from any liquids/food or other things that can get in your way. I will only use the playmat for grading and then put it away after use.
• Where?
• You can buy your favorite playmat from any LGS or from online. 
• Pokemon Center $25
3. Blacklight (Pen preferred)
• Why?
• A Blacklight will illuminate any white scratches/foil scratches from the surface of the card
• How?
• Turn on the blacklight and look at the card from variety of angers. Best to hold the card by the edges and not touch the surface. Examine the back and the front as well and take your time. 
• Where?
• eBay $9
4. Magnifying Glass
• Why?
• Magnifying glass lets you see if there are any imperfections on your card, and whether or not dirt should be removed from the cards itself. 
• How?
• Turn on your light and use the magnifying glass on the corners, edges, and surfaces of the back and front of the card. Edges is something to look at since edge wear and edge dings sometimes does not show up when you are looking purely at the front/back of the card; the sides/edges should be looked at as well. 
• Bad edges can bring a card to a 9 automatically, same with surface and corners.
• Where?
• Amazon $32
5. Ring Light
• Why? 
• Ring lights give you differential views when looking at the surface of the card, especially on foiling/holographic areas of the card. They are especially bright as well and can latch onto a desk and not get in your way if you put it near the edge. 
• How?
• Turn on the ring light and put your card under it, holding onto the edges of the card raw. You can examine the card for any surface scratching, holo scratching or any bends/tears. This will maximize the chance of getting a good grade the more you spot.
• Where?
• Amazon $32
6. Soft Microfiber Cloth
• Why?
• Microfiber gets rid of most surface issues from the card and should be the first wave of defense when trying to get a notable surface issue off the card
• As a reminder, this WILL NOT get rid of holo scratches, print lines, or other print defects on the card. I will usually just binder a card with any of these imperfections and NOT submit them for grading. 
• How?
• Use one finger and rub the surface of the card with the cloth. Sometimes you can clasp it with two fingers on both front and back of the card for more friction to remove the surface dirt.
• Where?
• Amazon 6pk $10
7. Q-tip
• Why?
• Qtips, unlike a microfiber cloth, can target specific parts of the card where you see notable surface residue. Sometimes you will ask yourself, what is this? Why is this black smudge on the card. The worst think it can be is a print line or an actual print error, which WILL lower your chance of getting a PSA 10. 
• Vintage cards will sometimes have "black spots" that can be gotten rid of with a semi-wet Qtip. This is caused by hand oils and lint/dust that can accrue onto a raw card during shuffling/play or simply being left out to the elements.
• As a reminder, this WILL NOT get rid of holo scratches, print lines, or other print defects on the card. I will usually just binder a card with any of these imperfections and NOT submit them for grading.
• How?
• I will usually wet the Qtip first, and then dry it slightly, so its not too wet. A semi-wet qtip always has a better chance of removing surface residue. LIGHTLY rub the part of the card that has a spot, and it should come right off if it is dirt. If it does not come off, I recommend not grading the card as PSA or any other grading company can ding the card's "Surface" score. 
• Where?
• Any major retail store will have it
• Amazon 2pk $16
8. Penny Sleeves
• Why?
• These are soft sleeves that won't damage your card when you put the card in and when you pull the card out, this is very important
• Don't use hard sleeves (Dragon Shield, Katanas, Ultra Pro Hard Sleeves) for any grading. If you have a spec of dirt on the card or inside the sleeve, simply sliding in the card WILL damage the card's surface
• How?
• ALWAYS USE NEW SLEEVES: I cannot stress that enough. Don't use recycled sleeves for grading and don't use sleeves that have any bends in them
• Simply slip your raw card into the sleeve, then put the sleeve in your semi-rigid cardholder
• Where?
• eBay 500 Ct $7
• Brands: Ultra Pro, Cardboard Gold, pretty much any major card supply manufacturer will have their own penny sleeve, but generally get the better brands for more efficiency and also in bulk if you want to save money. 
• Good to buy this in bulk for your next submission. Getting 1 pack individually will add up. Find a friend in the hobby and split them if you'd like as well
9. Card Saver 1 Semi-rigid card holder
• Why?
• These are semi rigids trusted by PSA and even partnered with PSA
• This are different from top-loaders since semi-rigids keep the card in place. Usually for top-loaders, the card can move around a LOT. It will be bad if your card suddenly comes out during shipment to PSA or even inside your collection in general. 
• You most likely won't grade your cards right away, having your cards in semi-rigids help it stay still when you aren't touching them. I normally have a stack, put them in a box, and then when I do decide to grade, pull them out and start the grading process.
• How?
• Open up the Semi-Rigid with your index finger, clench with your other hand, then slip your card (within the penny sleeve) within it, pushing until its all the way down. Do this lightly or else you may bend your card.
• Where?
• eBay 200 Ct $25
• Good to buy this in bulk for your next submission. Getting a 50 pack individually will add up. Find a friend in the hobby and split them if you'd like as well
10. Post-it Stickies
• Why?
• This is optional
• This primarily helps with getting your card OUT of the semi-rigid. If you are indecisive like me, sometimes you will go like "I'm not going to submit this card anymore, going to submit other cards first" then you can take the card out easily without risk of damaging it
• How?
• Remove a single Post-it sticky from the case and place it on the back of your sleeved card
• Then put the entire thing into a semi-rigid
• Where?
• Any major retailer
• Amazon $16 (Bulk)
11. Centering Tool
• Why?
• This tool helps you look a the centering of your card and decide whether or not it is a good one to grade
• This is better than using your edges to look at the front, bottom, left and right sides of the card.
• How?
• Place your card into a penny sleeve first (to be safer)
• Put the centering tool on the card and make sure the top, bottom, left and right are in good positions. Bad Centering even on a minty card will bring the card to an 7-8-9 if the centering is bad so this definitely helps tremendously to get better chances of a 10
• PSA allows for centering to be 60-40 at worst for a 10, but I would still recommend this process, especially if you are grading with Beckett or CGC, where you'd strive for the 10 or Perfect grades.
• Where?
• eBay $7

