Always fun when your cards get damaged on the way to Newport Beach.

RonBurgundy · July 24, 2008 12:49AM

I sent in an 11 card submission a few weeks ago. Grades popped, and a couple had me scratching my head. Picked up the cards this morning, and the top 2 cards that graded 5's had major creases across the back. Those weren't there when I sent them out.

One was a beautiful '54 Bowman Gil Hodges.

Ron

Stingray · July 24, 2008 12:58AM

<< I sent in an 11 card submission a few weeks ago. Grades popped, and a couple had me scratching my head. Picked up the cards this morning, and the top 2 cards that graded 5's had major creases across the back. Those weren't there when I sent them out.

One was a beautiful '54 Bowman Gil Hodges.

Ron >>

Sorry to hear that, that plain sucks!!

Morgoth · July 24, 2008 1:03AM

Can you get the insurance to pay by showing before and after scans?

billwaltonsbeard · July 24, 2008 1:06AM

Thats horrible!! How were they packed??

HeritageAddict · July 24, 2008 1:07AM

My guess would be that it didn't happen on their way to PSA.....I had the same thing happen last year on a nice OPC Murray rookie.

RonBurgundy · July 24, 2008 1:17AM

I might be able to show the damage on one of them, because the card is noticeably bent on the front. The Hodges is not.

They were pretty securely packed per PSA's instructions. I ALWAYS ship double boxed as well.

Ron

drewsef · July 24, 2008 1:18AM

have to agree that it was most likely done at PSA, I would say on average I have about one in 25 or so cards get a noticeable corner ding that wasn't there when submitted

billwaltonsbeard · July 24, 2008 1:19AM

Double boxed?? Jeez! Someone would have had to sit on them or something. I just usually use a bubble mailer for my small ones, so this scares me.

jeffcbay · July 24, 2008 1:28AM

I didn't think they accepted bubble mailers. I use 8x8 boxes with the fiberglass-reinforced paper packing tape surrounding the entire box.

mkg809 · July 24, 2008 1:33AM

I use bubble mailers all the time on my smaller subs.
Never had a problem.

GoDodgersFan · July 24, 2008 1:39AM

drewsef comment is right on.

I sent in SLU cards that have very colorful borders and several were damaged during my last submission and also
before. S**t, two 1998 Marinos were sure fire 10s (super gloss, centered, and razor corners) and came back as
9s with dinged corners.

For this June special, I did scan all the cards just to cover myself. Man, I sure wish they use more gentle fingers
this time.

digicat · July 24, 2008 1:42AM

I'm curious, did you put labels on the card savers?

RonBurgundy · July 24, 2008 1:49AM

Actually, for that submission, I did label the card savers. I don't normally.

Ron

leathtech · July 24, 2008 2:30AM

<< I didn't think they accepted bubble mailers. I use 8x8 boxes with the fiberglass-reinforced paper packing tape surrounding the entire box. >>

All my small subs 10 or less go double bubble. No problems to date...

ctsoxfan · July 24, 2008 2:32AM

<< I'm curious, did you put labels on the card savers? >>

Why, is that a bad thing? I always do that - and I know a lot of people don't bother to.

jimq112 · July 24, 2008 3:03AM

OT but related - when you ship with bubble mailers, make sure it's fat enough that it goes as a parcel, not as a flat letter (at least 3/4" thick) and also put some reinforcement inside. If it's fat enough that it can't accidently make it's way into the letter sorting machine that will save most cards. Graded cards don't survive the trip thru the sorter, sometimes a card in a toploader will.

When carriers sort mail at USPS, we sort into a sorting case with somewhere between 400 and 800 slots. The slots are about 6" high. If you get a carrier who is in a hurry and not too concerned about packages, the small ones can sometimes get folded in half and put in the sorting case. If it has a reinforcement backing the card, it's more trouble than it's worth to fold it.

Also, marking "do not bend" on an envelope is almost completely useless with most carriers. If you're going to put it anywhere, use red marker and put it right above the address. The machines sort from the bottom up and don't care about "do not bend" and putting it right above the name gives the carrier the best chance to see it. Again if possible put some kind of backing material just in case.

