PSA Shipping question

[Aribasebal]

Quick question-Can you ship to PSA a card in a magnetic one touch or is it only in top loaders? Also, besides the standard packaging and order form are there any special requirements when shipping to PSA? Thanks for your help!

[towerymt]

You can. Put a sticky note on it, "OK to open". Otherwise they may stop to contact you first (typically for the factory sealed with sticker ones, I've heard)

I'd probably put a piece of tape over the top to hold it closed (and fold the ends over so the tape is easy to remove). If the card moves at all in the holder, you can place a new penny sleeve on top of the card, then put the top piece back on the mag holder. Sandwiching a sleeve in the holder can keep the card from moving. (I don't mean to put the card in a sleeve, just to be clear)

I typically put cards between heavy cardboard and rubber-band it (rather than tape). I don't know how they open taped up stacks but I dont want razor blades near my cards. Some worry rubber bands could damage cards from the compression. I use pretty thin ones, diagonally from corner to corner, two rubber bands total. Keeps them more stable, I think, than just going around the middle and one over the long side end to end.

I typically box the cards with bubble wrap, etc to keep them from shifting, then ship in a padded mailer. I use USPS flat rate Express padded mailers. Close to $30, but arrives in 2 days from the east coast, and I haven't had one go missing yet. I don't pay for insurance.

[mnvikingstwins]

If you ship in sealed one touch then cut the sticker yourself first

[Bambino22]

I also just shipped some of my order in magnetic one touches. Since they say they just advise against it the same as top loaders.

I don't understand why they are advising against top loaders? I thought it provides me for more secure shipping. Causing me delays in processing seams pretty silly.

[Bambino22]

Originally Posted by towerymt

You can. Put a sticky note on it, "OK to open". Otherwise they may stop to contact you first (typically for the factory sealed with sticker ones, I've heard)

I'd probably put a piece of tape over the top to hold it closed (and fold the ends over so the tape is easy to remove). If the card moves at all in the holder, you can place a new penny sleeve on top of the card, then put the top piece back on the mag holder. Sandwiching a sleeve in the holder can keep the card from moving. (I don't mean to put the card in a sleeve, just to be clear)

I typically put cards between heavy cardboard and rubber-band it (rather than tape). I don't know how they open taped up stacks but I dont want razor blades near my cards. Some worry rubber bands could damage cards from the compression. I use pretty thin ones, diagonally from corner to corner, two rubber bands total. Keeps them more stable, I think, than just going around the middle and one over the long side end to end.

I typically box the cards with bubble wrap, etc to keep them from shifting, then ship in a padded mailer. I use USPS flat rate Express padded mailers. Close to $30, but arrives in 2 days from the east coast, and I haven't had one go missing yet. I don't pay for insurance.

I only am on my second order ever. But just spent ~100 dollars on shipping insurance on my last submission. I used the value of what I thought the cards were worth if graded. Which maybe I'm not supposed to do since they are in raw form in shipping to PSA and I overvalued them some to USPS.

Anyway, what I was upset about is they put the value of the shipping insurance as a big sticker on the box. They would not remove this sticker when I asked them too. My concern is someone along the chain knows how valuable this old brown box is, and cuts into the side/edge of the box, taking the contents, and repackaging it. Which has happened to me in shipping jewelry in a similar fashion.

Surprised it's not just a barcode and will not be shipping like this again.

[mc1]

Have you ever bought something in a toploader and had it shipped? Cards can slide around and maybe even fall out. It happens.

It might also be easier for them to damage cards when taking them out of toploaders.

[Bambino22]

Originally Posted by mc1

Have you ever bought something in a toploader and had it shipped? Cards can slide around and maybe even fall out. It happens.

It might also be easier for them to damage cards when taking them out of toploaders.

Maybe I don't understand what you guys call a top loader. I got in this debate on another forum and was very confused. I was basically called a liar. I have bought well over 100 raw cards on ebay in last two years. About 95 of them were in regular top loaders with card sleeves. 5 were in magnetic 1 touches. I never knew about a flex pouch/saver until I got a couple cards thru the new ebay program.

[Bambino22]

When you ship with flex saver. Do you guys apply tape over?

Then this makes sense. I applied blue tape over all top loaders. Maybe this would be the cause for a delay?

Interesting about maybe getting damaged. I guess it's more likely to put a fingerprint on top center of card if you take it our by fingers.

