Is Carol Vadnais #85 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1978 O-Pee-Chee · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Carol Vadnais #85 sells for $40.00 against $0.92 raw: a $39.08 spread, 43× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($36.00) 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)
- $0.92
- Grade 9.5
- $40.00
- PSA 9
- $36.00
- Gem premium
- 43×
- As of
- Sep 2, 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 | $40.00 | +$14.08 | −$10.92 | −$111 |
| PSA 9 | $36.00 | +$10.08 | −$14.92 | −$115 |
Net = sale price − $0.92 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% | $37.00 | −$13.92 |
| 50% | $38.00 | −$12.92 |
| 75% | $39.00 | −$11.92 |
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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Grading Carol Vadnais #85 — FAQ
Is Carol Vadnais #85 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Carol Vadnais #85 sells for $40.00 against $0.92 raw: a $39.08 spread, 43× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($36.00) 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.
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