Is Lame LEM #497a worth grading?
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Strong grading candidate — 16× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Lame LEM #497a sells for $47.99 against $2.92 raw: a $45.07 spread, 16× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($15.00) 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)
- $2.92
- PSA 10
- $47.99
- PSA 9
- $15.00
- Gem premium
- 16×
- 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 | $47.99 | +$20.07 | −$4.93 | −$105 |
| PSA 9 | $15.00 | −$12.92 | −$37.92 | −$138 |
| PSA 8 | $11.99 | −$15.93 | −$40.93 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $2.92 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% | $23.25 | −$29.67 |
| 50% | $31.50 | −$21.42 |
| 75% | $39.74 | −$13.18 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $62.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $47.99 | −$14.01 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $29.00 | −$33.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $29.00 | −$33.00 | 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 | $47.99 | $29.00 | $62.00 | $29.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $17.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $15.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $11.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Full set checklist →Grading Lame LEM #497a — FAQ
Is Lame LEM #497a worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lame LEM #497a sells for $47.99 against $2.92 raw: a $45.07 spread, 16× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($15.00) 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 Lame LEM #497a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lame LEM #497a (1988 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $47.99 versus $2.92 for a raw near-mint copy — a 16× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lame LEM #497a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $62.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $47.99. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lame LEM #497a 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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