![Dead TED [Glossy] #5a (1985 Garbage Pail Kids) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0rwAAeSwMDlqWma2/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Dead TED [Glossy] #5a worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 1985 Garbage Pail Kids · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Dead TED [Glossy] #5a sells for $5,276 against $19.95 raw: a $5,256 spread, 264× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($276) 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)
- $19.95
- PSA 10
- $5,276
- PSA 9
- $276
- Gem premium
- 264×
- As of
- Oct 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $5,276 | +$5,231 | +$5,206 | +$5,106 |
| PSA 9 | $276 | +$231 | +$206 | +$106 |
| PSA 8 | $103 | +$58.27 | +$33.27 | −$66.73 |
Net = sale price − $19.95 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% | $1,526 | +$1,456 |
| 50% | $2,776 | +$2,706 |
| 75% | $4,026 | +$3,956 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $6,858 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $5,276 | −$1,583 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $3,165 | −$3,693 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $3,165 | −$3,693 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
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Other 1985 Garbage Pail Kids cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Dead TED [Glossy] #5a — FAQ
Is Dead TED [Glossy] #5a worth grading?
A PSA 10 Dead TED [Glossy] #5a sells for $5,276 against $19.95 raw: a $5,256 spread, 264× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($276) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Dead TED [Glossy] #5a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Dead TED [Glossy] #5a (1985 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $5,276 versus $19.95 for a raw near-mint copy — a 264× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Dead TED [Glossy] #5a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $6,858, ahead of PSA 10 at $5,276. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Dead TED [Glossy] #5a need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
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