Is Mad MICHAEL [Red] #7a worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 2015 Garbage Pail Kids 30th Anniversary · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Mad MICHAEL [Red] #7a sells for $384 against $134 raw: a $250 spread, 2.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($349) 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)
- $134
- Grade 9.5
- $384
- PSA 9
- $349
- Gem premium
- 2.9×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $384 | +$225 | +$200 | +$99.76 |
| PSA 9 | $349 | +$190 | +$165 | +$64.80 |
| PSA 8 | $173 | +$14.03 | −$10.97 | −$111 |
Net = sale price − $134 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% | $358 | +$174 |
| 50% | $367 | +$182 |
| 75% | $375 | +$191 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $384 |
| 9 | $349 |
| 8 | $173 |
| 7 | $122 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2015 Garbage Pail Kids 30th Anniversary cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Mad MICHAEL [Red] #7a — FAQ
Is Mad MICHAEL [Red] #7a worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Mad MICHAEL [Red] #7a sells for $384 against $134 raw: a $250 spread, 2.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($349) 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.
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.
Check my card free