Is Old Rod worth grading?
Pokémon · Dragon Frontiers · 78/101 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 8 Old Rod sells for $54.76 against $0.45 raw: a $54.31 spread, 122× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($41.01) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.45
- PSA 8
- $54.76
- PSA 9
- $41.01
- Gem premium
- 122×
- As of
- Aug 10, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 8 | $54.76 | +$29.31 | +$4.31 | −$95.69 |
| PSA 9 | $41.01 | +$15.56 | −$9.44 | −$109 |
| PSA 8 | $54.76 | +$29.31 | +$4.31 | −$95.69 |
Net = sale price − $0.45 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $44.45 | −$6.00 |
| 50% | $47.88 | −$2.57 |
| 75% | $51.32 | +$0.87 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 69%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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Grading Old Rod — FAQ
Is Old Rod worth grading?
A PSA 8 Old Rod sells for $54.76 against $0.45 raw: a $54.31 spread, 122× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($41.01) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
What gem rate makes grading Old Rod break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Old Rod breaks even when it gems about 69% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $41.01).
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