The rage towards scalpers isn’t misguided. Scalpers suck, period. Doesn’t matter if it’s for cards, electronics, masks, etc. The problem is people are assuming that PSA is doing this to stop scalping. They’re not; they’re doing it because they’re overwhelmed. It will luckily have a negative impact on scalpers though, as a positive side effect.
Ultimately if you accept the PTCG system of rarity then you accept that a card's secondary market value is variable and scarcity is a partial determinant for that value.
I'm genuinely curious if the caterwauling comes from uninformed consumers who just can't get their hands on product or what. No kidding, the supply issues do suck. People who are only in it for financial gain can be really toxic. They might enjoy ptcg in a different way than us, but they are still enjoying it, however shallow or fleeting that enjoyment might seem.
But PSA not grading cards is not somehow a positive thing because of this. Standardized measures of condition are what keeps value in these products, and value is why we participate in this, even if that value isn't monetary. These (idk who, tbh? some sort of faceless menace) people come and go, and imo its important for card grading services to stick around to make sure that they keep coming and keep going.
What exactly makes someone a scalper vs someone who just really enjoys the hobby, has disposable income, and trades/sells products? I buy a box of the sets I want. I use the codes to play online, I give the commons and simple stuff to my school for their junior club free time activities, I build a half-deck to play with my younger cousin, I trade and sell cards I don't like for whatever reason (artwork/mechanic/set completion/dex binder) for cards I do. Often the selling is through a third party who exchanges tcg product for store credit and resells at a profit.
Change box to case and suddenly I'm breaking some unspoken rule? But my LGS isn't?
Stop using scalper as this catch-all buzzword.
