A few questions before I join you guys as an official PSA Collectors Club member . . .

detroitfan2

OK guys, I consider the continuation of the current $6 and $5 specials as a sign that it's time for me to sign on with PSA for the first time in my life. A few questions before I do . . .

If I sign up today on-line with my credit card, do I have immediate access to the on-line SMR and population report? More importantly, does my ability to submit cards for grading start immediately, or is there some amount of processing time that would endanger me from taking advantage of the December special (given that it's Dec 1st, I'm guessing not)?

Do most of you go with the 2 year membership (it seems like a better deal than 2 individual 1-year memberships)?

Anything else I should know?

Thanks in advance for any help.

-Tom (detroitfan2)

jradke4

yes.
it should.
2 yr.

mosaic

I just recently signed up. I had access to the online SMR and pop. reports immediately. I sent my first submission in the day after I signed up and they had no trouble processing it when they received it a couple days later. The welcome kit arrived about two weeks after I signed up.

You can't use your freebies until you get the kit, since the voucher is in there, but otherwise all of your privileges begin the moment you sign up.

BTW, whether you pick the 1 or 2 year, the Cardboard Gems book they send is a marvelous "reward" for signing up. It's a museum quality guide to 100 of the sweetest cards produced between 1869 and 1969. Thick shiny pages, colorful pictures... it's a beauty!

XanaduNow

Access to the SMR and pop report may not be IMMEDIATE but you would have access within an hour or so. It could be immediate, I don't remember. I just remember that I had access same day.

PSA will then mail you a package containing your voucher for the free subs, a copy of the SMR, forms for submitting, booklets, pamphlets, the whole nine yards. This shouldn't take more than 5 business days to get to you but if you wanted to get started you could probably pull submission forms off the site and submit cards under the special right away.

I went with the 1-year membership and wish I went with the 2-year

Everything you need to know about submitting cards will be included in the package you'll receive. It's very step-by-step and if someone as intellectually challenged as myself can do it I'm sure anyone can.

Good luck!

Arthur

Alfonz24

I joined end of October. It was a great decision.

I echo pretty much what Mosiac and Xandu have said.

I signed up for the 1 year not sure how it was going to work out. Wish I went 2. Cheaper and 6 extra $500 subs with the kit.

My kit arrived about 1 week after I signed up. The online stuff (SMR and POP) I believe was within an hour of paying by CC. Keep checking your registered e-mail after you sign up.

As mentioned, the Cardboard Gems is a great book. The only thing that has taken awhile is the print SMR. As mentioned above, I signed up October 23rd and did not get an SMR until last week. But I have read that a lot of non club members got that issue because it contained a PSA calendar.

Reading the boards has been very beneficial. Post your subs when you get them. That is how I made my first sale and avoided Feebay.

lawnmowerman

Tom, I glad to hear that. If your gonna do it today I would do it before psa closes. This way you can access the smr , pop report or start a sub. If you join after hours you most likely wont be able to do anything till Monday.

The best perk of all that nobody has mentioned is the fact that your first submission is hand delivered back to you by Joe Orlando himself. That alone is worth every penny of the membership fee.

matt

RobMM77

Joining PSA club was the best thing next to Trashing everything Beckett ever told me in there misleading magazine.

XanaduNow

<< <i>The best perk of all that nobody has mentioned is the fact that your first submission is hand delivered back to you by Joe Orlando himself. That alone is worth every penny of the membership fee.

matt >>



I thought he quit doing that after the now legendary "Low Grade Emmitt Sub" of early '04? Speaking of which, how's the defense coming along?

Arthur

jskirwin

You won't regret it.
And yes, the SMR should be immediate.

lawnmowerman

<< <i>

<< <i>The best perk of all that nobody has mentioned is the fact that your first submission is hand delivered back to you by Joe Orlando himself. That alone is worth every penny of the membership fee.

matt >>



I thought he quit doing that after the now legendary "Low Grade Emmitt Sub" of early '04? Speaking of which, how's the defense coming along?

Arthur >>

tennesseebanker

<< The best perk of all that nobody has mentioned is the fact that your first submission is hand delivered back to you by Joe Orlando himself. That alone is worth every penny of the membership fee.

Really ? I got jipped then, Mine was delivered by Tony Orlando.

storm888

The one-year plan nets you a new "free-gift" each time you renew.

GDM67

Is the ability to start registering sets as instantaneous as the online SMR and population report access and is any of that quick access affected if you choose to mail your fee in rather than using a credit card?

storm888

"Is the ability to start registering sets as instantaneous as the online SMR and population report access and is any of that quick access affected if you choose to mail your fee in rather than using a credit card? '

///////////////////////////////////////////

I mailed payment once, and access was delayed.

bri2327

<< <i>The one-year plan nets you a new "free-gift" each time you renew.

>>



I agree.

I got the Smithsonian book last yr when i joined for the first time under the 2 year plan. From what everyone says this years book is great, so I wish Id just done 1 yr at a time in order to get the different book each year.

One a side note, if anyone is looking to sell the book they gave this year give me a shout, Id be interested.

VintageJeff

<< <i>Is the ability to start registering sets as instantaneous as the online SMR and population report access and is any of that quick access affected if you choose to mail your fee in rather than using a credit card? >>



you can register sets as a non member.

NewJerseyMeatHook

I still enjoy the PSA tote bags.

Well, not really.

I think my wife donated them to Purple Heart.

Nice tax write-off, though.

Plus, I am honored by the thought that an injured vet is putting my canvas PSA tote to good use.

fiveniner

Being an Old School Guy on this board it took me a long time to convince myself that Professionally graded cards are the way to go.After so many years of collecting and building sets I was becoming very discouraged on what I was recieving that was graded as NrMt or ExMt and in actuality were VG or VG/EX at best.

Its the best hobby move I ever made.I have been in club going on 3 years now,VERY VERY pleased.

detroitfan2

Guys,

Thanks a ton for all the advice. I'm really looking forward to meeting Joe. Like any time guests are expected, it'll give us a chance to clean the house and bake something good.

Just to clarify, I'm fully on board with graded cards. I've been collecting PSA graded cards for about 4 years now and have a dozen or so sets started and registered.

However, thus far I have yet to submit a card to PSA, mostly because of my extreme lack of organization. I've been purchasing some raw cards lately that I'd like to submit, plus I've found some of my stuff that's been packed away. My initial plans are to use some of my Christmas vacation to come up with at least a 25 card order of 1952, 1954, and 1955 Topps that I will hope to pull some 5's and 6's on for my sets (4's for the 1952's), and also to figure out what cards I have to send in for my 7 freebies.

Thanks again,

Tom (detroitfan2)

jmoran19

I have an extra Smithsonian book if anyone is looking for one. Just have to paying shipping. Send me a PM, first come first serve. John.