Should You Grade?Should You Grade?
Card ExplorerSetsTop CardsMarket ToolsLow Pop GemsBlogUpgrade
Sign In
Articuno #9

Articuno #9

Pokemon Japanese Classic: Blastoise · #009 · Base · Dec 2023

Buy Raw on eBayPSA 10 Sold on eBay
Shop on TCGPlayer

No — Not Worth Grading

Should You Grade?

Raw Price
$9.65
Expected Value
$-5.05
Net Profit
$-4.91
Gem Rate
65.0%
ROI
-20%
Sales / Yr
207

Even a PSA 10 would lose $4.91 after the $15.00 grading cost and selling fees. The graded value doesn't justify the investment.

Best Tier for Flipping

TAG Basic$22.00/card · 30+ business days
Net Profit $42.50
Per-Flip ROI 127%
Annualized 2,340%
Unlock with Pro →

Factors in grading cost, turnaround time, and compounding — how fast you can reinvest profits into the next flip.

Profitability by Grading Company

CompanyBest TierGem RatePop10sCostEVNet ProfitROI
PSAPSA Standard52.3%8,4201,250$20.00$85.40$32.50127%
BGSBGS Standard52.3%8,4201,250$20.00$85.40$32.50127%
CGCCGC Standard52.3%8,4201,250$20.00$85.40$32.50127%
SGCSGC Standard52.3%8,4201,250$20.00$85.40$32.50127%
TAGTAG Standard52.3%8,4201,250$20.00$85.40$32.50127%
Compare All Companies with Pro →

Shows the best-value tier from each grading company based on EV, cost, and turnaround. Pop = total graded population; 10s = grade 10 count.

Price by Grade

Raw
$9.65
BGS 10
$60.72
PSA 10
$41.50
SGC 10
$25.00
BGS 9.5
$23.00
9
$19.91
CGC 10
$19.74
8
$15.59
View Sold PSA 10 Prices on PriceCharting →View Grading Data on GemRate →
0%100%
65.0%Gem Rate (PSA 10)

Grade Distribution (1,256 total graded)

1,256Total
PSA 1081665.0%
PSA 939231.2%
PSA 8413.3%
PSA 740.3%
Below 710.1%
© 2026 Should You Grade? Data from PriceCharting & GemRate.
AboutPrivacy PolicyTerms of ServiceAffiliate Disclosure