I have two binders full of gym challenge, neo genesis and team rocket mint first edition common and uncommon cards. Is there a market for these or do I have to get them graded for any serious offers?
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You would have to grade them in order to earn a premium for their condition.
Since these are low value cards, it wouldn’t make sense for the buyer to assume the risk of grading them. For example, lets say the card is worth $20 graded psa 10, and you want to sell it for $5 ungraded. No one will bite at that price considering the cheapest option to grade is $7 before any other fees. Not to mention you need to submit 100 cards minimum to hit that price point, which is $700 before any other costs. Also, if it doesn’t earn a 10, the entire process was a loss. This coupled with the time + work, it’s easier to just buy it at $20 already graded.
Basically until they are graded, they are glorified bulk.
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Probably not the response you’re hoping for here, but I generally pay $0.125 / Card for 1st Ed. Team Rocket through Neo Series Cards in NM/M Condition - and can always stumble across deals like this through eBay and/or local sellers. I could see a small premium if the cards were in-fact MINT Condition (maybe $0.15 - $0.20 / Card depending upon the C. / Un. ratio); however, it’s not going to jump-up to a couple bucks per card (which it sounds like you’re hoping for) unless you’re willing to put the time in and grade these cards yourself.
Thanks for the replies guys! I guess ill just have to wait to scrap together the money for psa. Psa is so expensive though. It pains me to pay over a thousand dollars to grade cards when i could just buy new cards with that money.
That’s part of the rub. Generally I’d say it’s not too risky to grade cards, but if we’re talking C/U you could quite possibly be spending more than it’s worth to grade and have a hard time moving inventory. Just isn’t enough of a market looking for those cards. And those that are would likely only want the finest examples (PSA 10s).
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You inadvertently hit it on the head! This is the exact conundrum.
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If these cards truly are MINT Condition - and you’re really looking to maximize your profit, PSA is probably the best route. However, it’s important that you take into account all factors - and determine whether it’s something you’re willing / able to do. I actually just recently got into selling PSA C. / Un. / R. Unl. Base Set Cards - here’s some information to keep in-mind from my experiences thus far.
Personally, I’ll submit anywhere from 150-200 cards under the 100+ Bulk Submission. After everything is said-and-down (grading cost, shipping and insurance, card supplies, packaging supplies…) my actual grading cost is around $7.60ish / Card. This process will generally take anywhere from two to three months. However, PSA does not charge until after the grading process - so you really don’t have to worry about that bill until the cards are ready to be shipped back to you.
Now fast-forward 2-3 Months - when you have everything graded and back in your possession. From my experience with the Unlimited Base C. / Un. Cards - I sell everything PSA 8 and Below at a loss (usually just unload those cards via eBay Auction). However, it’ll ALWAYS be at a loss (although, the loss is minimal) - and if you’re very careful with pre-grading, you won’t have many PSA 8’s. The remaining 9’s and 10’s I’ll list via eBay BIN. Generally, PSA 9 is my break-even point after all the eBay / PayPal Fees and Shipping Cost - this does not take anything into account for my time listing, answering questions, reviewing offers, packaging… PSA 10 is really the only grade that you’ll be profitable with - and really the only grade that collectors of PSA C. / Un. Cards are looking to purchase.
There’s the monetary aspect of things… A few more “personal” items that you will want to consider:
1.) Do you currently sell on eBay? If you’ll just be starting-out, this will be a whole learning-curve for you. It’s fairly self-explanitory; however, it will take time to get to know the in’s-and-out’s of selling.
2.) Are you willing to be in for the long-haul? Sure, you’ll make a good amount once you sell all of these PSA Cards. However, they’re going to sit, sit, and sit some more listed on eBay before the right buyer comes around! This isn’t going to be something you could list via Auction and turn a decent profit - you basically have to list via BIN and wait for that right buyer to come along.
On the bright-side, if you’re at all interested in the “business” of Pokemon, this would be a GREAT opportunity for you! Personally, I LOVE selling on eBay. I used to do this for extra income back in high-school and college. However, now that I’m working full-time at an “adult” job, I sell on eBay for fun - I truly enjoy it!
Hope this helps!
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I just don’t recommend grading commons and uncommons… It’s up to you though. It just seems like a ton of work for very little reward. Even 1st Ed Base is hardly worth grading unless you’re 99% sure the card is a 10. PSA 9 gets you sometimes the same money you’d get selling the card raw.
The sets you mentioned are even less worth it. You’d be lucky to get $20 on PSA 10s for most of these and as it was just mentioned, they’re going to sit for a long time on ebay before you even find a buyer.
If you’re able to get $1-3 per card, that’s personally the route I’d take. Less trouble and no $1000+ investment when your cards aren’t even worth $1000. 
Idk about that, ive seen psa 10 neo genesis common and uncommons go for around $60. I think at $25 i could see a decent turnover.
Wow thank you so much for your insight! This gave me a great idea of what id have to go through. That tidbit about getting the bill only when the cards come back defiantly is interesting.
I am in a similar situation as you. I recently became interested in the whole grading process after deciding to sell some cards for some extra funds. Up to that point, I was satisfied with owning sets ungraded. I’ve since sent bulk to BGS and PSA since the middle of last year to fund my new project of acquiring sets in a PSA/BGS10. So far, I prefer PSA for the less/significantly expensive cards due to the bulk pricing availability and a better chance of scoring a 10 (that and they don’t charge until shipping the cards). I am still considering BGS for the higher priced items with the expectation it won’t do as well as psa (I imagine getting mostly 9-9.5 on my holos based on past experiences) but I don’t have to spend +$100 per card to have it graded at its current value or risk undervaluing it and it getting damaged during the encapsulation process (new fear from reading recent posts).
I definitely agree in it taking a while if a seller wants to make the most profit he/she can as many cards may sit for a while until the right buyer comes along. You have to be in the mindset or situation where you can stand to wait for a while for it to sell at the reasonable price you set it at. I don’t really collect anymore but this process has re-awakened my passion for the cards with waiting in anticipation for the cards from the grading company and building/selling my cards.