I've never sent a single card to be graded.  Every time a new grading drama pops up, I still sleep easy.

If these low end cards weren’t getting graded,  we wouldn’t have the problems that exist today. Definitely an addiction to grading these days. So much wasted resources on common cards. Great video, Orlando.

The only vintage hobbiests I see freaking out about grading are dealers, flippers, registry participants, and profit-obsessed collectors who try to get in on the next hot thing. From my numerous discussions with other vintage collectors on this subject, the rest of us who participate in grading seem frustrated but are content with keeping cards in top-loaders, binders, MagPros, and one touches.

I have both graded and unslabbed cards. The only time I have submitted cards for grading from my personal was in 2025 when SGC ran their $12 per card special. I grade for protection and to help my wife liquidate the cards when I'm gone.

I'm perfectly content to keep my unslabbed cards unslabbed until things change in the grading industry that benefits the everyday collector. I'm not holding my breath, and I won't stress about it.

Great points Orlando. So many of the cards being graded don’t need to be. Thanks for sharing.

Love the video!  You are so right on things not needing to be graded.  Unfortunately your audience are the ones who get it!  The TCG and card bro breakers are the ones flooding the grading companies and causing this backlog.

Great perspective Orlando! I loved all the cards! I have not graded in a long time and have no intention on grading any of my collection in the foreseeable future. I do understand why some people grade and have no issue with it. Grading is just something that currently does not interest me.

Thanks for sharing, Orlando!

Hey Orlando.  Great video.  Problem is right now I think everyone is just pumping prices now.  And that includes people on YouTube. I find alot of people actually don't want the cards, they just want the flip.  I'm shocked at the 90s junk wax PSA 10 stuff going nuclear.  There really is a ton of it still out there.  When this bubble pops, alot of people will get hurt.  Thanks again for your great vids.

The problem isn't the quantity of sports cards being graded, it is the massive quantities of TCG cards being graded that is overwhelming the grading companies.
#TheHobbyist

Because there's 2 different hobbies being confused with one another. One is card collecting, and the other is many collecting. Money collectors buy, grade, and flip cards because they need to milk every red cent out of everything they buy. Card collectors just enjoy possessing the cards and they don't need anyone else to tell them what their collection is worth. I wish the money collectors would just change out cards for stocks already.

Really interesting topic Orlando,, I agree there are quite a number of people addicted to grading and lots of cards being sent to graded are “cluttering” the pipeline. Having said that,, only yesterday I went to a card show in Melbourne ( in Oz,, not Florida ) and submitted 36 cards to be graded by TCG in Sydney @ $12 Australian per card with a 50 working days turn around time. I’ll do a reveal video when I receive them back!!!!

Very true Orlando, we're addicted to grading. PSA has done something right in the marketing department.

Great job Orlando! Grading is just a money grab for 90% of cards being sent in.

Good video, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I personally have shifted to an only graded card collection. I think many collectors since 2020 that are new also collect graded cards. I don’t think I’m the only one that has shifted. Thus, there is a market supply need to supply graded cards to collect and transact. I really enjoy the hunt and process to grade cards as well. The enjoyment of “making a collectible” is both thrilling and lucrative. I do understand the sentiment you are sharing. However, I think collectors are finding that it isn’t always easy to find gem mint copies of those “common cards” that you show. The grading is a form of serializing the best copies that have lasted - similar to vintage. The 1989 UD upper deck is essentially an out of /4500 in a PSA 10. Demand builds for these iconic cards and supply gets constricted. Grading has many benefits as well that don’t get talked about. The flip provides information about the card, there is a scanning feature on the back to help collect digitally and provide real time pricing, the scans are gorgeous. Of course the set registry organizes collections and helps gamify collecting in general whether a collector wants to compete or complete a set. Protection is obvious and population reports help investors with confidence to drop larger chunks of money. Condition rarity has to matter, vintage has taught us that - some sets like 71 topps are just tough. It’s the same for some of the cards you casually showed - it makes sense to me why the highest premium is paid for gem mint examples.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts. Always enjoy watching your content

Getting charged $18000 by psa to grade a piece of cardboard is reaching am insane level of unsustainablulity. Having to borrow money to grade a flimsy cardboard is really heartbreaking insane.

I would not say “we” as a whole are not addicted to grading however I’m certain that there are “some” folks that are addicted to grading. Fantastic showcase of cards Orlando!

Great video Orlando. I believe the grading companies have a lot of collectors drinking their Kool-Aid and that’s exactly where they want them. Don’t get me wrong I love my graded cards but it has been a couple of years since I’ve made a submission because of 3 things time money and disappointment. I agree every card isn’t worth grading but there is always going to be the I Need Some Room Bros chasing 10’s. Not my way to collect but we can’t tell them they’re wrong because that’s how they collect or more accurately that’s how they flip cards. I think most of those Bros are just in the hobby for a quick buck. I don’t like it but I don’t see them going anywhere as long as there is this much money involved. Just my thoughts and I totally agree with you man. Thanks for sharing.

You’re certainly right, Orlando. But people sending all of their brand new Pokemon cards straight from packs is now 75% of what the grading companies get submitted. It’s literally ruined grading for all of the rest of us. Baseball cards are a small percentage now. Thanks for sharing your thoughts as always. 🤛🏻

Thought I was already subbed up, but I am now for sure

Yes, many people are simply addicted to grading at this point. Getting the cards back in the mail and seeing numbers is just a dopamine hit.