Is CHRIS Mess #254a worth grading?
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Strong grading candidate — 52× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 CHRIS Mess #254a sells for $154 against $2.99 raw: a $151 spread, 52× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($27.57) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.99
- PSA 10
- $154
- PSA 9
- $27.57
- Gem premium
- 52×
- As of
- Aug 16, 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 | $154 | +$126 | +$101 | +$1.00 |
| PSA 9 | $27.57 | −$0.42 | −$25.42 | −$125 |
| PSA 8 | $23.86 | −$4.13 | −$29.13 | −$129 |
Net = sale price − $2.99 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% | $59.18 | +$6.19 |
| 50% | $90.78 | +$37.79 |
| 75% | $122 | +$69.40 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 20%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $200 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $154 | −$46.01 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $92.00 | −$108 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $92.00 | −$108 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $154 | $92.00 | $200 | $92.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $30.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $27.57 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $23.86 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $19.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Full set checklist →Grading CHRIS Mess #254a — FAQ
Is CHRIS Mess #254a worth grading?
A PSA 10 CHRIS Mess #254a sells for $154 against $2.99 raw: a $151 spread, 52× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($27.57) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 CHRIS Mess #254a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 CHRIS Mess #254a (1987 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $154 versus $2.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 52× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for CHRIS Mess #254a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $200, ahead of PSA 10 at $154. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does CHRIS Mess #254a 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.
What gem rate makes grading CHRIS Mess #254a break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting CHRIS Mess #254a breaks even when it gems about 20% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $27.57).
Is your Garbage Pail Kids card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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