Sending a card back to PSA for Quality Assurance Review?

fmlongo · 12-20-2025, 01:27 PM

I recently got a card back from a PSA sub that was an 8. I thought it should have gotten a better grade and PSA told me that I could send it back for a Quality Assurance Review.

Has anybody ever done this before and if so, were your results successful?

towerymt · 12-20-2025, 02:54 PM

I've sent 2-3 cards for the 'review' service where they look at the card in the existing holder and only crack it out if it bumps up in grade.

One was successful, went from PSA-7 to PSA-8. PSA charges you the grading fee regardless of whether they change the grade or not. I don't believe they will downgrade and I think you put a min grade, but check the submission process and confirm.

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showth...w#post20023652

One card I sent that didn't change was a 2nd year Fleer Jordan PSA-9. The cost of the review was the ~$50 grading fee + shipping both ways. The value of a 9 vs. 10 on that card is like 10x+ (I think a 9 was ~$1500 at the time and a 10 is ~$20k?). Those are the type of rewards I would chase if I were paying to 'review' a graded card, hoping for a grade increase. In the case of the Jordan 9, cracking and resubmitting could result in a lower grade, so that's why I'd want to protect the '9' grade.

If your card in an '8' vs '9' vs raw is not going to be worth a whole lot more, then it might not be worth doing this review. Also, if the '8' is not a grade that you really need to protect (ie, if it's worth the same raw or maybe even worth more raw than in an '8' holder), then just crack it out, inspect it, and resubmit it raw if you still feel it should be a 9 or better.

The chance of an 8 going to a 9 or 10 in the 'review' is probably slim. But certainly possible.

The chance of an 8 going to a 9 or 10 if resubmitted raw is probably higher. Assuming the card doesn't have an obvious flaw that was the cause of the '8' grade. It's up to you to weigh these factors and determine if it's better to send for 'review' or crack & send raw.

fmlongo · 12-20-2025, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by towerymt

One was successful, went from PSA-7 to PSA-8. PSA charges you the grading fee regardless of whether they change the grade or not. I don't believe they will downgrade and I think you put a min grade, but check the submission process and confirm.

You do get charged the grading fee? Because in the e-mail I got I was told that I wouldn't.

It said this: "5. On Step 5 - Shipping and Billing, select “Ship on your own” for shipping your items to PSA. Then choose the return shipping address of your choice, click on "Insured Shipping", and provide a valid payment method. Please rest assured you will not be charged for this submission, and it is simply required at this time through the Online Submission Center."

KPOD · 12-20-2025, 09:21 PM

If PSA didn’t charge, then they would get flooded with card reviews of people thinking their cards deserved higher.

Empty77 · Yesterday, 12:28 AM

Perhaps what the OP is describing is a different thing, an invited "QA review", as opposed to the self-initiated 'grade review' that is otherwise fairly well-known.

Wisztradamous · Yesterday, 06:22 AM

So, is the QA review the same/similar as if I were to send a card for a grade review?
Also, how's the turnaround time for a card review? Lastly, has anyone crossed over any cards from the 50s?
I have a few cards graded PSA 7's but they surely look like 8's (or even 7.5's); even some of my 8's don't even look nearly as good.

Thanks

Sonnys88 · Yesterday, 08:20 AM

Usually, the free reviews are for cards in your submission that you feel may have been over-graded and / or damaged during the grading process.

It would be uncommon for PSA to offer a free review for a card you think was under-graded. Without knowing what the OP put in their original request to PSA, no way to know why they accepted the card for a free review.

From PSA's FAQ page - "If you still disagree with the results, you may resubmit it for Review; however, this is a paid-for service, and you will be responsible for the full grading fee and shipping charges."

towerymt · Yesterday, 03:50 PM

I stand corrected, this is likely not what I was thinking it was, the self-selected 'Review' where you wish to send a PSA-graded card back to PSA to see if they will bump the grade.

If PSA offered a QA review, take it, send it back at their expense.

I am about to send back a label correction that works similarly. They approve a label correction, then provide a shipping label to send the card to them. I complete the submission form under CRC option they enable in my account, and I complete the form including credit card info and a return shipping quote. However, as they state, return shipping is free and you won't be charged. I've done several label corrections and that's how it works when they are agreeing to cover the costs.

Good luck!

