I’m planning to sell some higher-end cards to complete a longterm goal of a NM/MINT Base 1st Edition set, which is the last 1st edition set I need to complete my binder collection (besides a few holos here and there). I’m willing to pay VERY fair prices – possibly even PSA 9 prices for genuinely mint ungraded holos. My explanation is that I want these cards for my BINDER, not to regrade or resell, and after testing out some new methods of cracking open PSA cases (thanks to everyone who responded to my thread) I’d rather not risk cracking open $500 cards. My ideal purchase would be mint cards with centering issues, so they’d only be a PSA 8 if graded. Is it at all possible anymore to find such cards in genuinely mint condition? I sure miss 2012…
Yes, it’s possible, but it’ll take a while to complete the set. I’ve been getting NM from 2016-2017. You just need to check ebay/local stores often.
Maybe if you can find someone with a PSA 8 graded card and you offer a psa 9 price, they’d be willing to take on the risk of breaking the case themselves
Possible, yes, probable, no.
If an actual ungraded mint copy appears it’s going to most likely sell for more than a “fair” price. Anything ungraded that is grade-able earns a premium.
You can find EX-NM copies which are great for binders, but if you truly want ungraded NM-Mint+ it’s going to be a grind.
Oh yeah it’s possible…
In the year of 2017 I bought four 1st ED Charizard from four different sellers. With the exception of one getting a 8.5 (ugh), the other three scored a PSA 9.
So it’s possible, but it’s all about being at the right place at the time, and having the funds to afford it when you’re there.
Edit: Forgot to mention of of these actually got a All 9.5 BGS grade too, that was pretty cool.
Where did you find them? Next to the fountain of youth and the Dead Sea scrolls?? ??
Next time you buy one hit me up haha
Close, but I had to travel, day and night, in the mystical lands known as eBay.
Random thought: Are BGS cases easier to crack open?
Else you could send PSA graded cards over to BGS and then crack their cases open… But it’s a long shot 
you nailed it 
As Scott said, for some reason, mint ungraded cards are often listed higher in price than graded of the same condition. Doesn’t make sense, but it’s pretty common for that to be the case.
Make a custom binder that fits graded cards, problem solved! 
It also depends on the person, to some a light play/moderately played card is “Near Mint” and to others a mint card is flawless aka Gem Mint/Pristine, but they consider that just Mint…
We call those people “sellers”…
and those “buyers”.
I would suggest buying very strong psa 8 copies and cracking them open, since those pretty much can pass for a psa 9 to the naked eye test. That’s what one of my friends does with his shadowless collection. He wants mint copy but he’s able to buy it at psa 8 market value. Works super well.
Also one of my friends has been testing that theory of mint ungraded card going for higher than psa 9 prices. So far it’s been pretty solid 
but it’ll depend on the card. Good luck.
Yeah it’s really widespread at this point. Sometimes looks like PSA 8 and sells for over PSA 9 price. Haha
You can be certain if you have a Charizard card or something really sough after that has like 1% chance of getting a PSA 10, throw it at auction and people will go to war over it. It’s stupid, but that’s ebay for you.
Is it possible… to learn this power?
This is a dilemna for anyone selling, do I bother to get it graded for sale or just sell it. I think it comes down to how many cards the seller has, and whether he or she wants to go through the hassle of grading.
I have that problem now, with both first edition and shadowless sets, compounded by being clueless as to what PSA (or BGS) grading entails. I know what kind of grading to expect from baseball cards, but it seems playable cards, like Pokemon and Magic, have slightly different rules. It seems like the hassle is worth it if you have enough cards, and if they are in decent condition. At least that has been my experience with the offers I have received for my currently ungraded cards. If I only had one big card, like a 1st edition Charizard, I might take whatever was offered and be done with everything. But if I have a huge number of desirable cards, and the offers have been low, then almost any decent grade (7 or higher) would be a huge improvement. At least buyers know exactly what I am offering.
With 1st ed base holos, it’ s better for both parties to have the card graded. You might think you have a $500 9 worthy card and the buyer thinks it looks like a $200 8. You’ll have to give some kind of discount(much steeper than the $7 grading cost) anyway on raw cards, even if you’re 100% sure what kind of grade it would get.
IMO, there’s plenty of NM/M copies but they’re locked up in private collections. It doesn’t make sense not to grade them if you’re selling, unless you’re being dishonest about condition or want to try your luck at auction and hope for a bid war.
If you don’t like money then sell them raw.
If you like money, send them to our site grading service (smpratte). He’ll handle everything for a more than fair fee.