Is Real Cloutier [Checklist] #238 worth grading?

Hockey · Hockey Cards 1980 Topps · full price guide →

Grading rarely pays for this card

Grade 9.5 copies of Real Cloutier [Checklist] #238 sell for $21.00, only $18.81 above the $2.19 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($18.77) 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): $2.19
Grade 9.5: $21.00
PSA 9: $18.77
Gem premium: 9.6×
As of: Sep 3, 2026

Break-even by outcome and fee

Real Cloutier [Checklist] #238: net result of grading versus selling raw, by outcome and fee tier
If it comes back…	Sells for	Economy / bulk (~$25.00)	Standard (~$50.00)	Express (~$150)
Gem — Grade 9.5	$21.00	−$6.19	−$31.19	−$131
PSA 9	$18.77	−$8.42	−$33.42	−$133

Net = sale price − $2.19 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?

Real Cloutier [Checklist] #238: expected value of submitting by gem probability
Chance it gems	Expected sale	Expected net (standard fee)
25%	$19.33	−$32.86
50%	$19.88	−$32.31
75%	$20.44	−$31.75

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 →

Real Cloutier [Checklist] #238 graded prices by company and grade
Grade	Graded
9.5	$21.00
9	$18.77

Run your own numbers

Should I pay this?

Asking priceGrading fee

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