Grading can be an expensive hobby, but when done right, can increase the size and value of your collection. Grabbing these tools will definitely help you out in the long run after a one time cost of accruing these tools.

Happy Grading!

Note: I am not sponsored nor did any websites above pay me for any content. I'm just giving you some ideas into what I personally use and how to budget.

Opinions on Pokemon Collecting Pt. 1

Why do people collect Pokemon Cards? What is the current climate on Pokemon Collecting? What influences people to collect Pokemon Cards or stuff in general?

I hope to answer some of these questions in this article along with some opinions I have.

Why do people collect Pokemon Cards? 

The short answer is: People like having stuff. Some can go to the extreme (such as hoarding), and others can be less of a collector and really only survive on what they need (being a minimalist)

Another answer is nostalgia: the millennial generation grew up collecting Pokemon cards since it was the new "cool" thing. Gameboy released its games: Pokemon Red and Pokemon Blue in the early two thousands along with the newer Gameboy Color, which redefined mobile gaming. This was not on cell phones, however, so when you were playing the game, you were solely playing the game. In my opinion, that's what made the cards so successful. Suddenly, Japanese Pokemon cards that came out in 1996 were in English in 1998 with the introduction of Pokemon Base Set 1st Edition, then Unlimited. These shiny cards that kids can hold onto their hands, put into little binders and play with on the playground floor were intensely appealing. The social interaction and trading/profiting at the time was very appeal as well, for both parents and their kids. 

This "Nostalgia" translated to these millennials now having kids of their own and still being part of that worldwide IP (intellectual property) which has only grown more popular today. Pokemon and its characters are the biggest IP in the world today. The kids of the former kids who enjoyed Pokemon are now buying packs in local Walmarts, Targets and LGSs/LCSs (Local game/card stores). This phenom was further enhanced by Covid restrictions in 2019-2022, which saw governments restrict movement to inside of the home. Therefore, people bought more things online, the prices increased and the supply did not fit the demand.

Many things happened:

1. PSA saw increased submissions and >2 year turnaround times for bulk submissions; PSA also became a private company
2. Prices for already graded cards went up 2-8x what they were originally worth in 2017-2018
3. Logan Paul reintroduced Pokemon into the mainstream: with his 1st Edition Base Set Box Breaks, the creation of "Whatnot" (almost like if Twitch and eBay had a baby), and the famous PSA 10 1st Edition Charizard which was purchased by Paul for around $300k USD
4. Targets and Walmarts were completely out almost every time they resupplied
5. Vintages card boxes went up in price from collectors being reintroduced to the hobby

What is the current climate on Pokemon Collecting? 

As of May 2023, Sword and Shield sets are NOT being reprinted as much as before to make way for Scarlet and Violet, so many of the sealed box prices have increased. Pokemon grading is still popular, but PSA is oversaturating the market with returns and PSA 10s can be had for around $30 now for many popular cards (think Baby Shinies from Hidden Fates Shiny Vault, Common Charizard holos, and Vintage Common/Uncommon PSA 10s).

Bigger cards in higher grades have also came down, but not as much as the cheaper ones (which are very easy to grade in the modern card market now).

