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HOW TO SUBMIT BASEBALL CARDS TO PSA

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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.

HOW TO SUBMIT BASEBALL CARDS FOR GRADING

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There are several third-party grading companies that can professionally grade and authenticate baseball cards. The two largest and most trusted companies are Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) and Beckett Grading Services (BGS). No matter which company you choose, the basic submission process is similar.

The first step is to register for a submission account on the grading company’s website if you do not already have one. You will need to provide your contact details and preferred shipping address. Most companies require a minimum submission value, usually $100-200 worth of cards, to justify the submission fees.

Once registered, you can login to your account and start adding your cards to the submission order. Carefully inspect each card under bright lighting to check for any defects prior to submitting.Take clear photos of the front and back of each card and upload them during the order process. This allows the graders to inspect the cards remotely before receiving the physical submission.

You will then need to choose a turnaround service level and pay the appropriate grading fees. Standard submissions are usually $10-15 per card but can be much higher for express or concierge services with faster return times. The submission process may also require shipping insurance on the value declared.

Properly package each card in a top loader or sleeve to protect it during transit. If submitting dozens of cards, it’s a good idea to further organize them in a card sheet, team bag, or submission box to keep everything together. Be sure none of the packaging materials can damage the cards.

Print and include a submission form listing all the cards being graded along with your account details. Also pack any other required forms, photos, and payment for shipping and fees. Seal the package securely for mailing.

The grading company will log the receipt of your submission and cards into their system. Highly trained graders will then carefully evaluate each card under magnification on several attributes including centering, corners, edges and surface. They will assign a numerical grade on the widely recognized 1-10 point scale.

After grading is complete, which can take 4-12 weeks depending on the service level, the slabs containing the encapsulated cards will be returned to you. Tracking information is provided throughout the process. You can then enjoy your newly graded baseball cards, with authentication and assigned grade adding provenance and potentially increased value.

Submission is an important process to have vintage or valuable baseball cards protected, authenticated and professionally graded. Following the submission company’s guidelines closely will help ensure a smooth experience from start to getting your historical pieces of sports history back in your collection. Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions!