Hey all, it’s been a bit since I’ve posted here as have been busy with work and this whole virus situation. Hope everyone and their families are doing well!
So I have a question regarding a potential purchase I am considering. I have been away from the hobby for a bit, but saw an enticing item to display PSA graded cards and just wanted to see if anybody here has some insight on the item.
The item is a card frame and display that can have 3, 4, or 5 (maybe different variations, but these are the ones I saw) openings specifically cut to fit vertical PSA Pokémon cards. I found listings for the item on both eBay and Etsy for $89.95, while the reviews on the latter are 3.5 with only 6 reviews. It looks like a decently designed item that features the cards appropriately and the only negative review was from someone who apparently didn’t receive their item (shipping dispute).
My idea for this item would be to feature my favorite old school PSA 10 1st edition Dragonite cards on my mantle or dresser. Anyway, if you can offer me your opinion on the matter, I would greatly appreciate it!
I have not purchased this item before but I work in the arts/framing industry. This seems like an okay product. A few details to give you a better idea of what you would be getting I would point out are that:
the glazing the cards are behind is acrylic plexi, not glass. (this is okay, I doubt the plexi is UV protective, but thats something you usually worry about with artwork)
The frame itself (black edge) does look a little cheaply made. It is melamine wood. this is a composite wood board. think Target/Walmart furniture. not Real wood. For the price this is a cheap material. Itd be nice if it was real wood. as it would hold up better over time and withstand switching out the contents from time to time.
The hanging hardware that comes with it (wire,hook,screws) looks like it would have to be attached to the frame yourself. Is this something you would be comfortable doing? You said you would be putting it on your mantle… so you might not need the hanging hardware. but then I dont think it comes with the stand… so that might be an extra cost.
Apologies if this was wordy. im stuck at home in NYC and bored.
Hope this helps!
Let us know if you get it and if its a cool thing! Overall I like the idea of this display. Could put some sweet lineups in it!
I actually have a few of these frames for my personal collection. I like the idea as they are a nice way to display sets of three cards, i.e. final evolution starters. I do not hang them and I have them sitting in a pile right now. As @cavemantaco mentioned, the actual frame is not real wood. I think it is a nice, simplistic design though. The plexi is a “perfect fit” but the edges are rough to touch. Idk if it could be smoothed out with sandpaper? The plexi, inner black frame (slots for cards), and cards are held in place by a piece of “cardboard-esque” material. There are small metal tabs on the back of the frame that fold down to hold it in place. The metal tabs are pretty flimsy and I had a few of them snap off from opening and closing them too much. Honestly, I do not think it is worth the price and I would not buy them again. Nice idea, but I think you can find cheaper alternatives. A frame for three cards were $69.95 plus shipping iirc. The seller may offer a discount if you buy multiple though.
@snowy, Thanks for sharing Snowy! I figured that after a few uses/switching out the cards you want to display, that things would start to wear out given the materials that these are made out of. There is definitely a better way to manufacture these…
Like the idea but from a framing/pricing standpoint I think these are overpriced for the quality.
@miguelito, I just took a quick photo of the frame(s) I have…please excuse the poor quality:
I also have acrylic display stands/cases from PRDisplays (Facebook, EBay, and Instagram) that I really like. They can pretty much customize and make anything you want to your specifications. They are based in the UK so shipping can be expensive. They have a lot of listings and posts that showcase their work so you can take a look before contacting them.
I am still on the fence as to whether or not I should purchase this item, as my primary concern is the protection of the card itself and it’s PSA case. I plan to have the display exposed to light as little as possible, as I have kept all my PSA cards in a drawer where they do not collide with one another and have been exposed to pretty much minimal lighting.
Knowing this, my first concern would be; would the amount of light exposure (in the frame on a mantle or shelf, with minimal natural lighting except room lights) be harmful to the cards or PSA case itself while in this frame?
I have made sure to keep all my cards and cases in pristine condition, but since I do not plan to re-sell any of my favorites/personal collection, I feel as though I need a better way of displaying them for quick showcasing.
My second concern for this frame stems from what you mentioned snowy, about how the edges are rough to touch. This could perhaps cause damage to the PSA case over time, which of course I would not want. In your personal experience with the frame(s), has it caused any such noticeable damage to your PSA cases?
The plexi edges are rougher than the black inner frame. The black inner frame is not too rough, but can cause light scuffing on the edges of the PSA case because they can move slightly if shaken. I use perfect fit sleeves for my PSA cards to avoid scuffs and light scratches. You can also use PlastX to remove minor wear from the PSA case.
Any light exposure over time will fade cards, but it will take a very long time to notice, especially with the setup you are proposing.