12-20-2025, 01:27 PM	#1
fmlongo Member Join Date: Dec 2024 Posts: 12 fmlongo fmlongo	Sending a card back to PSA for Quality Assurance Review? I recently got a card back from a PSA sub that was an 8. I thought it should have gotten a better grade and PSA told me that I could send it back for a Quality Assurance Review. Has anybody ever done this before and if so, were your results successful?

12-20-2025, 02:54 PM	#2
towerymt Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: VA Posts: 8,841	I've sent 2-3 cards for the 'review' service where they look at the card in the existing holder and only crack it out if it bumps up in grade. One was successful, went from PSA-7 to PSA-8. PSA charges you the grading fee regardless of whether they change the grade or not. I don't believe they will downgrade and I think you put a min grade, but check the submission process and confirm. https://www.blowoutforums.com/showth...w#post20023652 One card I sent that didn't change was a 2nd year Fleer Jordan PSA-9. The cost of the review was the ~$50 grading fee + shipping both ways. The value of a 9 vs. 10 on that card is like 10x+ (I think a 9 was ~$1500 at the time and a 10 is ~$20k?). Those are the type of rewards I would chase if I were paying to 'review' a graded card, hoping for a grade increase. In the case of the Jordan 9, cracking and resubmitting could result in a lower grade, so that's why I'd want to protect the '9' grade. If your card in an '8' vs '9' vs raw is not going to be worth a whole lot more, then it might not be worth doing this review. Also, if the '8' is not a grade that you really need to protect (ie, if it's worth the same raw or maybe even worth more raw than in an '8' holder), then just crack it out, inspect it, and resubmit it raw if you still feel it should be a 9 or better. The chance of an 8 going to a 9 or 10 in the 'review' is probably slim. But certainly possible. The chance of an 8 going to a 9 or 10 if resubmitted raw is probably higher. Assuming the card doesn't have an obvious flaw that was the cause of the '8' grade. It's up to you to weigh these factors and determine if it's better to send for 'review' or crack & send raw. __________________ In search of... 2018 Topps Chrome Update Max Scherzer #HMT77: Superfractor 2019 Topps Update Carter Kieboom #US109: Platinum Last edited by towerymt; 12-20-2025 at 02:56 PM.

Yesterday, 03:50 PM	#8
towerymt Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: VA Posts: 8,841	I stand corrected, this is likely not what I was thinking it was, the self-selected 'Review' where you wish to send a PSA-graded card back to PSA to see if they will bump the grade. If PSA offered a QA review, take it, send it back at their expense. I am about to send back a label correction that works similarly. They approve a label correction, then provide a shipping label to send the card to them. I complete the submission form under CRC option they enable in my account, and I complete the form including credit card info and a return shipping quote. However, as they state, return shipping is free and you won't be charged. I've done several label corrections and that's how it works when they are agreeing to cover the costs. Good luck! __________________ In search of... 2018 Topps Chrome Update Max Scherzer #HMT77: Superfractor 2019 Topps Update Carter Kieboom #US109: Platinum

12-20-2025, 09:21 PM	#4
KPOD Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Posts: 456	If PSA didn’t charge, then they would get flooded with card reviews of people thinking their cards deserved higher.

Yesterday, 12:28 AM	#5
Empty77 Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 89	Perhaps what the OP is describing is a different thing, an invited "QA review", as opposed to the self-initiated 'grade review' that is otherwise fairly well-known.

Yesterday, 06:22 AM	#6
Wisztradamous Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Posts: 427	So, is the QA review the same/similar as if I were to send a card for a grade review? Also, how's the turnaround time for a card review? Lastly, has anyone crossed over any cards from the 50s? I have a few cards graded PSA 7's but they surely look like 8's (or even 7.5's); even some of my 8's don't even look nearly as good. Thanks

Yesterday, 08:20 AM	#7
Sonnys88 Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 757 Sonnys88	Usually, the free reviews are for cards in your submission that you feel may have been over-graded and / or damaged during the grading process. It would be uncommon for PSA to offer a free review for a card you think was under-graded. Without knowing what the OP put in their original request to PSA, no way to know why they accepted the card for a free review. From PSA's FAQ page - "If you still disagree with the results, you may resubmit it for Review; however, this is a paid-for service, and you will be responsible for the full grading fee and shipping charges."