When Not to Grade a Card: Seven Signs It Is a Bad Bet
Quick answer
Skip grading when the card has an obvious flaw such as a crease, when the graded premium does not cover fees, when centering is already outside the tolerance for the grade you need, when the card has been altered, or when you plan to keep it unsold. Sell it raw, keep it protected or hold it until the market changes.
The honest truth about most submissions
A large share of cards sent for grading come back in a tier that does not repay the fee. Knowing which cards to leave at home is as valuable as knowing which to submit.
Seven signs a card is a bad bet
1. Centering already misses the grade you need
Centering is fixed. If you need a top grade for the economics to work and the card measures outside the tolerance, nothing you do will change it. See the centering guide.
2. The card has an obvious crease, bend or dent
Creases and deep indentations are serious flaws and usually cap the grade low. Unless the card is rare enough that authentication is the point, the fee will not be recovered.
3. The graded premium is thin
If recent sales at your expected grade are only slightly above raw sales, fees and shipping will absorb the difference.
4. The risk-reward is lopsided
If a likely outcome leaves the card worth less than raw and the unlikely top outcome only barely pays, the math is against you. Check it with the ROI formula.
5. The card might have been altered
Trimmed edges, pressed creases, cleaned surfaces or recolored borders lead to a no-grade, and the fee often still applies. See grading qualifiers and no-grade codes.
6. You do not plan to sell or trade it
A paper premium is not money. If the card is staying in your collection, the slab's value is presentation and protection, which you can get more cheaply.
7. The market is about to move
If a set has just been reprinted or a player's value is spiking and about to crash, timing matters more than grade. Do not lock capital in a slab at the wrong moment.
What to do with these cards instead
- Sell raw. Photograph them well and be honest about condition. Buyers pay for clarity.
- Protect them. A soft sleeve and a rigid holder cost a few dollars and prevent damage.
- Hold. If you like the card, there is no rule that says it has to be graded.
- Bundle. Lower-value cards often sell better in lots than individually.
A fast screening step
Before you commit to a submission, screen the card with a pre-grade. If it shows a clear ceiling flaw, you have saved the fee. If it comes back clean, you can go into grading with better odds. The upload is free for your first report, so the downside of checking is small.
Frequently asked questions
Should I grade a card with a crease?
Almost never for profit. A crease typically caps a card at a low grade, where the graded price is rarely worth the fee. It can make sense for a rare card where authentication is the point.
What should I do with cards that are not worth grading?
Sell them raw, keep them protected in sleeves and rigid holders, or hold them if you expect the market to move. Do not alter them to try to improve the grade.
Is grading a bad idea if centering is poor?
If centering is already outside the tolerance for the grade that makes the economics work, grading is likely a bad bet, because centering does not change.
Before you pay for grading
Put your card through the same tests, free.
Before The Grade turns the grading companies' published standards into measurable checks. Upload the front and back of a card and get a condition report that shows every measurement and every flaw it found, so you can judge the prediction yourself. 1 free report when you confirm your email.
Grading companies revise their standards and service levels. Figures here reflect what each company has published at the time of writing, so confirm details on the company's own site before you submit. Before The Grade is independent and is not affiliated with PSA, BGS, CGC or SGC.