PSA complete through dates stalled

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Just got back an "Ultra Modern" from Spring 2021 for a consignor. Seven 10's, three 9's and an 8.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by Frank A

Well, with all the 2022 cards for sale on ebay, somebody is getting cards graded fast as you wait 15 months for your return. How can that be?

That's easy...they're paying a lot more for the privilege than I am.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by MikeGarcia

.." higher than I expected ".....?? ---: no one on here has used those words for a PSA grading in more than five years . ; please don't wait until September 1st to share the return of these miracles . Thanks from all of us.

..

I won't wait for September. The cards should ship tomorrow, so after a quick 3,000 trip they should be here. I'll take some photos and share in the post-war pickup thread.

Sneak peak...one of the cards, I traded for when I was about 14 (I'm 46 now) from a local dealer who took a big pile of "modern" (at the time) stuff back. In retrospect, I think he was so happy to see a kid really wanting a vintage card that he cut me some slack. And now that card is in a PSA 3 holder, preserved so I can tell that story for a couple decades.

A couple others were OC and I was going to grade with qualifiers hoping for a 6(OC) or 7(OC). In the time since I subbed, PSA stopped doing qualifiers...but the cards all graded straight 6's.

[Mike D.]

As promised, scans and few thoughts...

https://www.net54baseball.com/showpo...4&postcount=19

[chadeast]

Originally Posted by Frank A

Well, with all the 2022 cards for sale on ebay, somebody is getting cards graded fast as you wait 15 months for your return. How can that be?

There is a thread on Blowout detailing members getting back their $18 July 2022 special submissions now. One month turnaround. Somehow they are cutting the line on the backlog. Lots of unhappy customers over that news, and rightly so.

[NATCARD]

Just wanted to give another ridiculous PSA update. There value vintage level seems to have been on April 4, 2021 as a complete through date for weeks. I have an order that has been there since March 16, 2021 with an enetered date of April 29, 2021 that has now been in grading for 8 weeks! WOW! I can not wait to get these cards back this year?

[BobbyStrawberry]

I'm amazed how they continue to say "F U" to their customers.

[Bridwell]

I'm in the same boat with NATCARD. Two orders from March 2021 with one stuck in Grading and one stuck in Assembly.

Seems like a lot of newer orders are cutting the line! Definitely not a "first in first out" operation over there.

[Mike D.]

Had a value ($30) submission that arrived at PSA 7/7 and checked in 7/13 of this year just hit QA Check 1, so there is hope that post backlog these things move a bit quicker.

[chadeast]

This was posted on Blowout. July $18 special order graded and assembled in 3 weeks ,now sitting in QA. The theory is that there appears to be little of the backlog left in Grading, and what's left of it is downstream after Assembly. PSA seems to be very close to getting through the 2021 tsunami, if they aren't already there.

7 card economy order
Arrived 7/12/22
Research/ ID 7/19/22
Grading 7/21/22
Assembly 8/9/22
QA1 8/10/22
QA2 8/11/22
Grades 8/15/22 entered shipping stage.

22 card July value order
Arrived 7/12/22
Research/ID 7/19/22
Grading 7/28/22
Assembly 8/3/22
QA 1 8/5/22

[STL1944]

All is ok per the PSA disclaimer on the order page:

Please note: There is no set processing time for each step tracked in the status bar. Please don’t be alarmed if your order remains at a particular step for an extended period. It is due to the current volume of submissions PSA is receiving and processing.

Got it...

[Tyruscobb]

Originally Posted by chadeast

PSA seems to be very close to getting through the 2021 tsunami, if they aren't already there.

I have no confidence at this point. Bobby’s swingin sixties group has lingered in the grading stage for darn near 6 months now. We moved to grading on or about 3/1/22, and nothing.

[Casey2296]

PSA has had the Swingin' 60's sub for 1 year 4 months and 16 days.

The American Civil War lasted 3 years, 11 months, and 4 weeks.

