Are unopened packs worth getting graded?

lightningboy

Before you answer, let me first set some parameters:

1. Grading them simply to flip them

2. Referring mainly to (1978 - 1986) excluding ridiculous packs like '79 Hockey or '86 Basketball

3. Excluding packs with high profile rookie cards showing

4. Assuming packs would grade PSA 8 at best.

Just trying to gauge if the cost of $14/pack plus minimum $2.50/pack return insurance as well as your cost of shipping them is really worthwhile relative to same packs being sold raw on Ebay.

I know the same question could be asked of cards, but the grading fee seems to be a major deterrent on packs

Thanks, Tom

MULLINS5

Depends on what markup you're working with. I'd need to make at least $80 per pack (on top of what the pack is worth ungraded). This is why I am not in the sports card/pack business side of things.

grote15

Spread between raw and graded is at least grading fees, and if you get back a high grade like PSA 9 on a tougher pack, particularly wax, it will be much greater than that.



In general, spread is greater for wax vs cello, too.

flcardtrader

After perusing sold listings on Ebay for PSA packs in the range you provided, I would say grading packs from these years to flip them is probably a crapshoot at best. Granted, I am doing more of a top down approach looking at the packs sold over the last few weeks. To Grote's point, there is a premium to be paid for graded packs and it usually covers the grading fees paid, however, there are an awful lot of PSA packs listed in the 81-86 range in the $20-$30 range, if not less. There were some PSA 9 packs that actually do have quite a spread - but thats if your sub returns 9's and not 8's. Seems to me like subbing cards is a better play to flip for fortune.

grote15

I would agree that 80s packs are probably not worth grading as they are plentiful enough and less likely to be resealed vs 70s wax, which is MUCH more risky when buying raw on ebay, which is the main reason for the greater spread in price raw vs graded. However, high grade wax, even from the 80s, will often command very strong pruces.

rtimmer

I'd say Tim's spot on. If you're trying to flip I would stick with 1980 and earlier in baseball and look for wax packs with a shot at an 8 or better.