Is Fernando Mendoza [Pink Lava Refractor] #16 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Fernando Mendoza [Pink Lava Refractor] #16 sells for $303 against $65.00 raw: a $238 spread, 4.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($109) 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)
- $65.00
- PSA 10
- $303
- PSA 9
- $109
- Gem premium
- 4.7×
- 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 | $303 | +$213 | +$188 | +$88.40 |
| PSA 9 | $109 | +$18.76 | −$6.24 | −$106 |
| PSA 8 | $62.71 | −$27.29 | −$52.29 | −$152 |
Net = sale price − $65.00 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% | $157 | +$42.42 |
| 50% | $206 | +$91.08 |
| 75% | $255 | +$140 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. 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 | $394 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $303 | −$90.60 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $182 | −$212 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $182 | −$212 | 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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Full set checklist →Grading Fernando Mendoza [Pink Lava Refractor] #16 — FAQ
Is Fernando Mendoza [Pink Lava Refractor] #16 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Fernando Mendoza [Pink Lava Refractor] #16 sells for $303 against $65.00 raw: a $238 spread, 4.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($109) 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 Fernando Mendoza [Pink Lava Refractor] #16 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Fernando Mendoza [Pink Lava Refractor] #16 (Football Cards 2025 Bowman Best University) sells for about $303 versus $65.00 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4.7× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Fernando Mendoza [Pink Lava Refractor] #16?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $394, ahead of PSA 10 at $303. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Fernando Mendoza [Pink Lava Refractor] #16 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 Fernando Mendoza [Pink Lava Refractor] #16 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Fernando Mendoza [Pink Lava Refractor] #16 breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $109).
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