Submission Process is Painful

sbiller1

Does anyone have any helpful tips to speeding up the preparation process for submitting cards to PSA? I am spending literally hours putting together a bulk submission of approximately 200 cards. I would estimate the time to fill out the submission form, create the label for the back of each card, and packaging the card in a card saver as approximately 3-4 minutes per card which translates to approximately 10 hours for 200 cards. I actually think I've spend more time than that.

This process is crying out for automation but I guess its not worth it at this point.

-Sam

sagard

The bright side is that if you do a good job shipping and packing, I believe it takes less time for them to actually get your order filled. Use Excel to create a list of xxxxxx-yz for the backs of the cards. Then either print them on mail stickers and cut and paste or just cut and tape them to the cards. Your right though it does suck filling out the form, but at least you have 200 cards worthy of submission!

FavreFan1971

I agree with using Avery Labels with a template. takes about 10 minutes per 100 cards. There is also a link somewhere out here for Extra-Submission forms. You can type it right in the files. Goes a lot fast than printing.

smallstocks

I also recently started filling out the submission form itself in one shot on line at the site instead of printing it out and hand writing all the info. in the boxes. Much neater as well and no hand cramp. If the cards are from the same set can can just copy and paste "ditto" info in the boxes. As for labels, i use mini yellow stickies and it takes mere seconds per.

Mike

ctsoxfan

I hope we get some more responses to this thread - I would love to hear how long it takes other people to prepare submissions. I know, personally, that I would submit more cards if I could do it more easily. In fact, I've got a few hundred cards waiting to go to PSA, but never seem to have the time at the end of my workday to sit down for hours and fill out the forms, print the stickers, and pack the cards.

I don't imagine there is much that you can do to shave some time off this process, but every little bit would help.

zef204

Here is the link for the submission forms.

This has saved me a lot of time.

Buccaneer

Having gone through my first large submission last month (123 cards), I can attest to the time consuming process. I think it took me about 12 hours to do. Part of the time for me was on the front end - locating all of the cards from unsorted binder sheets and stacks of top loaders. Add to that going through each of them carefully (about 225) to pick out the ones I wanted to submit. Then it was a matter putting them each into penny sleeves and then into card savers I which probably ended up taking far more time than I thought since they don't go into card savers easily. I used Word to create the labels so that part didn't take long. I used the extra submission forms and reprogrammed them to not only have the desired lines but also to have many of the boxes filled in since they were all of one year and brand. Then I used FrontPage to copy and paste in the Number and Name columns from an exported excel spreadsheet from my database. And finally, packing those cards up like I was shipping the Hope Diamond to Newport Beach. It is a painful process but a necessary one if I want a set that will sell better in the future.

smallstocks

And Steve, when they come back all 10's, it will have been worth it!

zef204

Steve, I used to do the penny sleeves and then the CS1's but have since ditched the penny sleeves. I think that PSA actually adivses to not use the penny sleeves with the CS1's also. I think I knicked too many corners with those anyhow. The CS1 a normal sized card will not shift around inside, so I think the sleeve does nothing.

Also, as you stated it is tougher to put the card into the PS1 with the penny sleeve and I thnk it is touger to take the card out with the sleeve on too so the risk of damage is higher with the sleeve on too! My last few submissions I have left out the penny sleeve and have shaved of some time and aggrivation from potentially nicking a corner or edge.

SDavid

Too bad dslsports or 4sc doesn't post here. I'd like to know how the super bulk dealers do it.

Mefer

I don't look at filling out a submission form as a chore because this is my hobby. I spend my time, double check and recheck all cards. If I was doing this for a living, it would be entirely different. I even write out all of my labels by hand. What is a computer?

jmbkb4

<< <i>Here is the link for the submission forms.

This has saved me a lot of time. >>


thanks

zef204

A word on those submission forms. I tried to save a copy of my filled out form to my harddrive rather than prining it on a past submission. It only saved the sheet and not the data(cards) I typed in. So be careful if you try this and I would suggest printing them out and not simply saving them on the HD.

It would work if you take a screen shot and then save, but if you try and just save from IE you will have a blank form and not your submission.