Is ALIEN IAN [Refractor] #138a worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 2021 Garbage Pail Kids Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 ALIEN IAN [Refractor] #138a sells for $50.00 against $3.70 raw: a $46.30 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.99) 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)
- $3.70
- PSA 10
- $50.00
- PSA 9
- $39.99
- Gem premium
- 14×
- 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 | $50.00 | +$21.30 | −$3.70 | −$104 |
| PSA 9 | $39.99 | +$11.29 | −$13.71 | −$114 |
Net = sale price − $3.70 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% | $42.49 | −$11.21 |
| 50% | $45.00 | −$8.70 |
| 75% | $47.50 | −$6.20 |
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 | $65.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $50.00 | −$15.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $30.00 | −$35.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $30.00 | −$35.00 | 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 | $50.00 | $30.00 | $65.00 | $30.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $44.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $39.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Grading ALIEN IAN [Refractor] #138a — FAQ
Is ALIEN IAN [Refractor] #138a worth grading?
A PSA 10 ALIEN IAN [Refractor] #138a sells for $50.00 against $3.70 raw: a $46.30 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.99) 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 ALIEN IAN [Refractor] #138a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 ALIEN IAN [Refractor] #138a (2021 Garbage Pail Kids Chrome) sells for about $50.00 versus $3.70 for a raw near-mint copy — a 14× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for ALIEN IAN [Refractor] #138a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $65.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $50.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does ALIEN IAN [Refractor] #138a 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.
Check my card free