Yes, cracking a CGC 9 Raichu for TAG submission carries real and significant risks that can outweigh the potential benefits. The primary dangers include physical damage to the card during the extraction process, the possibility of receiving a lower grade upon resubmission, and the permanent loss of the original slab’s authentication value. Collectors often underestimate how difficult it is to safely remove a card from a CGC slab—these cases are locked down tight, and extracting the card without causing new damage to corners, edges, or surface is far more challenging than many assume.
The resubmission gamble is perhaps the most sobering concern. A documented case involving an SGC 8 card illustrates the downside: when cracked and resubmitted to PSA, the card came back as a 6, representing a devastating loss in value. While the TAG label might appeal to certain collectors, jumping from a 9 to a lower grade wipes out any premium you might gain from the new holder. Before you reach for the tools to crack open your CGC 9, you should understand exactly what you’re risking and whether the potential upside in the TAG market is worth it.
Table of Contents
- What Happens When You Crack a CGC Slab?
- The Downgrade Risk and Unpredictable Outcomes
- Loss of the Original Slab and Authentication Value
- Understanding TAG Submission and Market Demand
- The Hidden Costs of the Resubmission Process
- When Cracking Might Make Sense
- The Future of Multi-Service Grading Strategy
- Conclusion
What Happens When You Crack a CGC Slab?
CGC slabs are engineered to keep cards locked in place and protected from external damage. The downside of this secure design is that removing a card requires forceful action, and there’s no reversible way to do it. The extraction process involves physically breaking or prying open the case, which creates multiple points of failure—your tool could slip, the card could bend, the corners could get dinged, or surface scratches could occur during the removal.
Collectors who have attempted this process report that the moment of extraction is the riskiest part of the entire resubmission journey. Unlike older slabs that might have been easier to open, modern CGC cases are intentionally difficult to breach. Even if you successfully extract the card without visible fresh damage, the act of cracking the slab has already destroyed its value as a sealed, authenticated product. The protection and peace of mind that came with the CGC slab are now gone.
The Downgrade Risk and Unpredictable Outcomes
When you crack and resubmit, you’re not just paying another grading fee—you’re gambling with your card’s grade. The resubmission process is unpredictable because grading standards can shift slightly, different graders may see minor imperfections differently, and the card has now been handled multiple times, increasing the chance of new flaws appearing during the grading process. The documented case of the SGC 8 that came back as a PSA 6 after cracking and resubmission is a cautionary tale.
That’s a two-point drop that likely represents a 30 to 50 percent loss in value, depending on the specific card and market. For a CGC 9 Raichu, you might be hoping for a tag 10 or at least a strong 9.5 equivalent, but there’s no guarantee. If your 9 comes back as an 8, you’ve destroyed your original slab, exposed your card to new damage risks, and reduced its grade—a triple loss.
Loss of the Original Slab and Authentication Value
Once you crack the CGC slab, it’s gone forever. You cannot reseal it, and even attempting to would leave visible evidence of tampering, further reducing its value. The original authentication and condition certification from CGC are now meaningless because the card has left that sealed environment.
If the TAG resubmission doesn’t go as planned, you won’t be able to return to your original CGC 9 slab. This is particularly important for high-end or vintage cards where the slab itself carries collector appeal. Some buyers specifically seek out cards in their original slabs because of the historical record and authentication continuity. Once you’ve cracked it, you’ve eliminated that provenance and sold that potential buyer an extracted card rather than a sealed, authenticated piece of collectible history.
Understanding TAG Submission and Market Demand
TAG, or Authentic Grade, is a newer authentication and grading service that some collectors prefer for certain card types and condition levels. The potential appeal of moving your CGC 9 to TAG is that it might capture a different segment of the market or command a premium from collectors who specifically want TAG authentication.
However, this upside is speculative and depends on market conditions that may or may not favor the TAG label over CGC. Before cracking your card, you should research whether TAG 9s or 10s for Raichu are actually selling at prices that would justify the risks you’re taking. If a CGC 9 Raichu is already meeting your target price or selling steadily in your price range, the reward for resubmitting to TAG might be minimal—especially when you’re risking a downgrade or extraction damage that could cost you thousands of dollars in lost value.
The Hidden Costs of the Resubmission Process
Beyond the obvious grading fee and potential downgrade, the resubmission process involves several hidden costs and risks. Shipping the card adds another layer of handling and potential damage, even in a secure carrier. You’re also paying for the new grading service’s time, and depending on the turnaround you choose, you might wait weeks or months to see the result.
There’s also the psychological cost of uncertainty. You’ll be stressed throughout the grading process, wondering whether your card made it through safely, whether the graders will see it the way you do, and whether you’ve made a terrible mistake. Many collectors who crack and resubmit report that the anxiety isn’t worth it, even when the results are acceptable. If the card comes back lower than expected, you’ll second-guess the decision for years.
When Cracking Might Make Sense
There are narrow circumstances where cracking and resubmitting could make sense, though these are rare. If you have a specific reason to believe that TAG has higher demand for a particular Raichu variant, and you’re willing to accept the risks, you might proceed.
If the card is already in borderline condition and you suspect a regrade to an 8 or 7 wouldn’t be a catastrophic loss, the math changes slightly—though this scenario suggests you shouldn’t have been considering a 9 for resubmission in the first place. The most honest assessment is that for most collectors with a CGC 9 Raichu, cracking it for TAG submission is not a sound decision. The risks consistently outweigh the speculative rewards.
The Future of Multi-Service Grading Strategy
As the card grading market continues to evolve, collectors are developing more sophisticated strategies around which service to submit to initially and whether to hold multiple slabs of the same card. Rather than cracking and resubmitting, some collectors simply buy the same card in different grades and holders, allowing them to own both a CGC 9 and a TAG example without risking their original slab. This approach requires more capital upfront, but it’s significantly less risky and allows you to build a collection that reflects your confidence in multiple grading services without destroying existing high-value assets.
Conclusion
Cracking a CGC 9 Raichu for TAG submission is risky and potentially expensive. The documented downsides—physical damage during extraction, unpredictable grade outcomes, and the irreversible loss of your original slab—are concrete and well-established, while the upside of a TAG label remains speculative and market-dependent.
Unless you have strong evidence that TAG commands a significant premium for that specific Raichu in your target market, you should keep your CGC 9 in its original slab. If you’re genuinely interested in owning a TAG version of the same card, consider purchasing a separate copy at a lower grade rather than gambling with your existing CGC 9. Your slab is your protection and your proof of condition—once it’s cracked, you can’t get that back.
