Is anyone else as paranoid as me?

Air23GOAT

I have a number of cards in my collection that I'd like to send in to get graded/authenticated but I am absolutely terrified that they will be lost or stolen. I have definitely gone 15 rounds with my post office over their clumsy & inept mistakes. I've heard stories of people sending in their stuff to a TPG only to see it being auctioned off on ebay weeks later.
I've sent in cards before to get graded but that was different. What I'd like to send in are some of the jewels of my collection & I'm hesitant to take the leap. Once I was mailing a package & getting it insured for about 2k & the lady curiously asked what it was. Now instead of blurting out it was a Michael Jordan rookie card, & by the way what I wanted to say was, "other than it being neither illegal or dangerous it's none of your business", I made some non-committal gesture. That wasn't the only time someone had asked about items I was shipping or receiving.
I would of course have the packages insured but I think that that just puts a target on high value items. I would much rather have the cards than the money. Some would be very difficult to replace. Am I being too paranoid here? I probably am but that doesn't make me feel better for some reason. Thoughts?

akuracy503

fedEx it's what i've seen the major auction houses use.

NGS428

Well, I wasn’t paranoid, but now I am.

backbidder

I pay for my postage online and print my own labels (always with tracking, sometimes with signature required and insurance depending on value). I will then take the package to the post office, hand it to the clerk, and politely ask for a scan receipt and leave. This limits my interaction with them. I've never had a problem (knock wood) or reason to worry, although they do know me by name because of all the bubble mailers I get .

craig44

I hate having my cards in the mail. I understand your feelings completely. The way I look at it is If the items are in my PC, I have no plans to sell and they are difficult or impossible to replace, why would I risk having them in the mail twice? If the cards are in a safety deposit box or a vault at home, a PSA slab will offer no more protection than a magnetic. I would not send them in, you will worry the entire time they are gone

spanky74

FedEx

ndleo

FedEx all the way. I do not trust the Post Office with anything more than $500. I've had the chance to see in the inside of both a USPS and FedEx distribution center, it's not even close - FedEx wins.

If you use air service from any carrier make sure you pack it with a lot of cushion. The boxes move VERY FAST through the line.

doubledragon

I can understand your feeling about this. I have some rare Joe Louis cards, that I just can't bring myself to trust the mail process with. I figure, why risk it. Some of these cards took years to find. It's up to you. At least I know that I'll always have them. I keep them in a special room. My wife isn't allowed in this room. If she enters my Joe Louis room, she knows I'll press charges against her for trespassing.

perkdog

It’s completely normal to be stressed. I always use USPS and with over a 1400 Ebay transactions using USPS I’ve never had a problem, I’ve had some 2,000 dollar items sprinkled in there, I do always get tracking so I can monitor though. The most expensive item I’ve sent was around $8,000 and for that I used Fed Ex

45isodd

Buy yourself a plane ticket to a show that PSA is set up at, and hand them over yourself.

Air23GOAT

OK, for all of you saying Fed ex over USPS let me tell you a story. I used to know someone who worked for UPS. Certain high value packages started to "disappear". Eventually the FBI was called in for a thorough investigation because a lot of the things going missing were guns. The girl I knew was ruled out. They vetted everyone & retraced all of the packages. Turns out it was one of the drivers just helping himself to packages. My point is is that these people know, or at least have an idea, that there's something valuabe & worthwhile in these packages. And people who's cards went missing & saw them for sale on ebay never got them back.
I know it's not Fed ex but it could've just as easily happened there.
Yup. I'm doomed to not trust my most prized collectibles to anyone & stay living in paranoia. Cheers.

detroitfan2

Quite frankly, the United States Post Office is one of the most amazing organizations on the planet. I cannot believe their success rate, and the graded cards that somehow arrive safely despite how some people package them is beyond comprehension to me.

ndleo

A certain high dollar jewelry brand (not Tiffany) sends all items by FedEx Overnight, no insurance.

The rep told me that they don't insure individual shipments since the insurance will flag the item to a rogue driver (not every driver is actually an employee of the carrier). Since overnight packages move so fast through FedEx, the chances for an insider to steal it are very very low. Most of their items would fit in an overnight envelope, those move even faster than the packages.

ahopkins

Is anyone else as paranoid as you?
No.
Are you being too paranoid here?
Yes

Air23GOAT

@detroitfan2 said:
Quite frankly, the United States Post Office is one of the most amazing organizations on the planet. I cannot believe their success rate, and the graded cards that somehow arrive safely despite how some people package them is beyond comprehension to me.

