Question Regarding Shipping to PSA (Newbie)

hotmush

Hi all.
So, I'm about ready to ship off my first six gards for grading to PSA.
Because I'm in Canada, I have to ship FedEx, however, how does it work
if the package is in a Fed Ex Box, how am I able to write the service level on the outside?
Also, I was wondering if it is absolutely imperitive to pack the cards between cardboard with rubberbands, wrap them in bubble wrap, wrap the box in brown packing tape etc.
Just wondering if I could get a sample about how people tend to ship things to PSA...
Thanks...

cravetopps

I believe there is a separate shipping location for fed ex shipments. I have never indicated anything on the outside of the box and I would never do it. It's like advertising that you have expensive stuff in the box. As far as packaging is concerned, obviously put the cards in Cardsavers....with or without sleeves. Someone on the forum recently suggested tearing one side at the top of the cardsaver so it is easier for the grader to remove the card. What you do next is up to you...there is no right way to do it but plently of wrong ways. I place something firm like a plastic card divider on both sides of the stack of cardsavers and then put the band around it. I don't stack too many cards together, maybe 8 to 10, max. Just make sure the ruberband is not going to bend the cards so if you have something firm on the ends, there should be no problems. Then wrap the banded cards with bubble wrap and put tape around it so the cards don't slip out and are cushioned. Then I wrap all the individual bundles with bubble wrap and tape it again, place it in the shipping box and make sure there is no room for the contents to shift so generally this means putting more bubble wrap or newspaper at the top of the box.

mosaic

I ship to PSA through FedEx and I follow PSA's instructions to the letter. I put my cards in penny sleeves (the 130pt kind, for thick cards, so they go in easy) and then into Card Savers. Then I bundle them together between cardboard and tape the cardboard shut. I then wrap the whole thing in bubble wrap and put it into a FedEx box with all the paperwork. I don't seal it with brown tape, though, because that's primarily done for packages sent registered mail. On the outside of the box I write the service level in Sharpie in one or two spots. All FedEx cares about is what goes in the airbill puch or on the label. The extra writing is meaningless to them.

It's probably best to follow PSA's packing directions... if your cards have wiggle room in the box or are in top-loaders, they can get dinged up in transit.

The most important thing though, is to send it to the right address. FedEx Express shipments go to the 700 E Alton Ave address, and you have to check "hold at FedEx" since that's actually the address of a FedEx warehouse. PSA is VERY picky about what address you send to. People that have sent FedEx packages to the postal address, or vice-versa, have had their packages refused.

I haven't made a ton of submissions to PSA, but I'm 5 for 5 in terms of good experiences sending through FedEx.

Alfonz24

As far as packing, remember they are your cards that you value. Instead of rubberbands, I use scotch tape to hold the bubblewrap around the cards and cardboard.

I just sent off a 117 card submission and reused the box to hold my cards for submission (with bubblewrap) they sent back with graded cards. It fit perfect for a 100+ card submission. I then put this box inside another bos which I sent certified.

I also write my fastest service level on the outside of the box (on each and every side) and on the label. I have always received very quick grading service.