Sending wax and cello packs to PSA for grading- looking for input!

Dty

I have a number of wax packs and a number of cool cello packs with stars and rookies on the front and back (mostly from CU Board Rips, purchases from BBCE and purchases and trades from guys here on this board) that I would like to have encapsulated by PSA.

Last time I sent in some nicer old wax packs, I received some great grades but by the time I received the packs back from PSA, most of the packs had numerous rips and looked really bad. (PSA did reimburse me and had very good customer service to try to remedy the problem.)

I am wondering if others have been running into problems lately, or if PSA has pretty much addressed this problem. I have some nice 1972 Topps Basketball and 1986 Fleer Basketball packs and some early 70's baseball wax packs among other nicer packs that I would like to get graded. I just don't want to run into the same problem with my wax packs pretty much being ruined with pack rips etc....

Also, when you send in packs to be graded, do you usually take them to a show that PSA is attending to avoid one less shipping issue, or do you just package everything up and send it all in from home?

I look forward to hearing some of your thoughts.

Thanks.

Tyler
dty

grote15

The newer holders without the tabs have greatly improved the problems they were having with wrapper tears. It still happens, but with much less frequency, and only only if the gum is moving freely inside the pack. I have sent about 40-50 wax packs over past couple of years and have only had a few that suffered tears while in transit and even on those the tears were very minor, more like pinholes.

Good luck with the grades!

DCanfield

Unfortunately, you don't have a lot of options here. Leave them raw and if you ever want to sell them there's money lost. You really have to grade them and you definitely have to use PSA over GAI. Obviously it's the wax you worry about since there isn't any problem with the cellos. I gave PSA a slew of packs at the National and all came back to me with no damage. I imagine damage still happens occasionally but I don't believe it's a major problem anymore. Good luck with the grades!

Doug

Dty

Doug

When you turned your packs into PSA at the National, did you submit them all packaged up, or did you give them to PSA and they then packaged them up to send off to Steve Hart for authentication? In other words, is it better to take the packs to the show and if so, must PSA verify the packs as you are giving them to them, or do you bring the packs all package up for them so there is less "handling" of the packs?

Thanks.

Tyler

Glad to hear both Tim and Doug have had good, recent experiences as of late with grading of wax packs.

grote15

<< <i>grote15, do you have any thoughts on this pack that sold:

1981 Football Wax PSA 9


How do you think the tear up top occurred? I imagine it happened post grading. >>



Definitely post-grading. That pack at this point would grade no better than PSA 7 at best..

edmundfitzgerald

That 81 is a beauty of a pack. That slit would not bother me one bit if I was the buyer.

PaulMaul

<< <i>That 81 is a beauty of a pack. That slit would not bother me one bit if I was the buyer. >>



Why not? If, as Tim suggests, the pack would now grade a 7, why wouldn't it bother you to pay for a 9 and get a 7?

LakersFAN

Dty , how did u go about resolving the tear in packs with PSA ? i sent in 6 and 1 of them was graded 8 , but when i recieved it it had 2 little tears which all were tear free when i sent them in, all info would help , thanks

Dty

I had to take photos and scans and call customer service a few different times. I ended up sending the graded packs back to be re-graded with the new grades of 6 with the rips (originally they were graded 8's and even some 9's). PSA ended up working out a deal with me to give me my "newly graded" packs, albeit 6's with a few rips, and some grading vouchers and a little cash....

All in all, I thought PSA was very fair in dealing with me, but I just don't want to have nice wax packs that clearly were/are good (since they originally graded them 8's and 9's) end up coming back looking like 5's and 6's. They will still sell to the customer that wants an authentic pack to open, but I want most of these for my personal collection or to sell for top dollar, as 8's and 9's should.....

DCanfield

<< <i>Doug

When you turned your packs into PSA at the National, did you submit them all packaged up, or did you give them to PSA and they then packaged them up to send off to Steve Hart for authentication? In other words, is it better to take the packs to the show and if so, must PSA verify the packs as you are giving them to them, or do you bring the packs all package up for them so there is less "handling" of the packs?

Thanks.

Tyler

Glad to hear both Tim and Doug have had good, recent experiences as of late with grading of wax packs. >>



I had the packs in team set bags with top load backing and then all in a single box. Any of the packs that were special (player x on top or series x) I placed a sticker on the bag.