Overall I feel the same way. With the number of packages they ship on a daily basis I know this is a very very small percentage where this kind of thing happens.
However I've had a few problems with our post office. The big one is them not delivering to my door with signature confirmation packages & signing for it themselves. Yes, I've caught them doing that on more than one occasion. In fact whenever I buy a card, which is often, I tell the seller not to bother with signature confirmation because it's a waste.
We have a lock on our mailbox that they've left wide open. They don't scan packages properly at all so when I'm wondering where my package is they can't tell me because it wasn't scanned. Or I receive my package but the tracking info says it's still being delivered....forever. It wasn't scanned. So in theory I could get my package, claim the mail lost it & get a refund (haven't done that I'm just saying).

MrHockey

1) Don't pay for USPS insurance. There are other better way to insure your items in the mail like collectibles insurance that don't require marking each package as expensive.

2) Priority mail it. 2 days and it's there.

3) Chances of a mail loss with the USPS are super low.

DotStore

I find myself in the same situation. Too worried about sending my best cards in the mail. So I have never submitted a card for grading.

My plan was to attend my first National Convention this year, and pay for the on-site grading. This removed the round-trip mail from the equation. Unfortunately, something came up at the last minute and I could not attend this year.

My new plan is to attend my first National Convention next year in Atlantic City. I will probably bring several cards for onsite grading.

Unknown

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doubledragon

Can you imagine the worry of having that 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 8 shipped? You paid $489,000 for it, and they just stick it in the mailtruck alongside the Piggly Wiggly coupons.

mexpo75

I have never had a problem with USPS.. I do print my own labels and bring to PO to get a receipt when I drop it off.

Air23GOAT

@doubledragon said:
Can you imagine the worry of having that 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 8 shipped? You paid $489,000 for it, and they just stick it in the mailtruck alongside the Piggly Wiggly coupons.

I know, right? I think about that too. If I could afford 500k for a single card I think I'd hire PSA to come to my house & grade it there.

@MrHockey said:
1) Don't pay for USPS insurance. There are other better way to insure your items in the mail like collectibles insurance that don't require marking each package as expensive.

2) Priority mail it. 2 days and it's there.

3) Chances of a mail loss with the USPS are super low.

Good advice. I didn't know there was such a thing as collectibles insurance.

45isodd

You know that every time you leave your house, you could get hit by a bus, or even more likely, some psycho with an assault weapon might be having a lousy day, or life, and decide to go out in a blaze of glory.

sayheywyo

Always use USPS. Express mail with insurance is a sure thing and cheaper than both Fed Ex or UPS. AIR23GOAT: Your mail carrier is not following policy and procedure. Be persistent, contact the PO about the scanning issues, file an online complaint. Repeat, repeat, repeat. The Postal Service is all about "visibility" to the customer.... Point A to point B in a timely fashion. World class service at an affordable rate. Scanning is the key and daily telecons are held for "failures". Trust me, I just retired at age 57 with 33+ years from USPS. There will always be bad apples and thieves around..... for the most part the USPS is the most trusted entity in the country.

Unknown

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PROMETHIUS88

If you are this worried then you shouldn't send them in. Personally, I have no issue sending via USPS. Higher dollar cards I send 2 day priority mail. Probably sent more than 20 different submissions to PSA over the last two years with no issues. Cards I sell on Ebay, I use to insure from time to time but then I decided to self insure. It has saved me a ton of money as I've sent hundreds of packages without any of them getting lost or damaged.....knock on wood.
If you are this worried about just sending them in though, you are going to never get any sleep and probably have a stroke waiting however long it takes to get them back.

maddux69

Use USPS Registered Mail, it has a chain of custody from point A to point B. If you choose to insure it through registered, it actually comes out much cheaper than regular Priority insurance. Safe and fairly economical. There are steps with the packaging you have to take such as no regular clear packing tape, it has to be the brown reinforced packing tape.

HighGradeLegends

Drop off cards at a PSA booth at a card show. A plane ticket to drop off at PSA hq is quite cheap for peace of mind and double as a vacation

1951WheatiesPremium

Also, there’s a PSA Store in Woodbridge, NJ where the east coasters can hand them to a PSA customer service agent as they take care of the rest.

