The Rise of the Soft Slab? + Is PSA's Pause Creating a New Market? + Hobby Innovation

Has PSA's submission pause unintentionally created an entirely new market? Jeremy Lee, Chris HOJ, and Chad Hawk explore one of the most thought-provoking ideas to emerge from the grading discussion: could the hobby be witnessing the rise of the "soft slab"? With grading companies facing unprecedented demand, the panel discusses whether intermediate services like GCC, Beckett's former Raw Card Review, and other condition assessment products could become a permanent part of the hobby landscape rather than simply filling a temporary gap. The conversation examines how innovation often begins during periods of disruption, why competition ultimately benefits collectors, and whether a new category of grading services could thrive alongside traditional encapsulation. If you enjoy discussions about where the hobby is headed, subscribe and join us every week as we explore the ideas shaping the future of sports cards. Watch Sports Cards Live every Saturday night, The Hangover every Wednesday, The Hunt on Fanatics Collect, Vintage Spotlight, and our Weekly & Premier Auction Ending Watch Parties. Join Fanatics Collect to watch exclusive Collect Originals content, enter giveaways, and follow Sports Cards Live:https://fanaticscollect.onelink.me/xx0N/iyiniif4 Take the Hobby Spectrum assessment to discover what type of collector you are:https://thehobbyspectrum.com Grab your copy of Pops & Comps:https://www.amazon.com/POPS-COMPS-Insights-Psychology-Numbers/dp/1069808903 If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, like the video, and join the conversation below. Do you think the hobby has room for a permanent "soft slab" category, or will traditional grading always dominate? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices