PSA "new" slabs... still sporadic?

newfiesig · 08-17-2025, 04:38 PM

As I'm sure most of you recall, last year PSA started slow-rolling out new slabs (specifically for regular 35pt cards). They "felt" different, as they were a little thicker. The two problems that people mentioned were "flow lines" and the fact that they were really hard to crack.

For me, there were 2 other issues:

1. many seemed to "pinch" cards top to bottom (i.e., there was no wiggle room, and the top/bottom bars were touching the card)
2. the more durable plastic was nearly impossible to buff scratches out of (normal slabs can easily be tidied up with a bit of PlastX)

I received a few in a submission last year. Maybe like 4 or 5 of the 100 card submission. PSA said they were slowing getting them out there, but backlash seemingly had them pulled. I have one here from that sub, as well as another that I bought at a card show, with the certs being 89xxxxxx for both. I assumed that they were contained that area in the certs.

Just yesterday, however, I received a card I got off eBay with the same slab. It's a 100xxxxxx cert. I have many certs before and after with the older slab.

Is this a strange one-off? Have you guys had any new subs come back with these slabs? I was planning on sending the two 89xxxxxx slabs back to PSA to have re-slabbed, now I'm worrying that they could come back in the same "new" slab. I'm also concerned that my next sub (will be sending in a couple months) will come back with these new slabs in them.

Cheers!

RKH916 · 08-17-2025, 08:14 PM

There was another thread somewhat recently asking about flowlines returning

I think it's likely that they're going to throw a couple of the slabs in every few submissions to just slowly eat away at the stock and hope it slips under the radar

I really doubt they are just going to bin the product and cut their losses

The_Reverend · 08-17-2025, 08:23 PM

They are very difficult to crack. In fact if you do not have the right tool you will definitely damage your card. They are very flexible and the plastic is medical grade, but still are not as clear as CGC or TAG.

bojesphob · 08-18-2025, 06:55 AM

The new ones are the 1LR+, right? The last order I got back (completed back on June 16th) was around five out of 26 cards in it. The rest were either the 1T, or ones for offsized cards (like Chrome mini or 2014 Prizm Hands Team). Although, I will say, the order from earlier that month was 24 out of 29 in the 1LR+, one of which was thicker than normal (so probably needed a different type), and the other two were ones that if I was a more regular grader, I might have thought about regrading (a 2012 Prizm Silver Aaron Rodgers that got a 9, and a 2014 Prizm Red Jordy Nelson that got a 7).... Maybe they are putting ones they are 100% certain of the grade in the 1LR+ and ones that they think might get cracked and resubmitted in the 1T?

newfiesig · 08-18-2025, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bojesphob

The new ones are the 1LR+, right? The last order I got back (completed back on June 16th) was around five out of 26 cards in it. The rest were either the 1T, or ones for offsized cards (like Chrome mini or 2014 Prizm Hands Team). Although, I will say, the order from earlier that month was 24 out of 29 in the 1LR+, one of which was thicker than normal (so probably needed a different type), and the other two were ones that if I was a more regular grader, I might have thought about regrading (a 2012 Prizm Silver Aaron Rodgers that got a 9, and a 2014 Prizm Red Jordy Nelson that got a 7).... Maybe they are putting ones they are 100% certain of the grade in the 1LR+ and ones that they think might get cracked and resubmitted in the 1T?

Hmm, I wonder if one can request a sub not use the newer holders at all...?

YeahBuddy · 08-18-2025, 01:30 PM

I recently got newer holders, they dotn have them for thick cards or certain ones as all mine were the new slab except my thick cards.

newfiesig · 08-18-2025, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YeahBuddy

I recently got newer holders, they dotn have them for thick cards or certain ones as all mine were the new slab except my thick cards.

Well, that sucks. But good to know, thanks!

FT35 · 08-21-2025, 06:46 AM

I mean, they could just use them to slab the 10’s to solve the crack out problem.

