![Chris Houston [Refractor] #TC253 (Football Cards 2007 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/-b0AAeSwawVqSwsF/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Chris Houston [Refractor] #TC253 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2007 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Chris Houston [Refractor] #TC253 sell for $7.00, only $6.01 above the $0.99 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($6.47) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.99
- Grade 9.5
- $7.00
- PSA 9
- $6.47
- Gem premium
- 7.1×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $7.00 | −$18.99 | −$43.99 | −$144 |
| PSA 9 | $6.47 | −$19.52 | −$44.52 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $0.99 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% | $6.60 | −$44.39 |
| 50% | $6.73 | −$44.26 |
| 75% | $6.87 | −$44.12 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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![Calvin Johnson [Refractor] #TC200 2007 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/OmQAAeSwmbxqST~I/s-l500.jpg)
![Calvin Johnson [Xfractor] #TC200 2007 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/llQAAeSwIo5qSwpG/s-l500.jpg)
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Grading Chris Houston [Refractor] #TC253 — FAQ
Is Chris Houston [Refractor] #TC253 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Chris Houston [Refractor] #TC253 sell for $7.00, only $6.01 above the $0.99 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($6.47) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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