PSA grading is a common procedure for having the quality and value of trading cards professionally assessed.
PSA grading process
As part of the PSA grading process, your trading card goes through a series of steps before it receives a grade.
- First, you register your card online through the PSA website, where you provide all the necessary information, such as the type of card and its expected value. Then you send the card to PSA by post.
- You should make sure that the card is well packaged to avoid damage during transport. Once the card has been received by PSA, it will be checked by experts for various quality features.
- The inspection includes checking the corners, edges, surface and centering of the print. At the end of the process, the card is given a rating on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the best possible condition.
- Each graded card is returned in a sturdy, sealed sleeve containing the PSA label and grade, protecting the card's condition for the long term.
Cost of PSA Grading
The costs for PSA grading are influenced by various factors.
- On the one hand, the value of the card plays a role, and on the other hand, there are different service levels that differ in processing time and price. For regular trading cards, prices start at around $20 per card in the “economy” service.
- However, if you have a particularly valuable card or want faster processing, the fees can be significantly higher. For example, particularly valuable cards or those that need to be appraised in a shorter time frame will cost more, sometimes even several hundred dollars.
- In addition to the basic fees, there are shipping and insurance costs that depend on the value of the cards sent in. You should calculate these fees in advance to avoid unexpected costs.
- PSA also offers memberships that include discounts on appraisal costs and other benefits such as exclusive offers or faster turnaround times.