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SENDING BASEBALL CARDS TO PSA

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PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is considered the top grading service for sports cards like baseball cards. With the expanding sports card collecting market, many collectors are looking to submit their vintage and modern cards to PSA to slab and grade. The grading process provides authentication and assurance of a card’s condition which dramatically impacts its value. Sending cards to PSA takes some planning and knowledge of their process to get the best results.

To start, you will need to register for a PSA account on their website PSACard.com. Here you can track submissions, get estimate shipping costs, and view turnaround times. PSA offers several service levels for grading with different costs and processing speeds. The most popular is the regular service, which currently has a 14 week stated processing time but is quicker recently. Expedited options are available too for a premium fee if a faster return is needed.

Before submitting, take the time to carefully inspect each card you plan to grade. Judge the centering, corners, edges and surface very critically to form your own condition estimate. PSA graders are extremely strict so cards need to be pristine inside and out to score high enough to impact value positively. Minor nicks, dents or imperfections could result in lower grades that don’t enhance the card’s worth. It’s best to submit only top condition vintage cards when starting out.

Once you have your cards selected, you will need custom PSA submission holders to safely ship them. These are plastic toploaders with adhesive slabs that the cards sit facedown in. Proper sizing is key so cards don’t shift during transit. Standard sizes are available online or at hobby shops but odd sized rookie cards may require custom orders. Take care when placing cards in the holders to avoid fingerprints or any tilt.

You’ll then need to fill out PSA submission forms listing each card along with the estimated grade and value. Accurate population report research helps support your grade predictions which PSA considers. Under or over estimating can impact fees charged. Your goal is to closely match graders while giving yourself room for slight variances down. Listing estimated values also protects you in case of damage or loss during the process.

Shipping methods to PSA is another consideration. Regular USPS mail is inexpensive but risks damage more. Registered mail adds traceability but isn’t much quicker. UPS or FedEx with tracking are recommended by many as the safest option, especially for higher valued cards. Proper packaging is needed regardless of carrier. Double boxing submissions and using plenty of bubble wrap minimizes potential transit issues.

Once received, PSA has a detailed multi-step grading process cards go through including initial inspection, microscope analysis, attribute verification and final grading. Cards are then encapsulated in hard plastic holders with the signature black labels stating grade, ID number, sport and other details. Speed and accuracy is their priority to get collectibles safely graded and back to customers.

Tracking and status updates are available on the PSA website during processing to see where a submission is at in the queue. Notifications are also sent upon completion with final values and fees due. The return shipment then heads back to you, again ideally with tracking and insurance for high value cards. Seeing prized vintage cards slabbed and authenticated is very rewarding after the wait!

Being meticulous in card selection, proper packaging and submission forms is key to having a smooth first PSA grading experience. Take time researching population reports, condition census and listening to experienced collectors feedback on forums too. While fees add up for large submissions, third party authentication at the highest levels improves sellability and collector confidence tremendously in this booming marketplace. With care and planning, your cards have an excellent shot at solid grades to enhance value and historical preservation when sent to the leader that is PSA.

SENDING BASEBALL CARDS IN THE MAIL

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Sending Baseball Cards Through the Mail: A Collector’s Guide

Baseball card collecting is a fun and engaging hobby for people of all ages. While collectors may enjoy building and trading their collections in person, sending cards through the mail allows hobbyists to connect with others from around the world. Whether trading with a friend across town or making deals on online trading forums, properly packaging and mailing cards is essential to ensuring a safe arrival at their destination. Here is an in-depth look at how to send baseball cards through the postal system.

Protection is Key

The most important thing when mailing cards is preventing damage during transit. Baseball cards are prone to bending, rubbing, and scratches if not properly protected. Collectors should have sturdy envelopes, toploaders, and other supplies on hand for shipping. A penny sleeve is the bare minimum – these thin plastic sleeves keep individual cards from direct contact with other surfaces.Toploaders are rigid plastic sleeves that fully enclose cards. Toploaders stacked end to end within an envelope provide multi-layer protection. Card savers – thicker toploading-style sleeves – offer even more robust shielding.

For larger shipments like team sets or binders full of cards, bubble mailers or cardboard boxes are necessary. Bubble wrap lining the inside protects from impact. Ensure cards do not slide around loosely inside mailers by using crumpled paper or air packets. Avoid using regular paper envelopes which offer little defense from the elements or rough handling by automated postal equipment. Using quality packaging adds only minimal cost but saves headaches from damaged goods down the road.

Postal Considerations

With adequate protection in place, collectors need to pick the right class of mail service. Most basic card trades or sales can use First Class Mail which provides tracking and is reasonably priced. Delivery confirmation is recommended for any shipment over $20 in value. For multiple cards or higher value vintage singles, Priority Mail or Priority Express services with insurance are worth the small additional postage. Delivery time is generally 2-3 business days between most US locations.

Correctly addressing the package and applying proper postage are also important. Include a return address in case of any issues along the way. Most local Post Offices can weigh packages and suggest the proper stamp values if mailing online tools show uncertainty. International cards require customs forms, and extra postage and time. For large volume traders, investing in a postal scale pays for itself. Proper prep ensures items get where they need to go smoothly and cards maintain their condition and value upon arrival for the receiving collector.

Trading Platforms and Feedback

Online forums dedicated to sports card collecting like TradingCardDB and BlowoutCards allow members to set up want lists, show inventory for trade, and initiate deals through messaging. Tracking confirmed swaps builds reputable trader status over time. Successful money-back guaranteed sales can also take place, with the platform providing buyer/seller protection structures. Feedback left by other members about timeliness of shipping, packaging quality, and transaction satisfaction help establish a trader’s credibility. Meeting high volume monthly trade requirements may eventually lead to elite “Power Trader” designation on some sites showing an extensive positive history.

While in-person meets at shows offer the benefit of directly inspecting cards, online forums remove geographical barriers and allow collectors worldwide to find matches not possible near their local area. Cross-referencing reputations on multiple platforms gives a fuller picture before dealing with unfamiliar members. The combination of securely packaged mailings and trading with known entities helps minimize risks inherent to remote dealing. Building a strong online presence benefits the hobby by facilitating connections between like-minded collectors far and wide.

Collecting baseball cards through actively trading and engaging with the larger community keeps the passion for the cardboard lively year after year. Following best practices for preparing packages ensures deliveries arrive as intended, keeping both established collections and the cycle of exchanging cards safely moving from door to door. With care taken in execution, sending cards through the postal system allows geographically distant collectors to participate jointly in growing, upgrading, and enjoying their baseball sets together across any distance.

Using the proper protective mailing supplies combined with the right class of postal service and diligent addressing will virtually guarantee safe delivery of baseball cards sent between hobbyists, whether local or international trades. Documentation on reputable online forums creates trust over the long haul for remote dealing. Together these approaches keep the joy of questing for that next needed addition to a collection thriving through cards traveling the miles via postal carriers worldwide.