Do turn around times prevent you from having cards graded?

ROCKDJRW · June 27, 2007 6:04AM

I am not trying to bash PSA as I regularly buy PSA graded cards (and will continue to do so) but I have no desire to send away my cards and not get them back for several monthes. I know I could pay more to have them back as quickly as I would like but I would mostly be grading cards from 1980-Present so it wouldn't make sense to pay 13 or more dollars per card to have them graded. I would have to think I am not alone in this and that PSA is leaving alot of money on the table with collectors such as myself. I have only submited a few cards to BGS (and quite a few to SGC) but does anyone think that turnaround times send people to other companies? Are other companies much faster? I know I waited close to a month for a large submission from SGC and I thought that was too long

storm888 · June 27, 2007 6:22AM

"Do turn around times prevent you from having cards graded?"

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////

No.

Submitting 9s/10s that come back 5s, has slowed me down.

I KNOW, "tiny creases." Well, if the graders really do not
generally use anything other than their "naked eyes," how
the heck are they finding all of these invisible creases?

jimq112 · June 27, 2007 6:28AM

I'm frustrated and not sending my sub that I have ready, and I'm considering just finishing the graded sets that "matter" to me and keeping the rest raw. I don't need the holder for newer cards.

I love the security that should come with graded cards but it's getting to be not worth the stress of the long wait. Every month I complain and then send another sub. This month my sub went to beckett (and I have grades already)

I wish they were more consistent and I hope PSA doesn't kill a great thing.

ldferg · June 27, 2007 6:39AM

yes

Ladder7 · June 27, 2007 6:48AM

I've waited for subs from GAI, PSA and SGC... They all make you wait. If they were quick, then noone would opt for the speedy service -which I rarely request. You'll get used to it.

The epitome of patience;

PasadenaMudSlide · June 27, 2007 6:49AM

Submitting 9s/10s that come back 5s, has slowed me down.

Amen, brother.

Although, I am more concerned with the boatload of 9s, that on any other day, are graded 10.

Reward the good submitters, for crissakes.

RonBurgundy · June 27, 2007 6:57AM

Yes. That, and grading fees that make it economically stupid to grade a card, are the reasons why most of my commons and even some stars from '68 forward are going to remain raw. Add in higher shipping costs and the hassle of putting a submission together = a steep decrease in the number of items I submit. I would respectfully request to PSA that in light of these issues, they consider creating another pricing tier with a guaranteed turnaround time and also attending more shows to at least accept submissions.....that doesn't eliminate all the problems but it might help.

Ron

WinPitcher · June 27, 2007 7:04AM

No.

Steve

Griffins · June 27, 2007 7:49AM

absolutely. I won't send it in a submission when others are pending, and by the time they do pop I often have changed my mind and keep them raw.

rbdjr1 · June 27, 2007 8:44AM

<< <i>No.

Steve >>

I agree!

A busy PSA means that the hobby we love is continuing record growth in graded cards.

If, all of a sudden, "quick turn-around times are the norm", we all better watch out!

rd

P.S. I now have a 600+ card bulk submission being prepared. I know I'll wait forever. But I'll deal with it!

Thulnanth · June 28, 2007 12:17PM

I really don't mind long turnaround times that are within guidelines - it is the nature of the business. What really frustrates me (and others, it seems) is the lack of any sort of "first in, first out" policy. I know all my subs are standard cards packaged exactly per PSA guidelines, and yet many who sent in after me are getting theirs back already. For many here, this gets old after a while...

Take it easy,
Jared

Alfonz24 · June 28, 2007 12:26PM

<< <i>Submitting 9s/10s that come back 5s, has slowed me down.

Amen, brother.

Although, I am more concerned with the boatload of 9s, that on any other day, are graded 10.

Reward the good submitters, for crissakes. >>

ditto

colebear · June 28, 2007 1:01PM

Yes, and I wish they cared.

cardbender · June 28, 2007 1:40PM

No, I just like accurate and consistent grading. Turnaround times are of no factor to me. I expect them back in 2 month's, usually they far exceed those expectations as I get most of my subs back in 3-4 weeks.

I do wonder why they don't grade them first in, first out, but that's their way and no amount of complaining by any of us has changed that method over the years. I would like to see someone from PSA post here why they choose that method of handling the incoming orders.

The three main reasons for delays that I can guess would be the usual mistakes on an order that land it on the 'problem shelf', the outside package not being clearly marked what type of grading service is required, or the grading of an issue that is unknown or uncataloged to PSA thus requiring some research on their part.

grote15 · June 28, 2007 2:19PM

Not all. It's not like subs are getting lost or mutilated during the grading process. Maybe I'm just more patient than average, but waiting a few weeks (or a couple of months) for cards to come back from PSA doesn't seem that terrible to me. JMO.

mojorob · June 28, 2007 2:35PM

Yes, turn around times since the first of the year have completely turned me off submitting.

I revceived my last submission on "work day 45."
Some two and a half months later.
Heck I had almost forgot what I was collecting.

Talk about killing collector high momentum.

Boopotts · June 28, 2007 2:45PM

I submit far fewer cards then I would if the turnaround times were quicker. As Lee pointed out a while ago the market for modern stars really waxes and wanes; now and then a new collector will get involved, and prices will surge towards respectability for a while, and then the market bottoms right back out after the new guy shoots his load. This makes it very difficult to put a sub together, since you have to project what someone will want to buy two months down the road.

Example: In January, as many will remember, common Jeter PSA 10's were frequently selling for $100-$300. So I put some Jeters in a Feb. sub, but by the time I get them back (in April) that market is dead; which leaves me with something like 20 PSA 10 Jeter cards that I can't move for $15 a pop.

Example 2: I put 30 or so Greg Maddux cards on the same sub, figuring I'll sell them to the one guy who's serious about putting a graded Maddux set together. But by the time I get them back he's decided to sell his set.

I don't really care about making a boatload of money with my subs. If I can clear a few bucks then it's worth it to me, since thumbing though cards gives me something to do when SportsCenter is on. But I'm not willing to sit on piles of worthless slabs-- and that's what I'm generally stuck with when I don't get my cards back in a couple weeks or so.

Last point-- PSA need not worry about cannibalizing their other service levels by returning bulk subs in a prompt and timely manner. Almost all the cards I submit in bulk specials will never be submitted for $8 a card or whatever, so if they don't get sent in on a special they're never making the trip to the left coast anyway.

JeremyDie1 · June 28, 2007 3:05PM

yes.

skilow · June 28, 2007 8:57PM

I buy PSA cards, but their membership fee drives me to get my cards graded by BGS.

rbdjr1 · June 28, 2007 11:25PM

<< <i>I buy PSA cards, but their membership fee drives me to get my cards graded by BGS. >>

PSA (Collector's Club) membership works for me!

Voucher for Free PSA submissions (...with 7 day turn-around times!)...
Monthly grading specials
Cool Magazine
SMR and population reports
possible additional membership discounts at renwal time!
and more!

actually, with 12 free submissions, the two year collector's club platinum membership is a pretty cool deal!

rd

edit: I do not use BGS, as I collect few modern era items. But the earlier BVG Beckett slabbed material, sells for much less than PSA slabbed material.

muchuckwagon · June 28, 2007 11:43PM

In my opinion, PSA is playing "games" with the turn around times. Prior to this past winter, an order was received into the system within 2 - 3 days of arrival and many times the system reflected the actual day the package arrived. Along the way, that changed and now it takes 10 - 14 days for an order to be received in the system....and the clock starts ticking in the eyes of Customer Service on the received date in the system.

The same is true for the actual grading cycle which was 5 - 6 weeks from the received date in the system for the $5 specials in the past. That cycle has now increased to 8 - 10 weeks PLUS the additional two weeks to receive an order in the system.

What really grinds my gears [Family Guy reference] is the fact it appears the concept of FIFO does not apply to grading orders. There are plenty of examples of people with orders outstanding from the March special (including myself with 2 small modern orders 25-30 cards each) while others are starting to post results from the June $5 special. Please explain to me how that is possible? No, my order was not on the problem shelf....aka the blackhole.

These factors have a significant influence on my decision to place future orders. I refused to even consider placing another order in June until my two March orders were completed since I am worried about turn around times growing to three months door to door.

When you take into consideration all the factors, I have three or four choices....
1. Stop grading cards.
2. Send 100 card orders to BGS under the 45 day service level.
3. Restrict grading to high-end cards only and get 5 day service from BGS for $10 per card.
4. Pray turnaround times increase on the PSA $5 specials.

Long story short, I had 100+ cards targeted for grading and my last March special just posted on 6/27/07. I rather have most of those cards in my hands rather than collecting dust at PSA until September. With this in mind, I will send in ~30 cards on Saturday to PSA and another 10 are off as a test run with BGS.

Boopotts · June 29, 2007 6:55AM

<< <i>In my opinion, PSA is playing "games" with the turn around times. Prior to this past winter, an order was received into the system within 2 - 3 days of arrival and many times the system reflected the actual day the package arrived. Along the way, that changed and now it takes 10 - 14 days for an order to be received in the system....and the clock starts ticking in the eyes of Customer Service on the received date in the system.

The same is true for the actual grading cycle which was 5 - 6 weeks from the received date in the system for the $5 specials in the past. That cycle has now increased to 8 - 10 weeks PLUS the additional two weeks to receive an order in the system.

What really grinds my gears [Family Guy reference] is the fact it appears the concept of FIFO does not apply to grading orders. There are plenty of examples of people with orders outstanding from the March special (including myself with 2 small modern orders 25-30 cards each) while others are starting to post results from the June $5 special. Please explain to me how that is possible? No, my order was not on the problem shelf....aka the blackhole.

These factors have a significant influence on my decision to place future orders. I refused to even consider placing another order in June until my two March orders were completed since I am worried about turn around times growing to three months door to door.

When you take into consideration all the factors, I have three or four choices....
1. Stop grading cards.
2. Send 100 card orders to BGS under the 45 day service level.
3. Restrict grading to high-end cards only and get 5 day service from BGS for $10 per card.
4. Pray turnaround times increase on the PSA $5 specials.

Long story short, I had 100+ cards targeted for grading and my last March special just posted on 6/27/07. I rather have most of those cards in my hands rather than collecting dust at PSA until September. With this in mind, I will send in ~30 cards on Saturday to PSA and another 10 are off as a test run with BGS. >>

Nobody understands the lack of a FIFO system. I'm sure they have their reasons for it-- otherwise they would implement it-- but it does seem strange.

That said, I can live without a FIFO system. But what I would like is some kind of estimate as to when my cards will be graded; and I don't consider 'sometime within the next three months' to be an estimate that has any significant value.

MurphDawg · June 29, 2007 7:10AM

Guys, I was wondering if anyone knows approximatley how many graders PSA employs. Is it 10, 20, 50?

Do turn around times prevent you from having cards graded?

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