A way to avoid mechanical errors

lawnmowerman · January 20, 2012 3:07AM

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned before and I really don't feel like searching. Well, I can't search the forum to begin with because it's not 100% compatible with Google Chrome but that's another issue.

Anyway, when your submission actually gets logged in, just call customer service and have them put it on "shipping hold". They're going to ask why. Tell them you want to be able to check the sub for mechanical errors before it ships. Be sure to make a copy of your submission form to have on hand, so you can compare it to the sub when it pops.

Obviously, this will only work for certain errors. For instance, you sub a 1998 Topps Chrome card and when the sub pops it's listed as a 1998 Topps. Or, your 2004 game used jock card comes up listed as a 2004 game used chew card. It won't work for cards that are listed with the correct names but are just put in the wrong slabs. Thankfully, this doesn't happen as often as getting a card back listed as the wrong variation.

I have used the shipping hold method on my last three subs and have caught a handful of errors. Now, I don't get back any errors, which is great.

On average, for a 50 card submission, I would always get back 3-5 mechanical errors. There is nothing more frustrating than taking the time to research the correct names for cards only to get them back with ridiculous "mistakes".

If everyone starts to do this, maybe PSA will get a clue and tighten up their lax standards in this department? Worth a shot.

CollectorAtWork · January 20, 2012 3:28AM

The good part about this is that if you were the one who submitted the card to PSA, they will fix mechanical errors for you free, including the cost to ship it back to you. I've done this before a couple of times w/o issues.

jeffcbay · January 20, 2012 3:46AM

I've never received a mechanical error, but I also don't sub many inserts or sub set cards.

thedutymon · January 20, 2012 4:09AM

<< Worth a shot. >>

Matt,

I thought all your cards just said "Emmitt Smith, Some guy who played a little Ball!" Pretty hard to screw that up.

YeeHah

Neil

JohnnyD · January 20, 2012 5:02AM

Wish I had read this post last week, I would have taken your advice. Just got back an order from PSA - shipped back so quickly that I did not even see it listed as graded already on their website - with a 1999 Inkredible Elvin Hayes auto labeled a 1999 UD Century Legend Epic Signatures auto. Guess I will be calling them monday morning about sending it back to be fixed.

lawnmowerman · January 20, 2012 5:24AM

<< Wish I had read this post last week, I would have taken your advice. Just got back an order from PSA - shipped back so quickly that I did not even see it listed as graded already on their website - with a 1999 Inkredible Elvin Hayes auto labeled a 1999 UD Century Legend Epic Signatures auto. Guess I will be calling them monday morning about sending it back to be fixed. >>

You'll need to fill out a submission form. If you have any other errors, send them back with it. Save your po receipt and ask for a voucher for the shipping cost once the order is received.

lawnmowerman · January 20, 2012 5:26AM

<< 

<< Worth a shot. >>

Matt,

I thought all your cards just said "Emmitt Smith, Some guy who played a little Ball!" Pretty hard to screw that up.

YeeHah

Neil

>>

Well in PSA's defense, at least they never misspelled Emmitt's name. They just screwed up other stuff

JohnnyD · January 20, 2012 5:28AM

<< 

<< Wish I had read this post last week, I would have taken your advice. Just got back an order from PSA - shipped back so quickly that I did not even see it listed as graded already on their website - with a 1999 Inkredible Elvin Hayes auto labeled a 1999 UD Century Legend Epic Signatures auto. Guess I will be calling them monday morning about sending it back to be fixed. >>

You'll need to fill out a submission form. If you have any other errors, send them back with it. Save your po receipt and ask for a voucher for the shipping cost once the order is received. >>

I will do this, thanks for the advice (part of the reason I love this board)

John

PMKAY · July 31, 2014 1:13AM

Put me down as another one who wishes he had read this earlier. I recently said my mechanical error rate on subs is about 5%. Well on my latest one it's slightly higher as 4/50 were incorrect. The strange thing is I never actually got an email saying my grades were ready. I just got one saying the cards had been shipped. When I checked the grades I spotted the mistake right away. I'm in Canada so to correct this error is going to cost them roughly $50 in shipping costs back and forth plus the time it takes to correct the errors. It wasn't a huge error but it is one that needs to be corrected. I subbed four of the same British Bulldogs wrestling cards and they forgot the "s" at the end of Bulldogs.

