I have used Battersbox a ton as well (along with Sirius Sports). When I get a low grade set, I separate the wheat from the chaff and put them in multiple categories - 1-4 (1 being it is a filler and need an immediate upgrade, 4 being there could be a surface crease when I hold it to the light with 2-3 everything in between). I then create additional categories of superstar, star, team card, common, high number, and special/multi-player card.
On my spreadsheet, I look at the high book, the most recent BIN for raw, BIN for PSA 6 & 7, and the most recent average auction price. This is a long process, but it equips me when I begin to knock out the upgrades. For the commons, starting with priority 1, I will go to the search page on ebay and start doing a BIN for EX cards at Battersbox. Sometimes, they are not the least expensive, but I have never been disappointed with the quality of the card - if they say it is EX, it is minimally EX. The free shipping is a plus. I will also look for any value. In my 59, I found a Clemente SGC 80 for 50 bucks as a BIN that just listed. I found a Kaline for below the best recent auction price, etc.
I have to drive to New Jersey from Pittsburgh about once a month at 56.5 cents a mile (800 mile round trip). After fillups, each trip gives about 300 in profit in the baseball card fund. Trips are now named - i.e. A trip in October was the Maris rookie trip, In November, it was the (partial) #10 PSA 6 '59 Mantle trip. I just took my '59 Gibson PSA 6 trip. It feeds the habit and keeps the peace at home. My big buys come at bonus time and then I fill in the colors in the interim.
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