Grading or selling raw?
Selling raw is the option most people forget to price. Comparing the two properly means counting the same costs on both sides.
Two paths from the same starting point
You own a card. You can sell it as it is, or pay to grade it and sell the slab. Both paths start from what the card cost you, and both end with a sale that has fees and shipping. The difference is the grading cost in the middle, and the fact that grading turns one known outcome (the raw price) into several possible ones (each grade).
Price the raw sale honestly
- Use what comparable raw copies in a similar condition have actually sold for, not the highest asking price.
- Take off the same marketplace fees, per-order fees and shipping you would pay on a slab.
- Remember that a raw card’s condition is the buyer’s judgement. Photos and honest descriptions matter.
Price the graded sale as a range
A graded card might come back at several grades. Each grade has its own sale price, and the grading cost is paid whatever comes back. That’s why one “expected” figure can hide a real chance of losing money.
Example with made-up numbers: a card that cost $40 sells raw for about $40. Grading costs $35 including shipping. At a 10 it might sell for $150, at a 9 for $70. If you think a 10 is a 1-in-4 chance, the average across grades can still come out below selling raw. The worked example on the homepage shows this case in full.
Questions worth asking
- At which grades do I make money, and how likely do I really think they are?
- How much could I lose if it comes back a grade lower than I hope?
- Is the difference worth the wait while the card is away?