PSA Rating: Is it worth it?

[acrajchel]

Hi,

I am a new member here and just recently started collecting cards again. Like a lot of you guys I collected as a kid, but have since gotten back into it. I am mostly interested in the pre-2000 stuff, like Base, Fossil, Jungle, and Base 2. I have a complete Base set, a complete Fossil set, and need the Rare's to finish off my Jungle set. I also have about half of the black star promo cards, a couple error cards, some Prereleases, and about half the base set in Japanese. I have also purchased several booster packs which include 1st Ed Fossil (all 3 artworks), Unlimited Edition Jungle (all 3 artworks), Unlimited Base (missing Charizard), and all artworks for Unlimited Base 2. My question is about getting these PSA rated.

I see on eBay that a PSA 9 or 10 1st Ed Base Booster is up for $700-$1000, but is it worth getting mine rated? They are not 1st Ed except the Fossils, but they appear to me to be in great shape. They are 100% sealed, no cracks or fading ink, etc. As they sit, they are worth about $20-$40 per pack, what is a reasonable, realistic value if they achieve a PSA rating of say a 7 or 8? I am trying to figure out if it is worth the investment of getting them rated, or if it doesn't really affect it too much. Also, several websites I have read say to always get your Base Charizard PSA rated, even if it is Unlimited and not in Mint condition, any thoughts on this? The Charizard I have has minor edge wear and some scratches on the foil, but no stains, bends, or creases. I would think it will be about a PSA 7.

Thanks

 

[donavannj]

Well, it's worth it if the grade causes the packs to gain more in value than the shipping and grading costs for the packs.

However, I think your non first edition boosters do not currently stand to gain enough value to make it worthwhile. That's just a guess, though, without checking on eBay to see what the current rates would be for graded non first edition booster packs.

I'm not sure your non-1st edition Charizard would currently gain enough in value to make the grading of that worthwhile, though Charizard is a popular enough Pokemon that there's effectively a "Charizard premium" on any Charizard cards, so that may still be worth a shot anyway.