Is Eric Fichaud #8 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1997 Donruss Preferred Color Guard · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Eric Fichaud #8 sells for $171 against $5.63 raw: a $166 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.64) 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)
- $5.63
- PSA 10
- $171
- PSA 9
- $34.64
- Gem premium
- 30×
- As of
- Sep 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $171 | +$141 | +$116 | +$15.83 |
| PSA 9 | $34.64 | +$4.01 | −$20.99 | −$121 |
| PSA 8 | $17.07 | −$13.56 | −$38.56 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $5.63 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% | $68.84 | +$13.21 |
| 50% | $103 | +$47.42 |
| 75% | $137 | +$81.63 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 15%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $223 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $171 | −$51.54 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $103 | −$120 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $103 | −$120 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
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Other 1997 Donruss Preferred Color Guard cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Eric Fichaud #8 — FAQ
Is Eric Fichaud #8 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Eric Fichaud #8 sells for $171 against $5.63 raw: a $166 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($34.64) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Eric Fichaud #8 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Eric Fichaud #8 (Hockey Cards 1997 Donruss Preferred Color Guard) sells for about $171 versus $5.63 for a raw near-mint copy — a 30× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Eric Fichaud #8?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $223, ahead of PSA 10 at $171. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Eric Fichaud #8 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
What gem rate makes grading Eric Fichaud #8 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Eric Fichaud #8 breaks even when it gems about 15% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $34.64).
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