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Quick question from a Newbie re: What's up with sleeves?

WutziznameWutzizname Posts: 3 ✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum

Hi. I just recently broke out my old childhood collection for the first time in over 20 years…mostly late 70s and early 80s cards plus a bunch of older star cards as well.

I’m just beginning the process of inventorying them and getting ready to submit some of them for PSA grading with an eye toward selling.

But one quick question I’ve stumbled upon…

It seems like the standard format for submitting cards to PSA is inside of a penny sleeve inserted into a Card Saver. Yes? However, I’m finding that despite my best efforts it is quite easy to cause damage to one of the card’s corners when inserting into a penny sleeve. The first corner in is no problem, of course, but when attempting to insert the second corner it seems like a 50-50 shot of it going in smoothly vs. catching on the sleeve and potentially damaging the corner.

So am I missing something? Is there some trick to doing this safely with high-value older cards? Or is there another way to properly package cards for submission without using a penny sleeve?

Appreciate any expert advice on this!

Comments

  • alifaxwa2alifaxwa2 Posts: 3,104 ✭✭✭

    Trim the corners of the sleeves off to open the mouth up.

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  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I have submitted quite a few cards and have never used them and haven't had any issues.

  • WutziznameWutzizname Posts: 3 ✭

    @Dpeck100 said:
    I have submitted quite a few cards and have never used them and haven't had any issues.

    So you just insert the card into a Card Saver by itself...? Or are you sending the cards in totally naked?

  • DoctorKDoctorK Posts: 868 ✭✭✭

    Just a Card Saver will suffice. If you want to use penny sleeves, trim one of the corners off first.

  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,727 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited December 14, 2016 7:43AM

    I use penny sleeves and don't trim the corners but haven't had any issues. After some practice, it should become easier. I insert the corner into the open space you can create by pinching the sleeve and then just slide the card in.



    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • secretstashsecretstash Posts: 1,396 ✭✭✭✭
    edited December 14, 2016 8:23AM

    I tend to wonder the same. Inserting once myself without a card saver is easy to not damage the card, but do I trust PSA will do the same with the corners after the fact when they remove it 3-4 times throughout process?

    I know they are experts at removing and adding but we've all made mistakes. I am sure they own up to most of them, but there has to be many cases where the submitter wonders if they really missed that corner ding and don't have pics for proof.

    For the record, I don't like using sleeves for submission, but I have debated if 9s could have been 10s had I chosen that method.

  • jfkheatjfkheat Posts: 2,740 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Sleeve sizes vary. This is one case where size matters. I would try to find some sleeves that are a little larger.
    James

  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Wutzizname said:

    @Dpeck100 said:
    I have submitted quite a few cards and have never used them and haven't had any issues.

    So you just insert the card into a Card Saver by itself...? Or are you sending the cards in totally naked?

    Just a card saver.

    One piece of advice is make sure you wash your hands before handling the cards. You can get finger oils on the card very easily when inserting. There used to be a board member who would wear gloves and while that may sound extreme it probably was a wise move.

  • vols1vols1 Posts: 792 ✭✭✭

    penny sleeve are just plastic, you can put stretch the opening wider with your fingers

    https://kennerstartinglineup.blogspot.com/

  • MULLINS5MULLINS5 Posts: 4,517 ✭✭✭

    I do not use sleeves, but I would if I were submitting a refractor/foil/hologram card to prevent scratching. Even the smallest hologram (think Upper Deck logo on back of Griffey RC) could get scratched without a sleeve.

  • divecchiadivecchia Posts: 6,673 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I use sleeves only when necessary. I agree with Patrick on using them for refractor/foil/hologram card to prevent scratching.

    I also use them on some of the high gloss STAR Co baseball cards as I found when I didn't the glossy surface got stuck to the card saver and when I pulled them out it left some of the card on the card saver giving me paper loss. I lost 2 complete STAR company sets like that. I would of ended up with PSA 2's and 3's had I subbed the cards without giving them a final check before sending them out.

    Donato

    Hobbyist & Collector (not an investor).
    Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set

    Successful transactions: Shrub68 (Jim), MWallace (Mike)
  • HighGradeLegendsHighGradeLegends Posts: 1,693 ✭✭✭✭

    Just one corner of the penny sleeve off. Now you can slide the card in without damaging a corner. While i agree with most on here they are bot likely needed, most post 1992 cards scratch on harder plastic so i just used penny sleeves on everything as a routine.

  • CakesCakes Posts: 3,655 ✭✭✭✭✭

    OP, I am with you, I still struggle with Card savers and I have steady surgeon hands.

    Successful coin BST transactions with Gerard and segoja.

    Successful card BST transactions with cbcnow, brogurt, gstarling, Bravesfan 007, and rajah 424.
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