Bosoxfan5990 · 08-21-2025, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FT35

I mean, they could just use them to slab the 10’s to solve the crack out problem.

That makes too much sense.

BoSoxFan1999 · 08-22-2025, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FT35

I mean, they could just use them to slab the 10’s to solve the crack out problem.

What's the crack-out problem? Are the newest slabs harder to crack out?

FT35 · 08-22-2025, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoSoxFan1999

What's the crack-out problem? Are the newest slabs harder to crack out?

Yeah I guess people in the thread don’t like them as much because they are harder to crack. Personally I do like them. They feel like an upgrade to me. Using them on 10’s would put 10’s in a nicer holder (possibly even creating a little more demand/distinction for a 10) and seem to decrease the need for people to crack them out…I would think. Win win? A “forever slab” of sorts…

08-17-2025, 04:38 PM	#1
newfiesig Member Join Date: Apr 2023 Posts: 158	PSA "new" slabs... still sporadic? As I'm sure most of you recall, last year PSA started slow-rolling out new slabs (specifically for regular 35pt cards). They "felt" different, as they were a little thicker. The two problems that people mentioned were "flow lines" and the fact that they were really hard to crack. For me, there were 2 other issues: 1. many seemed to "pinch" cards top to bottom (i.e., there was no wiggle room, and the top/bottom bars were touching the card) 2. the more durable plastic was nearly impossible to buff scratches out of (normal slabs can easily be tidied up with a bit of PlastX) I received a few in a submission last year. Maybe like 4 or 5 of the 100 card submission. PSA said they were slowing getting them out there, but backlash seemingly had them pulled. I have one here from that sub, as well as another that I bought at a card show, with the certs being 89xxxxxx for both. I assumed that they were contained that area in the certs. Just yesterday, however, I received a card I got off eBay with the same slab. It's a 100xxxxxx cert. I have many certs before and after with the older slab. Is this a strange one-off? Have you guys had any new subs come back with these slabs? I was planning on sending the two 89xxxxxx slabs back to PSA to have re-slabbed, now I'm worrying that they could come back in the same "new" slab. I'm also concerned that my next sub (will be sending in a couple months) will come back with these new slabs in them. Cheers!

08-17-2025, 08:14 PM	#2
RKH916 Member Join Date: Oct 2024 Posts: 387	There was another thread somewhat recently asking about flowlines returning I think it's likely that they're going to throw a couple of the slabs in every few submissions to just slowly eat away at the stock and hope it slips under the radar I really doubt they are just going to bin the product and cut their losses

08-17-2025, 08:23 PM	#3
The_Reverend Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 15,267 islubi	They are very difficult to crack. In fact if you do not have the right tool you will definitely damage your card. They are very flexible and the plastic is medical grade, but still are not as clear as CGC or TAG.

08-18-2025, 06:55 AM	#4
bojesphob Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 3,672 bojesphob	The new ones are the 1LR+, right? The last order I got back (completed back on June 16th) was around five out of 26 cards in it. The rest were either the 1T, or ones for offsized cards (like Chrome mini or 2014 Prizm Hands Team). Although, I will say, the order from earlier that month was 24 out of 29 in the 1LR+, one of which was thicker than normal (so probably needed a different type), and the other two were ones that if I was a more regular grader, I might have thought about regrading (a 2012 Prizm Silver Aaron Rodgers that got a 9, and a 2014 Prizm Red Jordy Nelson that got a 7).... Maybe they are putting ones they are 100% certain of the grade in the 1LR+ and ones that they think might get cracked and resubmitted in the 1T?

08-18-2025, 01:30 PM	#6
YeahBuddy Member Join Date: Feb 2020 Posts: 954	I recently got newer holders, they dotn have them for thick cards or certain ones as all mine were the new slab except my thick cards.

08-21-2025, 06:46 AM	#8
FT35 Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 2,183	I mean, they could just use them to slab the 10’s to solve the crack out problem.