Published December 08, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD

Several headlines hit the hobby this past week, and together they highlight an important truth about modern collecting—one worth understanding, not fearing. First came the story of a single Pokémon card yielding a record $30,000 buyback at GameStop: a 2003 Skyridge Gengar Holo PSA 10 pulled from a $2,500 digital “Lunar Power Pack”. One graded card. One label. One number. And suddenly—$30,494.70 changes hands. It’s exciting, even historic. But it also reminds us of something many collectors sense but rarely articulate: a grading label isn’t a scientific measurement. It’s an informed opinion.

Today, another story circulated involving a PSA submission where grades appeared differently in the database than initially expected. PSA quickly regraded the entire order once the issue surfaced, and the situation was resolved. But the moment sparked thoughtful conversation across the hobby—not about blame, but about how grading, valuation, and buyback programs intersect. Any time a company both evaluates a collectible and participates in purchasing it, questions naturally arise about transparency, process, and communication. These discussions aren’t indictments; they’re part of a maturing hobby learning how to navigate growth responsibly.

Because the truth is this: grading is often treated like hard science, but in practice, it functions much more like art. It’s subjective. It varies. It evolves. And sometimes, it contradicts itself. I’ve experienced this firsthand. At the 2023 National in Chicago, I watched one of my PSA 8s become a PSA 9 minutes later after a friendly conversation with a PSA rep at their live grading booth. Same card, same corners, same surface, same edges, same centering—just a different opinion applied in real time. And that’s not a sign of malpractice; it’s simply the nature of human-based evaluation.

This was the exact card I had “upgraded” at the PSA booth. Same card. Same cert. Same everything—except the number on the label. What changed? Not the card—just a grader’s individual discretion. And when one person’s perspective can meaningfully influence market value, it’s a reminder that grading is interpretive, not absolute.

Across the hobby, we’ve seen examples of variability: crossovers between grading companies, differences in standards, or cards that look noticeably different despite sharing the same grade. We’ve also seen how techniques like trimming, polishing, or buffing can complicate evaluation further. None of this means grading is bad or dishonest—it simply means it’s imperfect. Like any craft, it reflects human judgment.

Even so, the hobby often treats certain grades—especially PSA 10s—as if they’re objective truth. Premiums rise. Market behavior follows. And when programs, incentives, or buybacks layer on top of this subjectivity, volatility can follow. Not because anyone intends harm, but because the system is built on opinions that carry financial weight.

But here’s the part collectors often forget: if you’re collecting with intention, you don’t need a number to validate your joy. The hobby offers countless ways to store and display cards beautifully—Slab Factory, ALL-TOUCH, M1NT, Ultra PRO one-touches—none of which require a grading label to determine worth. Because worth isn’t dictated by a grade. It’s dictated by the person holding the card. Your nostalgia, your story, your connection—that’s where real value lives.

A grading label can enhance understanding, guide buyers, or offer consistency—but it should never override the meaning a card already holds for you.

Today’s reflection is simple: a number doesn’t make a card special. You do. And when we separate our love for collecting from the illusion of certainty that grading sometimes creates, we reconnect with the healthiest part of the hobby—the part driven by joy, not judgment.

#CollectorsMD
True clarity begins when we stop mistaking a label for truth—and reconnect with the meaning that made us collectors in the first place.

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