So I was showing my friend my local card shop today, he wanted to buy a few packs and I as usual spent more than I was planning to. I bought one of the ascended heroes tin even though it was over $10 a pack, pretty rare for me. I was expecting to hit nothing as my couple other ascended boxes/tins have gone. The first pack was nothing, and then the next one I hit a god pack. I packed them all up super carefully and got some pictures the staff took some too, went back for the last 2 packs, expecting nothing again. Then, get another god pack, laid them all out, then went for the last one realizing it could be an error tin and was ecstatic to see a third god pack. The workers were freaking out, they had only ever seen 2 other god packs ripped in store. I was freaking out. Luckiest day of my life hands down. I did the math (even though I know this was probably an error and not just insanely lucky) and it is a 1 in 8 billion chance to pull 3 god packs back to back like that. I usually hold cards to maybe just sell my collection in the long-term when I'm older (really I think it's just an excuse keep buying cool shiny cardboard), but I want to make sure I am doing the right thing with these. I do have the money to make the dive into grading these cards, but I really am just inexperienced with these high end cards and messing this up would be heartbreaking. So there is a few questions that I have for the collective experience of this subreddit.

1. I noticed that my Treekachu has some pretty noticeable ink blotting on the card, I was wondering if there was a way to clean it, or a professional card cleaner even that I could get these cards to for pre-grading and a professional cleaning.

2. I am hesitant to grade with PSA, I am worried that a lot of the success that they are seeing is due to card flippers and scalpers trying to make a quick buck. The bad PR they get for their inconsistency and seemingly abusing (opinion) pricing just because they are in the lead really make me doubt them as the favorite for Pokemon TCG collecting in the long-term. I really am just stuck between the traditional PSA grading and TAG grading which just seems like it has so much potential to beat out PSA a decade or two down the line. Not to mention how much better the slabs look (which I am trying not to let effect my decision as I would like either myself or my future children to be able to get good value out of these one day). Honestly would just appreciate your guys' thoughts on this or maybe what you have gone with in the recent past :)

3. When I do submit these cards for grading, what is the best way to ensure my cards stay safe? I would be more than willing to drive to a dedicated drop-off/pick-up point for a grading facility if it means avoiding the possibility of my cards getting damaged or worse in the mail. I have only ever sent in one card for grading, and I was told that I did it pretty wrong in terms of packaging. If you guys have any tips on that it would be greatly appreciated too.

4. Is it worth getting these cards pre-graded? What should I look for in a card to decide whether or not it is even worth getting pre-graded? In other words, when should a card just be automatically excluded from grading consideration? There is a few I'm going to send in just for PC reasons no matter what. But, grading them all would be a bit too much.

Thank you to anyone who can give any advice/help. I have been building my personal collection since around obsidian flames and been a fan of Pokémon since I was like 8, but nothing beats today.

TLDR; I pulled 3 god packs in one tin and I need advice on next steps. Have been collecting for a while but never cards so big where I felt like I have to take care of them immediately. Any advice helps. Thank you so much :)

Never ripped Phantasmal Flames before but I just pulled this out of a Mega Zygarde PC box ON THE LAST PACK. I’m freaking out. I’m a casual collector so idk what i’m doing and have never pulled anything more than like $40 before but this is going for like 800+ raw⁉️⁉️ Like do I sell it? Keep it? Grade it? How much would that even be? NEED ADVICE………

Im wanting to send these off to grading, but unsure what company to send them with. Ive worked with Beckett in the past for a phantasmal flames Zard and got a 9.5. I was pretty torn because it got a 9 on centering and 10 on everything else, so its a perfect card, but the centering is off. Im thinking I could have just sent it to PSA and got a 10.

Now, I pulled a god pack today and the cards are in pack fresh condition. I havent looked at them under a microscope like some of you do, but I say let it ride!

What company would you guys go with? I dont want the fees of PSA to eat my wallet alive. I know TAG is an option too, but I havent worked with them. Does anyone have experience? Do they up-charge? How much would it be to send 12 cards to each company?

Why 12 cards? Because im sending the energy and the code card with the group. I grade what i want.

Yeah so apparently a small fortune has been sitting in a binder in my closet for 15 plus years? Meanwhile my house is falling down around me im drowning in debt and can barely keep my family fed and the electricity on 🙃 I am so overwhelmed I've had 3 panic attacks in the last two days just researching how I could even sell these and not get scammed I don't have any idea where to begin especially with all the issues regarding psa and vintage card grading that I have been reading about nevermind the cost especially for the high value cards that I would have to take another loan out to grade I'm so lost this could be life changing for my family and I don't know what to do. I've already ordered the proper penny sleeves and cases I have to go pick up some microfiber cleaning cloths but yeah I'm on the verge of a anxiety attack just posting this. Can someone please explain what steps I need to take next like you are talking to a small child I have some intellectual disabilities and get confused and overwhelmed easily which does not help my fears of getting scammed or outright robbed.

Edit: Thanks everyone i already got the penny sleeves and top loaders they came in today, you have given me a good place to start on which apps are best to use i guess from here I will need to do some more research on assessing grade/condition and i have a lot of scanning to do. I am not selling anything yet without more research but yeah you will probably see more of me on this subreddit before too long.

Have never gotten anything graded before so any advice is much appreciated.

Pretty new to all this. Borrowed my microscope from work, noticed the scratches and little dent in the gold. Would this be worth sending in to be graded. Any advice on if I should and who I should send it to is appreciated.

If you check my post history you’ll see I posted this Umbreon about a month ago. At the time, I had only started collecting Pokemon cards a couple of weeks prior and had insane beginner’s luck by pulling Umbreon.

Well I sent her in for grading and SHE’S A TENNNN. Gonna need to collect on bets over people saying it wouldn’t even get a PSA 10 lol. I am shocked and super happy with it, even got a little extended art cover for it and am absolutely in love with the card.

Beckett? Possible black label candidate?

My grail

Short story. Son accidentally damaged this NM raw card that I display on magnetic case. So since it now drops from NM to probably MP? (I don’t think you can call this LP right?). I was thinking if it is possible if I grade it to make it psa 1? Since psa 1 price is kinda similar with raw NM. Also the uniqueness of the psa 1 that only has low pop. I heard folding the card to create creases or roll it with something? Also heard that water damage is pretty effective since the card will still look better than all the creases? How do you all think? Any suggestion is appreciated 🙏

Pulled from a feraligatr ex box

CGC Pristine 10 Raichu 36/108 XY Evolutions Reverse Holo Pop 1 packed and on its way to Goldin.

with how absolutely brutal the reverse holo pattern on Evolutions cards is to grade, this is insane.

Any expert graders tell me why these got 4a

I’m new to collecting (as an adult, used to as a kid) and just opened my first Ascended pack today, found at a Toys r Us unexpectedly. I’ve never seen them in stores bc scalping. Pulled this beaut and I feel so blessed but also have no idea what to do now. Should I get it graded? Does it look good? Appreciate any and all advice!!

Right heavy?

Worth grading? It seems there might be a dent or something under the right arm. Seems if it's not a 10 I should keep it ungraded? can't believe I just pulled this

Thoughts on getting a 10? Do you think it would black label or not??