![John Randle [Refractor] #284 (Football Cards 1996 Topps Finest) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Hp4AAeSw5-pqKekD/s-l1600.jpg)
Is John Randle [Refractor] #284 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 1996 Topps Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 John Randle [Refractor] #284 sells for $46.00 against $5.37 raw: a $40.63 spread, 8.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($42.00) 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)
- $5.37
- Grade 9.5
- $46.00
- PSA 9
- $42.00
- Gem premium
- 8.6×
- As of
- Jul 11, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $46.00 | +$15.63 | −$9.37 | −$109 |
| PSA 9 | $42.00 | +$11.63 | −$13.37 | −$113 |
| PSA 8 | $19.96 | −$10.41 | −$35.41 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $5.37 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% | $43.00 | −$12.37 |
| 50% | $44.00 | −$11.37 |
| 75% | $45.00 | −$10.37 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $46.00 |
| 9 | $42.00 |
| 8 | $19.96 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1996 Topps Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading John Randle [Refractor] #284 — FAQ
Is John Randle [Refractor] #284 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 John Randle [Refractor] #284 sells for $46.00 against $5.37 raw: a $40.63 spread, 8.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($42.00) 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.
Is your football card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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