In this episode of the 1000 Card Project Podcast, Ron McKeefery sits down with Reed Kammerman (@synergycards) — one of the most respected voices in the hobby when it comes to grading, gem rates, and building a sustainable sports card business.
Reed breaks down how he turned a $500 seed collection into a thriving grading operation, the analytics behind choosing the right raw cards, and the systems he uses to consistently generate profit one submission at a time. He shares how to start small, how to build confidence, how to bankroll grading fees, and how to avoid the most common mistakes new graders make.
We also dive deep into timing the market, the best sets to grade across sports, how to liquidate low grades, how to build relationships with reliable sellers, and why understanding data is the ultimate cheat code in this hobby. Reed also opens up about the tools he’s created — including his grading guide and web app — and his long-term goal of going full-time.
If you’re looking to grow your grading strategy, scale your hobby business, or learn from someone who has mastered the raw-to-grade model, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
Takeaways
Start with the cheap stuff.
GameStop now allows PSA submissions.
Submitting one card is possible.
Once a month is a good rule of thumb.
Reinvest profits to scale up submissions.
Five cards a month can lead to growth.
The snowball effect is key in card collecting.
Avoid stockpiling too many cards at once.
Starting with low-value cards is effective.
Gradually increase submissions over time.
Chapters
00:00 – Intro: Why Reed Is One of the Best in the Grading Game
01:01 – Icebreaker: Reed’s First Ever Submission (1990 Fleer Jordan)
02:14 – How Reed Became Analytical With Gem Rates From Day One
02:50 – What Reed Is Focusing on in the Hobby Right Now
03:34 – When Reed Realized Grading Could Become a Real Business
05:00 – Building Confidence With Early Submissions & Seed Money
07:17 – How Much Capital You Need to Start Grading Consistently
08:41 – Structuring Monthly Submissions to Create a Snowball Effect
09:31 – Liquidating 7s, 8s, & 9s Without Losing Your Mind
10:49 – How Reed Evaluates Profit on a Per-Order Basis
12:12 – Handling Bad Listings, Returns, and Condition Issues
13:28 – How to Build Relationships With Trusted Sellers
15:17 – What Paying “Strong” Really Means (Reed’s % Breakdown)
16:30 – How Reed Manages Time, Research, and Seasonality
18:49 – The Most Consistent Grading Windows Every Year
21:13 – What Happens When a Set Is Not Gradable? Adjusting Strategy
22:56 – Best Baseball & Basketball Sets to Grade (By Sport)
25:22 – How Topps Taking Over Football Might Change the Game
26:52 – Can Anyone Dethrone PSA? Where the Market Is Headed
28:46 – AI Grading, Turnaround Times, and the Future of Slabs
29:44 – What Tools You Actually Need to Grade Cards Properly
31:13 – How Reed Measures Profit Per Card & Scales His Numbers
33:25 – Why Graded Cards Move Faster—Even in Lower Grades
34:14 – Reed’s Business Model: 90% Raw-to-Grade
34:56 – Other Marketplaces Reed Uses Besides eBay & Facebook
35:39 – How Reed Built a Web App & Guide to Help the Hobby
37:48 – Scaling Content, Discord, and Tools While Staying Organized
38:29 – What’s Next: Reed’s Plan to Go Full-Time in Cards
40:05 – Submission Goals: Working Toward 50 Cards Per Week
40:17 – Reed’s PC: Why Tennis Cards Are His True Passion
41:46 – Ron’s Tennis Story (Jumping the Net!)
43:22 – Where to Follow Reed and Final Thoughts
#gradingcards, #PSAgrading, #sportscardflipping, #gemratestrategy, #1000CardProject