There are several reputable companies that offer baseball card grading services with locations across the United States. The three largest and most well-known companies are Beckett Grading Services (BGS), Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), and Hit Parade Grading (HPG). All three companies have detailed authentication and grading processes to assess the condition and authenticity of your cards.
BGS and PSA are likely the two largest and most recognizable names in the grading industry. BGS has main grading facilities in Dallas, Texas while also partnering with local comic and card shops across the country to accept submissions. They can be found by searching “BGS drop off locations near me” on Google. PSA is headquartered in Encino, California but also has authorized resubmission centers in several major cities. You can view PSA drop off locations by visiting PSAcard.com and clicking on the “Submit Cards” tab. They list authorized dealers, card shops, and collectible stores where you can drop off your cards for grading.
Hit Parade Grading is a smaller but growing operation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While they don’t have as extensive of a dealer network as the larger companies, they do partner with select local card shops to intake submissions. You can search “HPG drop off locations” or contact their customer service to inquire about authorized submitters closest to your location. All three grading services also offer shipping options directly to their facilities if needed.
Once you’ve located an authorized submitter near you, the process generally involves the following basic steps:
You’ll need to register an account on the grading company’s website if you don’t already have one. This allows you to track the status of your submission.
Prepare your cards for grading by carefully packaging them in rigid holders or sleeves. Include your completed submission form listing the cards.
Take or ship your packaged cards to the authorized submitters drop off location during their listed business hours. Most dealers charge a small fee per card to intake the submission on your behalf.
The cards will then be shipped or delivered to the main grading company facilities by the authorized dealer. Turnaround times vary but are usually 2-6 weeks depending on volume and service level selected.
After grading, the cards will be encapsulated or holdered protecting the assigned numerical grade. They are then shipped back to the original authorized dealer for pickup or directly to you if shipped in originally.
You can now proudly display your authenticated and graded baseball cards, knowing their condition and authenticity has been verified which can greatly impact their future value if sold or traded.
Therefore in summary, with a bit of searching online you should be able to locate an authorized submitter for one of the major grading companies like BGS, PSA, or HPG within reasonable driving distance. Working through a local dealer simplifies the submission process compared to shipping directly while supporting your nearby collectibles businesses. With the proper packaging and paperwork, getting cards professionally authenticated and assigned condition grades is very straightforward.
