Just came across Geoff Wilson’s post about PSA charging him an extra $4k because his card graded higher than expected. You can see the posts here: Post 1 & Post 2.

While I get that Geoff can afford it and seems fine with the extra fee, I think this raises a bigger question about what our hobby is really becoming. For many collectors, this isn’t about flipping cards or “investing.” It’s about the thrill of collecting, the chase, and protecting cards we love.

PSA’s upcharging based on their perception of a card’s market value feels off to me. If a collector just wants their card slabbed and protected—not sold—why should they suddenly pay hundreds or thousands more because PSA thinks the card is worth more? What happens if PSA values a card at $100k, charges extra, and then a sale shows it’s only worth $50k? How do shilled bids factor in? Or what happens if that customer can't afford to pay that upcharge on the spot?

This is starting to feel less like a hobby and more like a casino where every move is monetized.