Preparation: Before submitting cards to PSA, you must first determine which cards you want to grade. Carefully examine each card under good lighting to properly assess its condition and to see if grading will add value. Make sure each card is clean and free of fingerprints, stains or other flaws. Badly damaged cards should generally not be submitted. You’ll want to choose higher value and rare cards that stand to gain the most from an attractive PSA grade.
Account Set Up: Go to the PSA website (PSACard.com) and set up a free submission account. During account creation, you’ll need to provide personal details like your name, address and payment information. This account allows you to manage your submissions online, check status updates and view completed orders.
Service Level: PSA provides several service levels with different turnaround times and pricing. For most standard baseball card submissions, the 30-day regular service or 10-day express service are good options. Faster “rush” services are available but cost significantly more. Carefully consider your timeframe needs and budget.
Submission Form: After setting up your account, log in and click on “Submit Cards” to start a new order. Here you’ll enter the estimated number of cards you plan to include. After completing payment, PSA will email you a customized shipping label and submission form to include with your cards.
Population Report: PSA provides a population report service for $5 per card. This valuable resource shows the number of each card already graded by PSA at each potential numeric grade, giving you a better idea of rarity and its chances of a high grade. Choose this optional service if desired.
Packaging Cards: Place each card in a penny sleeve or soft plastic holder for protection during shipping and handling. Arrange cards in the order listed on your submission form for easy tracking at PSA. Secure multiple cards together tightly in a team bag or top loader depending on the card value.
Payment & Shipping: Pay for your submission order online through your PSA account dashboard. Package your cards securely in the provided shipping label and include the completed submission form. Ship to the PSA address via USPS tracked mail. Signature confirmation provides proof of delivery. Insurance coverage is also highly recommended.
Grading Process: Once received, PSA experts will carefully examine each card under specialized lighting and magnification to assess condition issues like centering, corners, edges and surface flaws. Numeric grades range from 1-10, with higher condition cards receiving grades of 8 or above.
Turnaround Time: Standard 30-day service aims to return completed orders within 30 business days of receipt. Grading can take longer during peak seasons. Express orders usually return much quicker within the estimated timeframe. You’ll receive an email when your order is complete with a tracking number to follow shipment.
Completed Order: Log into your PSA account to view digital images and descriptions of each individually slabbed and authenticated card with its assigned numeric grade. Add graded cards to your personal collector’s inventory for future reference. You’ll be mailed the physically encapsulated cards for display in your collection.
Ongoing use of your PSA account allows convenient submission of additional cards for grading as you acquire new pieces for your collection. Careful preparation, submitting valuable cards, using faster turnaround services and protecting the value of each card with an authentic PSA holder helps maximize the time and money invested in the baseball card grading process. I hope this detailed overview provides helpful guidance on effectively submitting to the industry leader PSA. Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions.
