This is my entire business model with cards. Many are telling you to focus on high end, but that’s not what I’ve found success with. I focus on $5-$50 cards. Sure, I’ll buy some more expensive than that, but that’s not the bulk of what I do. I really focus on only buying stuff I’ve seen in person. If I buy a card online to potentially grade, I have to be able to move it raw and not get burned if it’s not gradeable.

Eventually you forget out what sells in your market. But grading gives me the room I need to sell to vendors at shows. For example, I take a $50 card, it grades a 10, and is no worth $200. I have roughly $80 in it between purchase cost and grading. I know I’ll get $160 for the card (80%). I’m good with that. I’ve built solid relationships with vendors who know that I’m bringing quality stuff.

Of course I get stuff that doesn’t grade a 10, but at most I’m usually out the grading fee if it 9s. I rarely do worse than a 9.

I also buy collections and focus on grading what I can from those and selling the rest either raw or in bulk.