[oddstuff]

Originally Posted by Bambino22

Maybe I don't understand what you guys call a top loader. I got in this debate on another forum and was very confused. I was basically called a liar. I have bought well over 100 raw cards on ebay in last two years. About 95 of them were in regular top loaders with card sleeves. 5 were in magnetic 1 touches. I never knew about a flex pouch/saver until I got a couple cards thru the new ebay program.

There are different kinds of top loaders...some are designed for thicker cards. I've had raw cards mailed to me from sellers who used a top loader designed for a thick card but my card is regular thickness. So even with the card inside a penny sleeve, the card was able to slide around a bit inside the thicker top loader. So while in transit, the card can bounce around a bit inside the top loader and potentially ding a corner. That's why the grading companies typically advise using a Card Saver 1 (flex pouch) for regular thickness cards. I also do not put a piece of tape on top of my Card Saver 1s before sending to PSA.

I have sent in thicker cards in magnetic holders as long as the card didn't move around...that is the main concern when shipping raw cards to the grading company.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by Bambino22

When you ship with flex saver. Do you guys apply tape over?

Then this makes sense. I applied blue tape over all top loaders. Maybe this would be the cause for a delay?

Interesting about maybe getting damaged. I guess it's more likely to put a fingerprint on top center of card if you take it our by fingers.

You dont need to tape when using cardsavers. Many sellers now are using tape when sending toploaders. That helps but you dont want to use tape at all when sending to PSA.

[Bambino22]

Originally Posted by mc1

You dont need to tape when using cardsavers. Many sellers now are using tape when sending toploaders. That helps but you dont want to use tape at all when sending to PSA.

Will they send it back if I use tape? This is how I am about to submit a bunch of my higher end. Blue tape over top loaders. Then plastic sleeve over that. Then cardboard surrounding.

I'm not really comfortable shipping any other way to be honest. Afraid to make a mistake and damage cards with the flex savers.

[mnvikingstwins]

Originally Posted by Bambino22

Will they send it back if I use tape? This is how I am about to submit a bunch of my higher end. Blue tape over top loaders. Then plastic sleeve over that. Then cardboard surrounding.

I'm not really comfortable shipping any other way to be honest. Afraid to make a mistake and damage cards with the flex savers.

That looks like a great way to send if you're hoping for 8s

[Bambino22]

The method of packaging cards can impact grading? Or are you just joking around?

[mnvikingstwins]

Originally Posted by Bambino22

The method of packaging cards can impact grading? Or are you just joking around?

They certainly wouldn't be happy to receive order packaged like that

[RufussCkingston]

Originally Posted by Bambino22

Will they send it back if I use tape? This is how I am about to submit a bunch of my higher end. Blue tape over top loaders. Then plastic sleeve over that. Then cardboard surrounding.

I'm not really comfortable shipping any other way to be honest. Afraid to make a mistake and damage cards with the flex savers.

The directions are very clear. You send cards inside of CardSaver 1's or equivalent (or CS4 for thicker cards). Do it any other way and there is a good chance that who ever opens your package will not take great care with your cards, not to mention now THEY have take your cards apart and put them in Card Savers because you didn't follow directions. When a card is entered into the system, a printed sticker is made that gets attached to the cardsaver with the card in it. They can't attach it to a Top loader or a one touch. The graders only touch card savers. So by not following directions you are severly slowing down the intake process and presenting an opportunity for card damage as now some stranger has to basically repackage your valuable card in the PSA (and pretty much every grading company out there) standard. Even worse, you now have tape AND put them in a toploader sleeve. It will take the PSA rep 10x as long to process your package as opposed to a "normal" submission. Don't reinvent the wheel kid!

[Bambino22]

Ok. Appreciate the responses. Sorry op for taking over your thread, but think this was directly related.

Like I said I have a concern damaging the cards shipping otherwise. I don't have the experience you guys have. I'm paying 120$ a card for many of these, I would hope they wouldn't be so particular or petty on high end submissions. I just want a fair chance as the diff between 8s and 10s on these is thousands.

I'll order some flex savers and give it a shot. Maybe do some practice with them first and ship some cards to myself first to make sure.

[Aribasebal]

Thanks all for the responses. I prefer top loaders as card savers are much harder to load but if it says to use card savers maybe I'll just do that. It was so much easier handing it in person at the National! Is PSA ever going back to take submission at shows besides the National?

[oddstuff]

Originally Posted by Aribasebal

Thanks all for the responses. I prefer top loaders as card savers are much harder to load but if it says to use card savers maybe I'll just do that. It was so much easier handing it in person at the National! Is PSA ever going back to take submission at shows besides the National?

Sign up for their notification if/when they have more shows accepting in person submissions: https://www.psacard.com/resources/shows