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What does a PSA graded card look like?

Writer Emily Carr

A PSA NM-MT 8 is a super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the card can exhibit the following: a very slight wax stain on reverse, slightest fraying at one or two corners, a minor printing imperfection, and/or slightly off-white borders.

How long does it take for cards to get graded?

Beckett Grading Wait Times and Updated Grading Costs

Service LevelsCurrent Turnaround Times
2-Day SubmissionsApproximately 5-10+ Business Days
5-Day SubmissionsApproximately 10-15+ Business Days
10-Day SubmissionsApproximately 12+ Weeks
20-Day GamingApproximately 3+ months

Is PSA grading worth it?

Regardless if you’re talking counterfeits or reprints, PSA card grading services can be an excellent tool to verify a card’s authenticity. That’s not to say that PSA is correct 100% of the time and fakes don’t occasionally slip through their hands.

Where is PSA grading located?

PSA is a division of Collectors Universe, which has offices in California, New Jersey, Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo. As the only third-party grading service to offer a guarantee on its services, PSA has emerged as the clear leader in authentication and grading for trading cards and other collectibles.

Can you drop off cards at PSA?

If you would like to drop off your items at one of our offices, this can be arranged. However, please know that we only accept submissions at our Woodbridge, NJ, office by appointment only and on a limited, case-by-case basis for high-value items and high-volume submissions at our Southern California location.

Is Beckett or PSA better?

The Beckett card grading system is also popular. However, when it comes to PSA vs. Beckett, PSA is the clear winner because of its popularity and use with vintage cards. The Beckett card grading system, therefore, tends to fetch a lower price, especially in the world of vintage cards.

Can you take your cards to PSA?

PSA can review any card(s) that you feel warrants a different grade. To utilize our Review service, please fill out a submission form via the Online Submission Center and select “Review” as the Submission Type.

Is Beckett better than PSA?

How long does PSA grading take?

As of July 1st, 2021, PSA is only offering the Express and higher levels of service. This means that it will cost you $225 per card minimum to have cards graded right now….PSA Grading Tips Tricks and Frequently Asked Questions.

Service LevelCurrent Turnaround Time (door to door)
Walk ThroughAbout 3 weeks
Super ExpressAbout 3 weeks
ExpressTBD – Likely 1 to 2 months.

Can you go to PSA grading in person?

July 2021 Update: PSA has just announced they will be grading cards in-person at the 2021 National Sports Collectors Convention. Please see the announcement here, but to summarize, fees will start at $250 per card.

How are the grades given on a card?

Each edge of a card is checked and given an overall grade to be factored in in the final grade evaluation. After each side of the card and area of grading is completed an overall grade is given. The overall grade is an average of each grade the card received for centering, corners, edges and surface.

Is it better to leave a card ungraded or grade it?

Sometimes, grading can actually harm a cards worth. If the card would receive a low grade, it’d be better of leaving it ungraded. So before you rush off to send the card for grading, check the following:

How does the corner of a card affect the grade?

The corner of a card is one of the most common flaws that a card has. The degree of sharpness a card has greatly affects the grade a card receives when graded. Sharp corners get the highest grade while rounded corners have some of the most severe deductions. The goal of the grader is to determine how bad a corner is.

What do half grades mean on baseball cards?

Cards can be off center left to right or top to bottom or both. Along with the whole-number grades, there are half grades ranging between 1.5 and 9.5. Half grades typically suggest that the card has some characteristics required of the next grade higher, but not enough to be awarded the full grade.