Is John Tavares [Autograph Patch] #201 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 2009 SP Authentic · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 John Tavares [Autograph Patch] #201 sells for $322 against $244 raw: a $77.82 spread, 1.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($293) 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)
- $244
- Grade 9.5
- $322
- PSA 9
- $293
- Gem premium
- 1.3×
- 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 | $322 | +$52.82 | +$27.82 | −$72.18 |
| PSA 9 | $293 | +$23.47 | −$1.53 | −$102 |
Net = sale price − $244 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% | $300 | +$5.81 |
| 50% | $307 | +$13.14 |
| 75% | $315 | +$20.48 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 5%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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Grading John Tavares [Autograph Patch] #201 — FAQ
Is John Tavares [Autograph Patch] #201 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 John Tavares [Autograph Patch] #201 sells for $322 against $244 raw: a $77.82 spread, 1.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($293) 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.
What gem rate makes grading John Tavares [Autograph Patch] #201 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting John Tavares [Autograph Patch] #201 breaks even when it gems about 5% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $293).
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