Mickey71 · July 31, 2014 1:45AM

In all seriousness.......isn't this post crazy. We should not have to expect that there will be errors. We should expect that the subs are correct and that errors are rare. I mean....WTH.

grote15 · July 31, 2014 1:59AM

<< Put me down as another one who wishes he had read this earlier. I recently said my mechanical error rate on subs is about 5%. Well on my latest one it's slightly higher as 4/50 were incorrect. The strange thing is I never actually got an email saying my grades were ready. I just got one saying the cards had been shipped. When I checked the grades I spotted the mistake right away. I'm in Canada so to correct this error is going to cost them roughly $50 in shipping costs back and forth plus the time it takes to correct the errors. It wasn't a huge error but it is one that needs to be corrected. I subbed four of the same British Bulldogs wrestling cards and they forgot the "s" at the end of Bulldogs. >>

How does PSA reimburse you for shipping? Vouchers?

miwlvrn · July 31, 2014 2:02AM

1 in 20 cards I sub come back with mech errors, never fails. Of note, the majority of what I send in tend to have mistake in the line of text that is below the name rather than the top line after the year, though there are still plenty of mistakes with the spelling of the name or in the first line w/ year and set. Some are subtle that I don't notice until a while later, and some are pretty blatant. In every case, I check my sub form to be sure and I have always had the correct info on the sub form prior to grading.

I've mentioned before in other posts but I'll say it again as a reminder: after you get your mech error cards back from having sent them in for correction, take a minute to read the labels. I have had several instances where I sent the cards back for mech error correction, and PSA fixed the spec report electronically but did not actually open the slab up and fix the label to match the spec report. I have had a few cards go back as many as 4 times for this situation.

ashabby · July 31, 2014 2:30AM

A get a few from time to time. I think the level is pretty high. They can always improve. But I think the system is pretty strong.

lawnmowerman · July 31, 2014 2:32AM

<< How does PSA reimburse you for shipping? Vouchers? >>

That is correct, unless they changed their policy (I haven't subbed in a few years). You would have to provide proof of shipping cost (postal receipt) to get reimbursed.

miwlvrn · July 31, 2014 3:16AM

<< 

<< How does PSA reimburse you for shipping? Vouchers? >>

That is correct, unless they changed their policy (I haven't subbed in a few years). You would have to provide proof of shipping cost (postal receipt) to get reimbursed. >>

You do not have to provide proof of shipping cost if you are ok with the default amount of $17.00. If you paid more, then you'll have to have your receipt info to get reimbursed for that amount. After you receive your cards back, you then place a call or email to customer service requesting the reimbursement and about 3 weeks or so later you'll get the voucher in the mail.

grote15 · July 31, 2014 3:21AM

<< 

<< 

<< How does PSA reimburse you for shipping? Vouchers? >>

That is correct, unless they changed their policy (I haven't subbed in a few years). You would have to provide proof of shipping cost (postal receipt) to get reimbursed. >>

You do not have to provide proof of shipping cost if you are ok with the default amount of $17.00. If you paid more, then you'll have to have your receipt info to get reimbursed for that amount. After you receive your cards back, you then place a call or email to customer service requesting the reimbursement and about 3 weeks or so later you'll get the voucher in the mail. >>

Thanks for the info. I have about 5-6 mechanical errors I've accumulated through the years. So, $17 is default amount for voucher and you request it after getting corrected cards back?

wrestlingcardking · July 31, 2014 3:36AM

I need to get my mechanical errors together and send them to PSA. I suspect right after the national is not the time to do so.

Stone193 · July 31, 2014 3:44AM

That's pretty sound advice Matt.

I, personally, have made like 4 subs total in 10 years - you guys sub a lot of cards! It's incredible.

PMKAY · July 31, 2014 5:01AM

I've gotten vouchers for more than $17 but I'm in Canada that could be why. And I'm up to 6/50 on my last sub as I just realized that the final "S" is missing on both the Jake The Snake Roberts cards I subbed.

lawnmowerman · July 31, 2014 5:14AM

<< And I'm up to 6/50 on my last sub as I just realized that the final "S" is missing on both the Jake The Snake Roberts cards I subbed. >>

Not good!

dytch2220 · July 31, 2014 5:27AM

<< The good part about this is that if you were the one who submitted the card to PSA, they will fix mechanical errors for you free, including the cost to ship it back to you. I've done this before a couple of times w/o issues. >>

You don't need to have been the original submitter to have a mechanical error corrected for free by PSA. I have sent in numerous which I purchased from eBay prior to them having recognized a variation. Once the variation was recognized I subbed them all for a mechanical reholder at the direction of PSA customer service.

lawnmowerman · July 31, 2014 5:31AM

<< 

<< The good part about this is that if you were the one who submitted the card to PSA, they will fix mechanical errors for you free, including the cost to ship it back to you. I've done this before a couple of times w/o issues. >>

You don't need to have been the original submitter to have a mechanical error corrected for free by PSA. I have sent in numerous which I purchased from eBay/q]

Correct. Being a player collector, I've had the same experiences.

Ripkenfan126 · July 31, 2014 8:10AM

I usually average 10% mech error on my orders. It's kinda crazy that they mess up that much. But at least they fix it all for free and pay for shipping.

A way to avoid mechanical errors

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