PSA Now Shipping Subs Back Flat Rate Not Registered!!!

thedutymon

Afternoon,
Just got home and my latest submission to PSA was back Graded and sitting in my Box waiting for me. What this means is I didn't have to go down to the PO and sign for it because it wasn't sent back to me Registered. It was sent Priority Mail. I have been doing this for years, hundreds of Submissions, first ever not Registered. I am not sure how I feel about this, besides the fact that I paid for a level of service and security that I didn't recieve.
Has this happened to anybody else?
What should I think?

Thanks
Neil

Vintageismygame

I would contact PSA and voice your concerns.

Matt

OAKESY25

yikes!! I would not be happy..
curious to see the answer here

thedutymon

Afternoon,
Too late to call them now, will have to address this on Monday. Even pulled out the Sub form to make sure they didn't change something, (And checked the On Line Sub form as well), and they both clearly still state Registered Mail if you choose USPS.

Neil

bbuckner22

Same thing happened to me today. A priority mail box was sitting on my front porch. I called PSA and they said starting Feb. 1 their policy is now priority shipping instead of registered. Our cards will get back to us faster, but I think registerd mail is much safer. I also said that I paid big $$ for registered shipping and my cards were sent in a $10.20 flat rate box, not too happy about that. They said they would send me a credit for the cost difference. My guess is they are going to be flooded with calls by next week. Number one, if you are going to change your policy, it would be nice if you informed your customers about it. Number two, I don't see the shipping rates coming down on their site or forms either. And the third and most important point is I don't want my PSA box sitting on my front step for anyone to come by and pick up. I live on a low traffic street, can't imagine having a problem, but I'm sure there are other collectors out there that might live in an apartment building or high traffic area where just leaving their cards is a gamble.

divecchia

I would not be happy especially if I paid for Registered Service. I'm sure there will be many people complaing about this change being made without notice.

Donato

thedutymon

Evening,
I am just appalled that they would make this change without any Notice what so ever to their customers. I mean this is just unbelievable. I am in the Customer Service Business and if we did something like this, somebody would be adding to the Unemployment rate in this country....Now!!!

Neil

bbcemporium

What if the declared value is over $5000? Will they still ship Priority?

Brick

I want my packages handled by the USPS. I want my PSA orders by Registered Mail. I can see packages not reaching their destination otherwise. BTW My son worked for FedEx for several years. He said to use USPS.

Stone193

Neil - I'm guessing this was a clerical error - but ya never know until ya contact PSA and talk to them.

I wouldn't be happy either.

thedutymon

<< <i>Neil - I'm guessing this was a clerical error - but ya never know until ya contact PSA and talk to them.

I wouldn't be happy either. >>



Mike,
Bbuckner22 called them, they said this will be the norm now...............................Wow!!

Neil

thedutymon

Evening,

Think this can get Poofed before Mon!!!!

YeeHah

Neil

Stone193

<< <i>

<< <i>Neil - I'm guessing this was a clerical error - but ya never know until ya contact PSA and talk to them.

I wouldn't be happy either. >>



Mike,
Bbuckner22 called them, they said this will be the norm now...............................Wow!!

Neil >>

I think for a very high dollar card - this may not be a good idea - but they may have a dollar threshold where they DO register the shipment?

SDavid

I called and was told the same thing as bbuckner. The rep said they would announce the new rates March 1st and then refund the difference to those who had paid the old rates and received priority shipping.

Seems like a lot of extra work on their part. They did announce the change on the coin side. If you search the us coin board for registered, you'll see a thread about it. No idea why they didn't announce it here, but like I said that's just going to make it harder on them between the phone calls and then issuing refunds.

The packages did have sig confirmation so if a carrier leaves one at somebody's doorstep, he could be in serious trouble if a claim is filed.

I'll probably quit checking my grades online now that it won't take a year to get my subs back.

samspop

Neil:

Mine came yesterday. Same deal, USPS Priority Large Flat Rate box, however, mine was sent with Signature Confirmation. Cost, according to the USPS website would have been $14.50 (Flat Rate Priority Box) + $1.95 (Sig Conf) = $16.45. Much less than the $35.85 that I was charged for US Registered Mail when I made my submission.

A call to PSA on Monday is definitely in order!!

SDavid

Here's a thread from the coin board:

link

Looks like the registered threshold for them is 100k. Hmmm...don't think I'll be subbing any cards worth that much even in total any time soon.

alnavman

I got a message today for a submission that they are mailing back........I'll let you know next week how they sent it upon receipt
I agree, I'll be wanting a refund for the difference in shipping price also......why pay for something you are not getting...... al.