DotStore

@HighGradeLegends said:
Drop off cards at a PSA booth at a card show. A plane ticket to drop off at PSA hq is quite cheap for peace of mind and double as a vacation

@1951WheatiesPremium said:
Also, there’s a PSA Store in Woodbridge, NJ where the east coasters can hand them to a PSA customer service agent as they take care of the rest.

I never realized you could do this! This might be my best option.

Can I also schedule a time to pickup the cards? I'm an East Coaster, so I could definitely drive to the NJ Office to drop off and also pick up at a later date.

1951WheatiesPremium

@DotStore said:

@HighGradeLegends said:
Drop off cards at a PSA booth at a card show. A plane ticket to drop off at PSA hq is quite cheap for peace of mind and double as a vacation

@1951WheatiesPremium said:
Also, there’s a PSA Store in Woodbridge, NJ where the east coasters can hand them to a PSA customer service agent as they take care of the rest.

I never realized you could do this! This might be my best option.

Can I also schedule a time to pickup the cards? I'm an East Coaster, so I could definitely drive to the NJ Office to drop off and also pick up at a later date.

Not sure on the pickup but you need to schedule a time for drop off; I don’t think you can just walk in with stuff anytime.

As for getting the items back after drop off?

PSA is very good with packing and shipping and the boxes are discreet; I think you could have the items sent directly back to you at your house.

Hope it helps

wadevl

@backbidder said:
I pay for my postage online and print my own labels (always with tracking, sometimes with signature required and insurance depending on value). I will then take the package to the post office, hand it to the clerk, and politely ask for a scan receipt and leave. This limits my interaction with them. I've never had a problem (knock wood) or reason to worry, although they do know me by name because of all the bubble mailers I get .

DITTO!

HighGradeLegends

@1951WheatiesPremium said:

@DotStore said:

@HighGradeLegends said:
Drop off cards at a PSA booth at a card show. A plane ticket to drop off at PSA hq is quite cheap for peace of mind and double as a vacation

@1951WheatiesPremium said:
Also, there’s a PSA Store in Woodbridge, NJ where the east coasters can hand them to a PSA customer service agent as they take care of the rest.

I never realized you could do this! This might be my best option.

Can I also schedule a time to pickup the cards? I'm an East Coaster, so I could definitely drive to the NJ Office to drop off and also pick up at a later date.

Not sure on the pickup but you need to schedule a time for drop off; I don’t think you can just walk in with stuff anytime.

As for getting the items back after drop off?

PSA is very good with packing and shipping and the boxes are discreet; I think you could have the items sent directly back to you at your house.

Hope it helps

If you pay for a 1 day service level, coordinate a drop off time, they will ensure it is ready for pick up before close of business. I have done this 2-3 different times over the last 5 years for super high end items. I coordinate the trip with vacation plans or work plans...makes it simple and the responsiblity to get it to and from PSA is on me and me alone...and I trust myself not to fail..I think.

addicted2ebay

Never had a issue with USPS registered mail (knock on wood).

DotStore

@HighGradeLegends said:
If you pay for a 1 day service level, coordinate a drop off time, they will ensure it is ready for pick up before close of business. I have done this 2-3 different times over the last 5 years for super high end items. I coordinate the trip with vacation plans or work plans...makes it simple and the responsiblity to get it to and from PSA is on me and me alone...and I trust myself not to fail..I think.

Thanks HGL! This is fantastic info -- does this work for their NJ Branch? Or only at their headquarters? Either way, I can try to plan a vacation to either site. It's just that the NJ Branch is much easier for me to drive to...

PaulMaul

@DotStore said:

@HighGradeLegends said:
If you pay for a 1 day service level, coordinate a drop off time, they will ensure it is ready for pick up before close of business. I have done this 2-3 different times over the last 5 years for super high end items. I coordinate the trip with vacation plans or work plans...makes it simple and the responsiblity to get it to and from PSA is on me and me alone...and I trust myself not to fail..I think.

Thanks HGL! This is fantastic info -- does this work for their NJ Branch? Or only at their headquarters? Either way, I can try to plan a vacation to either site. It's just that the NJ Branch is much easier for me to drive to...

They don’t do grading and encapsulation in NJ. Only pick up.

DotStore

@PaulMaul said:
They don’t do grading and encapsulation in NJ. Only pick up.

ok thanks -- appreciate the info!