Is Shutdown DONALD #156 worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · Garbage Pail Kids Trumpocracy · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Shutdown DONALD #156 sells for $110 against $59.99 raw: a $50.01 spread, 1.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($99.99) 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)
- $59.99
- Grade 9.5
- $110
- PSA 9
- $99.99
- Gem premium
- 1.8×
- 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 | $110 | +$25.01 | +$0.01 | −$99.99 |
| PSA 9 | $99.99 | +$15.00 | −$10.00 | −$110 |
Net = sale price − $59.99 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% | $102 | −$7.50 |
| 50% | $105 | −$4.99 |
| 75% | $107 | −$2.49 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 100%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $110 |
| 9 | $99.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Full set checklist →Grading Shutdown DONALD #156 — FAQ
Is Shutdown DONALD #156 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Shutdown DONALD #156 sells for $110 against $59.99 raw: a $50.01 spread, 1.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($99.99) 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.
What gem rate makes grading Shutdown DONALD #156 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Shutdown DONALD #156 breaks even when it gems about 100% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $99.99).
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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