Is Eric Staal [Refractor] #149 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 2003 Topps Pristine · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Eric Staal [Refractor] #149 sells for $44.00 against $8.79 raw: a $35.21 spread, 5.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($40.00) 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)
- $8.79
- Grade 9.5
- $44.00
- PSA 9
- $40.00
- Gem premium
- 5.0×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $44.00 | +$10.21 | −$14.79 | −$115 |
| PSA 9 | $40.00 | +$6.21 | −$18.79 | −$119 |
| PSA 8 | $8.27 | −$25.52 | −$50.52 | −$151 |
Net = sale price − $8.79 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% | $41.00 | −$17.79 |
| 50% | $42.00 | −$16.79 |
| 75% | $43.00 | −$15.79 |
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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Full set checklist →Grading Eric Staal [Refractor] #149 — FAQ
Is Eric Staal [Refractor] #149 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Eric Staal [Refractor] #149 sells for $44.00 against $8.79 raw: a $35.21 spread, 5.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($40.00) 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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