RonBurgundy

Not surprising - and this will be one of the hotter opinions I've ever had here - but I think the shipping rates have been outrageous for years. Nothing but a profit center for them.

thedutymon

Evening,
Besides a lot of obvious questions, why couldn't they just let Carol come out here and notify us, we have to look at that stupid "Too Many Threads" on the BST board forever, and they can't give a courtesy notice to their customers about something as important as this.
I just see at as a complete faceplant in the Customer Service department!!

Courtesy Folks...Just plain Coutesy!!!!

Yeah I want a refund for the part they didn't pay for this latest package, but more importantly are there other changes I am just going to stumble on to? If I have $1000-$1500 worth of cards and the temporary Mail Man leaves it sitting in the snow and moisture gets in the Box and ruins the Cards...Does PSA Re-Imburse me...Is It Insured for the value I put down and paid for?
Where do I stand? Jim?

Thanks
Neil

thedutymon

<< <i>Not surprising - and this will be one of the hotter opinions I've ever had here - but I think the shipping rates have been outrageous for years. Nothing but a profit center for them. >>



I agree, but then why change it?

There can't be more profit in the new method unless they laid off the employees that had to do all the work for the Registered packages....Wait a minute, now that makes sense!!!

Neil

Dboneesq

Neil,

Same thing happened to me. I sent in ONE card for a crossover (declared value $900.00) and it did not cross over. It was sent back in a small flat rate priority box, with DC.

HOWEVER, I paid $22.75 return shipping for this ONE CARD! I guess I have to call on Monday as well.

sportscardtheory

Does this affect new submissions? Should they be shipped differently? Should I wait to ship them for the cheaper rates?

tunahead08

Sounds like a pretty big mess PSA has on their hands that could have easily been avoided.

goose3

Nothing short of inexcusable.

bking

<< <i>Nothing short of inexcusable. >>



Especially when you consider that they JUST got through publishing new year rates, etc. Are you telling me this change wasn't being discussed at the same time as the 2010 rates were being finalized & published?

bbuckner22

My question is what happens when the box doesn't arrive or it shows up with cards missing? Registered mail is the safest way to go, everyone that handles the package has to sign for it. The seams on the box are taped and post marked. Priority mail could be opened by anyone along the way (I'm sure every postal/goverment employee is 100% honest, sigh) and re-taped. And I agree with Bob, this wasn't discussed as an option when they just raised their shipping rates a few months ago? Maybe this topic will take our focus away from the sub grades we've been getting.

EagleEyeKid

I take it these flat rate boxes weren't even insured if one was just sitting on
the porch. That's not good at all.
I'm not happy with this change. Return package from them should not be left
anywhere IMO. Insurance is a must.....at least you would have to sign for it
or pick it up at the PO.

SDavid

<< <i>I take it these flat rate boxes weren't even insured if one was just sitting on
the porch. That's not good at all.
I'm not happy with this change. Return package from them should not be left
anywhere IMO. Insurance is a must.....at least you would have to sign for it
or pick it up at the PO. >>



Mine were both insured with signature confirmation. I had to sign for them at the post office.

They're not supposed to, but some carriers will sign for their customer if given permission. I used to have a carrier who would do that, but I gave him permission because I was living in an apartment where the mail boxes were locked.

gameusedhoop

Was told by my PO people that it is CHEAPER to send a package REGISTERED when the insured level reaches about $1000. You pay more for Prioirty insured after that threshold. Not a smart move at all!

VintageCardLover

i would wager a lot of those sig. con. packages will simply be LEFT AT THE DOOR by some of your carriers, or they will sign for the package, i speak from experience on this, it wont be your regular carriers, but a sub, or temp that will not follow the procedures.

seems like they have stirred up quite the hornets nest and be sending out LOTS of refunds to you folks.

SDavid

Looks like they've now switched back to registered for the time being. You can easily tell which method was used for your sub by the tracking number. If there's a number starting with RE, it's registered.

I actually prefer priority, but oh well. I assume we'll be getting an announcement soon and than a permanent change.

A PO box is well worth it for those who are worried about packages being left at their door. I got one after having a vintage set left out by a temp carrier.

WinPitcher

game used is correct.

Ahh the things we put up with just to have a 3rd party tell us what grade our card is.

