PSA update (Sept 19): Standard is open at $59.99 (estimated 90–100 business days). Value tiers remain paused and can be selected on card pages as hold scenarios using their previous fees. PSA Priority is $79.99 (70–80 business days). Historical article examples retain their dated fees. Pricing, limits and details
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Iron Thorns #98 — Pokemon Promo

Iron Thorns #98

Make this your analysis

2. Compare lower-grade outcomes3. Save your assumptions

Confirm edition, language and variant, inspect both sides, and check recent comparable sales. A model result is not a verified buy.

Pokemon Promo · #098 · Jul 1999

Buy Raw on eBayPSA 10 Sold on eBay
Shop on TCGPlayer

Maybe — Proceed with Caution

Should You Grade?

Raw Price
$3.48
Expected net profit
$-0.44
Grade 10 profit
$1.51
Gem Rate
36.0%
Grade 10 ROI
+8%
Sales / Yr
402

Negative expected value ($-0.44) — while a PSA 10 would be profitable, the probability-weighted outcome across all grades means you lose money on average at this grading tier. PSA 10 profit of $1.51 is thin — grading fees and selling costs eat most of the margin.

Grade 10 scenario comparison

TAG Basic$22.00/card · 30+ business days
Net Profit $42.50
Grade 10 ROI 127%
Annualized 2,340%
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Factors in grading cost, turnaround time, and compounding — how fast you can reinvest profits into the next flip.

Profitability by Grading Company

CompanyBest TierGem RatePop10sCostEVGrade 10 profitGrade 10 ROI
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.

Check the downside before you buy

Compare the lower-grade reference prices below with your buy price, grading cost and selling fees. Shipping and tax reduce the result further. Missing prices do not establish a resale floor; a population gem rate is not your card's personal probability.

Price by Grade

Raw
$3.48
BGS 10
$137.00
PSA 10
$105.00
SGC 10
$55.00
BGS 9.5
$21.00
CGC 10
$19.99
9
$18.09
8
$15.06
7
$11.50
View Sold PSA 10 Prices on PriceCharting →View Grading Data on GemRate →

Keep this decision for your next review

Save your buy price, grading tier and selling fee. Reopen later against the latest reference data, then save again after reviewing. This does not reserve a card or place an order.

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0%100%
36.0%Gem Rate (PSA 10)
41 graded last month
Past month gem rate: 15.0%

Grade Distribution (1,143 total graded)

1,143Total
PSA 1041035.9%
PSA 958351.0%
PSA 811410.0%
PSA 790.8%
Below 7252.2%

Price history

Make the grading decision

Work through the sale alternative, grade risk and cost of tying up your money.

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Compare a submission with the cash you could receive by selling the card today.

How to use a gem rate

Read the sample size and grade distribution before modeling a grading return.

Choosing a submission service? Read the PSA prices and turnaround guide before committing your inventory.

© 2026 Should You Grade? Data from PriceCharting & GemRate.
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