One criticism I have about the Pokemon Company (Nintendo America) is that they do no disclose print runs and can print any set at any time. This will drastically fluctuate the market. For example, if Evolving Skies gets reprinted a year from now, can the hype card PSA 10 Umbreon 215 (Moonbreon) keep its $1000 USD price? No, it will most certainly half in price as aggressive collectors open as many packs as possible.

In all, people are still having fun and a lot of people still love the content and the cards. Despite various scandals, Pokemon continues to succeed and people keep pouring money into it. 

What influences people to collect Pokemon Cards or stuff in general?

It is psychological and also environmental.

People love the shininess, the bling, even the smell of the cards. It feels very nice to have some randomness in your life and opening a chase card from a pack. It is a sort of gambling since you know 9/10 packs will actually make you lose money, but people open packs anyways. PSA returns and Pokemon Card Opening videos are the most viewed videos on Youtube. 

The environment and being in part of a community is also very appealing for collectors. Normally people would not have friends with dissimilar interests, and Pokemon really bridges that gap between certain types of people and different demographics. 

Japanese culture is also on the rise and extremely popular amongst younger people. Japan just has that weirdness but also beauty that really entices people to check out Japanese culture (think Ramen, Games, Anime, Sushi and even Cherry Blossoms).

How do I enjoy my collection?

I mainly collect PSA 10 charizards (Goal is to have 1 of each one), PSA 10 Umbreons and CGC Perfect Umbreons. I have Blastoises, Venusaurs too but ultimately I am perfectly okay selling/trading these slabs for PSA 10 Charizards.

I like looking at them and occasionally flipping through them, they are very nice to look at and to take pictures of in my gallery on Instagram; check it out here: @collectorsphere

Occasionally I will sell pieces out of my PC (Personal collection) to acquire different things, but for now I'm very happy with a small collection. It is also very fun going slow and collecting things slowly. If I had bought everything during the boom, I would have spent way more money in acquiring. 

Who do I think are the best Pokemon content creators on Youtube?

TwiceBakedJake: He is very good and an excellent storyteller. He seems very genuine and he is very easy to follow (despite some grammar errors).

RattlePokemon: He is just very interesting and also a very goofy at times. He gives you the news you never thought you needed.

TCAgaming: This guy is the GOAT, probably has the biggest charizard collection outside Gary (KingPokemon)

PokeRev: He opens the most packs on Youtube and very much utilizes the hype persona to get you to view and also to buy things on his site. Don't be deceived, however, he is there to make money. Overall, still good for the community since he knows how to be marketable and positive in the hobby.

Alpha Investments: Though not really a big Pokemon guy, he does have his correct opinions maybe half the time on the state of things. I follow him for the entertainment, never financially execute on the things he says. 

PokeChloe: Relatively newer but great personality and she goes through many different things on her channel, not just box breaks. She can tell you more about PWCC auctions, Card Shows and also let you in on her consignments and PSA blind reveals. 

Do you have any topics I missed?

Comment below if you have any questions and keep an eye out for more. Bookmark this blog since I will be posting very frequently.

Instagram: @Collectorsphere

Selling on eBay

How do I personally sell on eBay? What do I choose to sell on eBay? How much do I make in a month on eBay?

I will answer all of these questions after a brief intro!

Here is my eBay account if you want to check it out: My Personal eBay Store

Introduction

I got an eBay account a long time ago in 2008. I got it to sell off some stuff I didn't need anymore as a kid. Some were card collections when I gave up collecting and playing, some of it were old electronics and video games and other times it was just junk I didn't need anymore. eBay would become part of my personality to recycle things I didn't need at the time and also as a way to make more money than sitting around at a 9-5pm job later on in life. 

Feedback is very important on eBay, so it was nice that I got a head start on it. I was at around 300 Positive feedback so I already learned how to ship effectively and to also list effectively as well. There are still times though, where I feel like I am learning new and have more knowledge to share. 

How do I personally sell on eBay? 

I essentially get an item that I want to sell for profit and then list it on eBay and see where it goes. I try to list it for the lowest price so that it sells faster, since inventory is dead money and its better to move things than not. If I don't want to move an item I get back from grading, for example, then I keep the item and wait to sell later. 

My strategy isn't all that different from other sellers on eBay trying to profit off their goods, sometimes there is no profit at all, and I am okay with that. But there is a strategy for avoiding fees, which are typically 13% before any shipping and handling to eBay. 

What do I choose to buy to sell on eBay? 

In continuation, that is what you need to decide what new product you can get so you can list it on eBay and sell for more.

In Pokemon grading, it is not uncommon to get a PSA 9 on a card you inspected and to break even. I have to accept that when it happens. On the flipside, you might get a PSA 10 and then usually double your money (or even quadruple if you bought a vintage card for cheap) after grading fees/listing fees/final value fees/shipping handling costs. 