What did we do before the advent of grading?

One other point, and this does not excuse what has happened but how many of us send our cards

in to be graded using priority mail?


Steve

OAKESY25

I just emailed joe.. asking if that was true.. because I have a very high $$ sub in house right now and want it registered.
especially since I am paying for that service. I want the security that goes along with it.

lsutigers1973

Gonna be pizzed if the group sub comes back in a bunch of large flat rate boxes.

Gonblott

Paying for registered mail and getting your sub back in flat rate box is NOT acceptable.

I hope you get more than a credit back

bbuckner22

Come to think of it, I think the max you can insure a flat rate box for is $500.00 When I have a real big dollar item to ship out, I use register mail for safety and insurance purposes.

I also asked about your group sub, no need to worry about flat rate boxes coming back. Heard the were going to send everything back in several PWE's.

Carew29

Just had a $600 card sent back to me along with a few cheapies yesterday the same way. I will be asking for a refund on shipping come monday morning. Couldn't have cost more than $10 to send back to me. At least that's what the usps commercial says---my box is handed the usps man at the 23 second mark

bking

<< <i>game used is correct.

Ahh the things we put up with just to have a 3rd party tell us what grade our card is.

What did we do before the advent of grading?

One other point, and this does not excuse what has happened but how many of us send our cards

in to be graded using priority mail?


Steve >>



I do. Of course, I don't send high$$ submissions, and I know they won't sit on PSA's door step unattended when they get there.

Boopotts

<< <i>Come to think of it, I think the max you can insure a flat rate box for is $500.00 When I have a real big dollar item to ship out, I use register mail for safety and insurance purposes.

I also asked about your group sub, no need to worry about flat rate boxes coming back. Heard the were going to send everything back in several PWE's. >>



You can insure a flat rate box for however much you want. I've insured them for up to $2000 with no problem.

Everybody needs to settle down- SDavid already mentioned that refunds will be coming on 3/1, and the odds that something will happen to your cards that wouldn't have happened if the box was shipped registered are minimal. I know these boards are starved for action, but let's quit making a mountain out of a molehill.

bking

<< <i>

<< <i>Come to think of it, I think the max you can insure a flat rate box for is $500.00 When I have a real big dollar item to ship out, I use register mail for safety and insurance purposes.

I also asked about your group sub, no need to worry about flat rate boxes coming back. Heard the were going to send everything back in several PWE's. >>



You can insure a flat rate box for however much you want. I've insured them for up to $2000 with no problem.

Everybody needs to settle down- SDavid already mentioned that refunds will be coming on 3/1, and the odds that something will happen to your cards that wouldn't have happened if the box was shipped registered are minimal. I know these boards are starved for action, but let's quit making a mountain out of a molehill. >>



An unannounced change in the service level, which essentially breaks the spirit (if not the letter) of the contract under which cards are submitted, is more than a molehill.

Allen

Is PSA in financial trouble? That is the only thing that I can think of that would make them try this, especially without notice. Would put a lot of extra money in the bank really fast. Seriously though this is a massive change in operation and they don't tell anyone? There was clearly a meeting that led up to this and the subject of the meeting was most likely "Where can we cut costs?"

OAKESY25

and the odds that something will happen to your cards that wouldn't have happened if the box was shipped registered are minimal.

that comment is absolutely untrue.

registered is extremely secure. whatever small percentages of packages get damaged lost or stolen it is not worth it.
I spend a lot of time and money on these and do not want them being handled by just anyone.
Especially when I am paying $50 to have them returned registered mail.

Carew29

And that refund ,sure as hell, better not come back in the form of a voucher!!

Boopotts

<< <i>and the odds that something will happen to your cards that wouldn't have happened if the box was shipped registered are minimal.

that comment is absolutely untrue.

registered is extremely secure. whatever small percentages of packages get damaged lost or stolen it is not worth it.
I spend a lot of time and money on these and do not want them being handled by just anyone.
Especially when I am paying $50 to have them returned registered mail. >>



So long as PSA is going to refund you the difference-- and we have every indication that this is, in fact, going to happen-- then the cost of shipping isn't an issue. And so long as you insured your order for the proper amount than the 'security' of registered mail is a non-starter.

Edit to add: Nothing you have said contradicts my point that the odds that something will happen to your package that wouldn't have happened if it shipped registered are very, very small. I bet the odds that something happens to a registered package are about 1:20000, and the odds that something happens to a priority package w/ signature confirmation is 1:5000.

