Is ALEXANDER The Grate #289b worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 1987 Garbage Pail Kids · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 ALEXANDER The Grate #289b sells for $108 against $2.25 raw: a $106 spread, 48× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.99) 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)
- $2.25
- PSA 10
- $108
- PSA 9
- $54.99
- Gem premium
- 48×
- 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 | $108 | +$80.92 | +$55.92 | −$44.08 |
| PSA 9 | $54.99 | +$27.74 | +$2.74 | −$97.26 |
| PSA 8 | $29.99 | +$2.74 | −$22.26 | −$122 |
Net = sale price − $2.25 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% | $68.28 | +$16.03 |
| 50% | $81.58 | +$29.33 |
| 75% | $94.88 | +$42.63 |
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 | $141 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $108 | −$32.83 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $65.00 | −$76.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $65.00 | −$76.00 | 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 | $108 | $65.00 | $141 | $65.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $60.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $54.99 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $29.99 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $18.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1987 Garbage Pail Kids cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading ALEXANDER The Grate #289b — FAQ
Is ALEXANDER The Grate #289b worth grading?
A PSA 10 ALEXANDER The Grate #289b sells for $108 against $2.25 raw: a $106 spread, 48× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.99) 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 ALEXANDER The Grate #289b worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 ALEXANDER The Grate #289b (1987 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $108 versus $2.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 48× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for ALEXANDER The Grate #289b?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $141, ahead of PSA 10 at $108. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does ALEXANDER The Grate #289b 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.
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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