I generally buy the following and then grade them:

• Modern Cards in great shape
• Collections of Vintage (that usually have a bulk pricing the more cards you get, but these are rare, so acquisition is something you really need to think hard about)

I try to sell cards for far more than I acquired, but usually I make around 100%, sometimes lower. In very rare sales will I make 3x-4x of what I paid for Graded cards.

What do I sell to make back the money?

• Graded Cards
• Signed Cards
• Graded Funkos
• Singles (that are not gradable)

How much do I make in a month on eBay?

I typically make around $20k USD revenue per quarter (every 90 days) on eBay. Its a hustle. Sometimes its cyclical, during Covid era when everyone was at home, collectibles really did increase a lot in price since people were buying things left and right with their stimulus checks. Right now volume has decreased a bit due to inflation and recession/debt crisis fears, but they still sell. Hardcore collectors still want their PSA 10 Charizards and the Pokemon Company still keeps printing cards. 

How do I list my items to get more traction?

Simplest thing I do: Have good volume and feedback

1. Volume
1. Have a lot of cards for sale, so sometimes buyers would want to add shipping together, or visit your other listings from their initial listing that they saw
2. Upselling and Cross-selling are two terms that every seller needs to know. Promoting your listings is nice on eBay, but eBay takes an even bigger cut. I wouldn't do this unless you have a very high value item.
2. Feedback
1. Have 100% at all times, lowest you would want to be if you messed up on a previous order is 99.5%. DON'T DROP BELOW THAT
2. By having 100% feedback, you are already above a lot of people. But you generally want to have 1000+ 100% Positive feedback to really get an edge. Your lowest priced item will be a no brainer for your customers

Comment below if you have any questions and keep an eye out for more. Bookmark this blog since I will be posting very frequently.

My Personal eBay Store

Instagram: @Collectorsphere

Grading PSA Cards 101

Did you ever have problems grading? Do you want to start grading on your own without a middle-man? Do you already grade cards but need some extra tips?

In this article, I help explain the best practices in grading cards from my own experience and from the results. Instead of watching many hours on Youtube, this article seeks to condense various topics altogether so you have a great place to look at.

Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. First, you need to create an account at PSA (Professional Sports Authenticators, part of Collectors Universe) here: https://www.psacard.com/ or BGS https://www.beckett.com/submit or CGC https://www.cgcgrading.com/
1. Note: Having an Account for each helps with discounts, gives special offers+grading deals and marketing/promotions (Recommended if you grade with a specific vendor)
2. Next, you need to decide what cards you want to send for grading
1. Ask yourself, where are you sourcing your cards? Are you packing ("opening packs") them? Are you buying them from other vendors?
2. Are you pre-grading them accurately and efficiently? (Article to come out) (Video)
3. After creating a submission, enter the type of grading that you want
4. Add all of the lines for each card (1 kind of card will be 1 line usually, with the option to have more quantity as the same line)
5. Decide what is the Declared Value (most often, you would check eBay's last sold (Filter by: Completed Listings>All Auctions and Buy in Now) and enter it
1. Here is an example for all PSA 10 Charizards: PSA 10 Charizard Completed Items Ended Recently
6. Enter Shipping Method, Insurance, Return Shipping
7. Agree to policies and terms
8. Review Order
9. Submit Order
10. Ship your order
1. I Recommend USPS Priority Mail, either flat rate package or cubic. 
2. Get a ruler and a scale to make shipping anything VERY easily
1. Label Makers help as well, this is the one I use for shipments: Dymo Labelwriter 450
2. Any Ruler will do
3. Scale: Amazon Basics Scale
3. Create an account at https://www.pirateship.com/ and get started
1. Note: I believe they have the best rates and are very discounted compared to spending hours at the post office getting them done
2. Steps for shipping:
1. Create Single Label
2. Enter Recipient
3. Check Measurements (Length, Width, Height)
4. Check Weight (In OZ or LB)
5. Calculate Cost
6. Buy Label
7. Download and Print Out the Label
8. Stick onto your package
9. Go to a nearby USPS or blue mailbox and drop it off and you're done!
11. (Optional) If you decide to sell cards, what medium are you going to use to sell? Do you have a store? Do you have people who want to buy from you? Do you want to sell online?
1. If you want to sell online, I suggest eBay.com (https://www.ebay.com/). There are various options including Mercari, Craigslist, or even having your own site
2. Article for eBay coming out soon.

Comment below if you have any questions and keep an eye out for more. Bookmark this blog since I will be posting very frequently.

My Personal eBay Store

Instagram: @Collectorsphere