Quick show of hands: How many people here have shipped priority and had their package permanently lost, or otherwise damaged? Please chime in.

Boopotts

<< <i>Is PSA in financial trouble? That is the only thing that I can think of that would make them try this, especially without notice. Would put a lot of extra money in the bank really fast. Seriously though this is a massive change in operation and they don't tell anyone? There was clearly a meeting that led up to this and the subject of the meeting was most likely "Where can we cut costs?" >>



I don't know what their balance sheet looks like. CU in general looks very healthy right now, FWIW, or at least healthier than they've looked in years. Considering that an overwhelming percentage of PSA orders have a market value less than 2K, shipping registered does nothing but fatten the USPS's wallet at the expense of the submitter. This change was long overdue.

SDavid

One other point, and this does not excuse what has happened but how many of us send our cards

in to be graded using priority mail?

I've been doing that for several years with no problems.

It is strange that they didn't make this change a month ago when they announced the change in fees, but maybe a usps rep tipped them off that registered mail fees would be going up in the near future? We know the post office has been struggling, so that's possible.

Boopotts

<< <i> One other point, and this does not excuse what has happened but how many of us send our cards

in to be graded using priority mail?

I've been doing that for several years with no problems.

It is strange that they didn't make this change a month ago when they announced the change in fees, but maybe a usps rep tipped them off that registered mail fees would be going up in the near future? We know the post office has been struggling, so that's possible. >>



That's an interesting question. How else would you ship them? I guess you could ship to Newport Beach registered, but who wants to screw around with that tape you need to wet? I sent somewhere around 30-40K worth of cards to PSA last year, and all of them went in flat rate boxes.

bking

<< <i>

<< <i>Is PSA in financial trouble? That is the only thing that I can think of that would make them try this, especially without notice. Would put a lot of extra money in the bank really fast. Seriously though this is a massive change in operation and they don't tell anyone? There was clearly a meeting that led up to this and the subject of the meeting was most likely "Where can we cut costs?" >>



I don't know what their balance sheet looks like. CU in general looks very healthy right now, FWIW, or at least healthier than they've looked in years. Considering that an overwhelming percentage of PSA orders have a market value less than 2K, shipping registered does nothing but fatten the USPS's wallet at the expense of the submitter. This change was long overdue. >>



I just visited with a lawyer friend, and his professional opinion is that they most likely violated the implied terms of the contract by shipping back Priority when you filled out a sub form stating it would be registered. No offense, but you keep glossing over this when you state that Prioriity is basically "just as good" as Registered. It's not a question of "just as good"; it's a question of what they promised and what you signed up for when you sent the package. Also, I think your ratios are WAYYY too low.

OAKESY25

my point is.. I am paying for a certain service.. you can throw out #'s all day long.. but when I pay for one service and get another.. I won't be happy.

Nothing you have said contradicts my point that the odds that something will happen to your package that wouldn't have happened if it shipped registered are very, very small. I bet the odds that something happens to a registered package are about 1:20000, and the odds that something happens to a priority package w/ signature confirmation is 1:5000.


ok.. lets say those #'s are accurate.. but a priority package is 1000x more common then a registered piece of mail.
there are a lot more priority packages being damaged lost or stolen then the registered variety.

do you always know everything? about every topic? at least.. do you think you do?
arrogance is a stinky cologne

BugOnTheRug

<< <i>Quick show of hands: How many people here have shipped priority and had their package permanently lost, or otherwise damaged? Please chime in. >>



Hogwash. It doesn't matter. Here's the facts:

1) registered is the safest shipping method - period.
2) you pay for registered - you should receive registered. Eventual reimbursement? Fine, but the issue is getting the service you pay for.
3) you can bet if this continues you will see an increase in lost/stolen/etc. priority shipments. It's not a matter of 'if', it is a matter of 'when'.

Very bad move on PSA's part.

gumbyfan

<< <i>And that refund ,sure as hell, better not come back in the form of a voucher!! >>





If I can't use part of a voucher toward their return shipping charges, then they can't issue me a voucher for refunding my shipping charges.

Has anyone ever compared the amount you pay for return shipping against the actual amount that is paid?

Anyone expecting to get every penny between the insured Priority Mail cost and the amount you paid for return shipping is going to be disappointed on Monday.

I have a box here that was used to ship back 318 cards from the first group submission I ran and they paid $18.10 in postage according to the label. We paid $.25 per card plus insurance.