Can any member give me an idea on what PSA charges for gradig and slabbing cards .
We have our national Card Show coming up in about a months time and I am considering getting a few of my cards that I intend to keep from getting degraded any more .
Normally PSA have a local rep there but I know that any thing I put forward goes to PSA in USA so it takes a lot of time as the exchange rate is quiet high between NZ and USA just thinking would it be worth it
Any info appreciated.

It depends on a range of factors. People think that it's a simple matter of setting a price per card submitted, but that would be too easy for the customer and not nearly as profitable for PSA. Last I saw the minimum was $25 a card and the maximum was $500, but I think its $600+ now. I know I saw a high-end card come back with a grading bill of $400 recently.

The factors involved include the number of cards submitted, the time you are willing to wait, the specific type of grading you are requesting, and most importantly, the market value of the cards submitted. That's right. PSA figures out what price you might get for selling the card at the grade they are giving and charges you accordingly. So if you don't intend to sell immediately, expect to pay a lot for that slab.

If you submit cards in bulk, the price should be cheaper. If you wait longer, the price should be cheaper. I have been told that there is a backlog on everything, but if you pay enough, you might get expediated service.

Also know that the condition grade and the autograph grade are two different things. If the card has an autograph, certified or not, you must specify that you want the signature authenticated and also graded. You will pay extra for it too. Otherwise, the grade is for card condition only. If any grade on a modern recent card comes back below a 9, don't expect to get your fee back. People who buy graded modern cards want 9s and up. Only vintage cards are judged on a different scale and are acceptable in lower grades because they were not preserved in the same way as modern cards were collectible right out of the pack.

I am a firm believer that only modern super high value cards, vintage cards of great demand, or cards that have known counterfeits should be graded. If you are not selling, you don't need to pay more money. If you are selling, be sure you have a buyer who will cover the premium you need to get for the grading fee.

I do think that there are cards that make sense to grade, but that's only in about the top 5% as a general estimate. The other 95% are fine the way they are. Sorry I can't give you a better answer on cost, but no one can. Your location only makes it even more uncertain. You need to talk to PSA if you are still interested.

Thanks Raven
Seems to be a bit of a burden then
I have a couple of high end Star Trek signatures that I want slabbed mainly to protect I am not a grader but I think that they should grade high they look pretty good too me,another question is can you just get cards slabbed without the grading ?.
I really only want them slabbed or protected I have no intention of selling them cost me too much especially with the exchange rate involved although it was a lot lower when I purchased them
I will show them to the PSA agent who will be at the NZ show next month and see what he has to say

quote:

Originally posted by piko:
I have a couple of high end Star Trek signatures that I want slabbed mainly to protect I am not a grader but I think that they should grade high they look pretty good too me,another question is can you just get cards slabbed without the grading? I will show them to the PSA agent who will be at the NZ show next month and see what he has to say

I don't think PSA would just encase a card, they certainly wouldn't put on their sticker, but you can ask. It is logical that someone could and would do it. There are other heavy duty magnetic cases available and I have seen Beckett holders that look like BGS slabs, but aren't.

Yeah, grading is designed to increase the value at sale. That's the whole pitch, to spend some money to make more money. But that bit about declared value to adjust the fee tier is a killer. If it's just storage you want, you really don't need the grading.

Never really thought about other grading buisnesses ,
Thanks will try to get more info about them
It might sound silly as in other posts on this forum I have been against grading or graded cards as money grabbing.
All of a sudden I want to give these cards better protection not worried about the look of the slabs
I have been looking at the trade site here and see that there might even be a grading or slabbing service here in NZ .
Will make enquiries although ones I have seen are only Sports I assume they would also do Non Sports