Back on topic - I agree that it probably happened at psa, maybe a new grader with 10 thumbs had trouble getting them out of the cardsavers.

jimq112 · July 24, 2008 3:04AM

<< 

<< I'm curious, did you put labels on the card savers? >>

Why, is that a bad thing? I always do that - and I know a lot of people don't bother to. >>

Best to put the labels on the cardsavers before the cards go inside. Bad idea to put labels and then write the numbers on it when the card is already inside, especially if you have a heavy hand

brianwintersfan · July 24, 2008 3:15AM

Recently had to send one back due to a big greasy finger print on the card. But what happened to your stuff is far worse as mine could be fixed.

digicat · July 24, 2008 3:21AM

<< Actually, for that submission, I did label the card savers. I don't normally. >>

That COULD be the problem, depending on where you placed the labels. I've noticed that when you have a stack of cards in card savers w/o labels, the stack is nice and flat, with out much mobility. When you put a bunch of labels on the card savers, in spots where they overlap the card, the stack now has a little bit of mobility (it's kinda cushy), and the cards themselves can bend, possibly resulting in damage.

When I send in submissions, I put a smaller, 1.5"x.5" label across the top tab of the card saver (across the logo). That way, when you stack the cards, they lay flat and don't move much.

jeffcbay · July 24, 2008 3:45AM

What service to most of you use to ship your sub? Express? Registered? Priority? First Class?

brianwintersfan · July 24, 2008 3:47AM

<< What service to most of you use to ship your sub? Express? Registered? Priority? First Class? >>

I use Priority

gumbyfan · July 24, 2008 3:48AM

<< What service to most of you use to ship your sub? Express? Registered? Priority? First Class? >>

I use Carrier Pigeon.

Leiascards · July 24, 2008 3:54AM

I have a 1992 Griffey card that was in my last sub, that got graded a 6. When I got them back the card has a imprint near the top that looks like a thumbnail dug into it.

nam812 · July 24, 2008 4:04AM

<< What service to most of you use to ship your sub? Express? Registered? Priority? First Class? >>

I try to wait until PSA is at a show near me, so I can hand deliver them.

Morgoth · July 25, 2008 5:22AM

Me too

themetalsign · July 25, 2008 6:16AM

Could it be possible that the cards you received back damaged were different than the ones you sent?

Dave D.

Tvac897 · July 25, 2008 8:37AM

I'm in newport beach right now...this place is amazing!

Mphilking · July 25, 2008 9:43AM

Sent a 96 Kobe Bryant SP rookie to the other Company BG*. Card was PERFECT, two 10's, 9.5 and an 8. Came back with a crease in it. They said they reviewed all the tapes of the handling of the card and it was not damaged. Should have been a BGS PRistine I got an 8.5.

brianwintersfan · July 25, 2008 9:48AM

<< Sent a 96 Kobe Bryant SP rookie to the other Company BG*. Card was PERFECT, two 10's, 9.5 and an 8. Came back with a crease in it. They said they reviewed all the tapes of the handling of the card and it was not damaged. Should have been a BGS PRistine I got an 8.5. >>

Not sure what's worse. The card being damaged or the fact that a creased card still got an 8.5!

Mphilking · July 25, 2008 9:49AM

The card was close to PERFECT, they may have graded it higher because they crunched it or something.

lawnmowerman · July 25, 2008 9:49AM

<< 

<< Sent a 96 Kobe Bryant SP rookie to the other Company BG*. Card was PERFECT, two 10's, 9.5 and an 8. Came back with a crease in it. They said they reviewed all the tapes of the handling of the card and it was not damaged. Should have been a BGS PRistine I got an 8.5. >>

Not sure what's worse. The card being damaged or the fact that a creased card still got an 8.5! >>

I agree, that's scary

brianwintersfan · July 25, 2008 9:50AM

<< The card was close to PERFECT, they may have graded it higher because they crunched it or something. >>

Well those aren't very good business practices in my opinion. Not picking on you but why give a card a grade that it doesn't deserve??

Mphilking · July 25, 2008 11:49AM

I didn't take anything you said personally, it just stirred up old memories of my at LEAST 9.5 I thought 10 card being damaged by BGS.

stevek · July 25, 2008 3:09PM

Perhaps the cards get graded, but then are being damaged during the slabbing process.

lawnmowerman · July 25, 2008 3:13PM

<< Perhaps the cards get graded, but then are being damaged during the slabbing process. >>

Yup, I agree Steve. From my experience with my own subs that is surely the case.

Blackborder · July 25, 2008 10:54PM

Not a mystery. PSA clearly shows how they slam your cards in the holders using their greasy fingers. I do like the part however where the grader spends 17 minutes with a jewelers loop on each corner.

PSA grading video.

Always fun when your cards get damaged on the way to Newport Beach.

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