Over/Under?

[JollyElm]

Forrest Gump ran for 3 years, 2 months, 14 days, and 16 hours. Lieutenant Dan's legs will grow back before we get this one back.

[Mike D.]

I wonder if most of the subs that are lingering are really large?

I sent two July special orders in (21 and 24 cards) - they arrived at PSA on 7/29, and one of them just went into grading today.

So, the backlog jam isn't gone, but things seem to be flowing. Hoping they wrap up the backlog soon so people can get their cards right. After them having my last vintage close to 16 months, I know that feeling sucks.

[Jcosta19]

Originally Posted by chadeast

This was posted on Blowout. July $18 special order graded and assembled in 3 weeks ,now sitting in QA. The theory is that there appears to be little of the backlog left in Grading, and what's left of it is downstream after Assembly. PSA seems to be very close to getting through the 2021 tsunami, if they aren't already there.



7 card economy order

Arrived 7/12/22

Research/ ID 7/19/22

Grading 7/21/22

Assembly 8/9/22

QA1 8/10/22

QA2 8/11/22

Grades 8/15/22 entered shipping stage.



22 card July value order

Arrived 7/12/22

Research/ID 7/19/22

Grading 7/28/22

Assembly 8/3/22

QA 1 8/5/22

Wow.

I have a 7 card economy crossover order from 4/29 still in grading, well past the 90 day estimate now.

And an 8 card economy raw card grading order from 7/7 still in grading as well.

And those are the Reasearch and ID dates.

Wish I had your luck.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

[hockeyhockey]

Originally Posted by chadeast

This was posted on Blowout. July $18 special order graded and assembled in 3 weeks ,now sitting in QA. The theory is that there appears to be little of the backlog left in Grading, and what's left of it is downstream after Assembly. PSA seems to be very close to getting through the 2021 tsunami, if they aren't already there.

7 card economy order
Arrived 7/12/22
Research/ ID 7/19/22
Grading 7/21/22
Assembly 8/9/22
QA1 8/10/22
QA2 8/11/22
Grades 8/15/22 entered shipping stage.

22 card July value order
Arrived 7/12/22
Research/ID 7/19/22
Grading 7/28/22
Assembly 8/3/22
QA 1 8/5/22

it's hard to follow what's going on over there.

i have a 26 card value submission that was logged in early july, and it's in QA1 already as of today. but i also sent a 4 card $50 submission in the exact same box, and that's still in grading phase. pretty bizarre, though i'm certainly happy to get the bigger lot back so quickly.

hopefully they'll sort out the crazy backlog for all the folks here who have been waiting seemingly forever.

[NATCARD]

It seems to me they are now going in no order at all. People getting back $30 submissions while My order at $20/per has been in grading for what feels like eternity. The complete through date for value vintage has been at April 4, 2021 for well over 1 month and if that date does not move how could I possibly expect my order to ever get done. Jeff W

[Exhibitman]

There are delivery and completion anomalies across the brands. I sent CSG an order on their express service that was completed a few days after they completed an economy order that went in the same day as the express order. I figure that one of the cards in the express order presented an issue in terms of either identification or grading. Or they just do stuff at random...

[NATCARD]

I have a 62 card order at the $150 level, YES $150 per card of $9000+. It was entered on the 20th of August and as of just now is still in Assembly. The site says Express is 14 calendar days. Maybe they shoul teach the graders to count before they teach them to grade. They are not good at either!

[raulus]

Originally Posted by NATCARD

I have a 62 card order at the $150 level, YES $150 per card of $9000+. It was entered on the 20th of August and as of just now is still in Assembly. The site says Express is 14 calendar days. Maybe they shoul teach the graders to count before they teach them to grade. They are not good at either!

Because misery loves company, I have a similar situation. Express order for 6 post-war low pop oddball cards, entered 8/24. Still at the grading stage. Based on progress to date, unless they get inspired to move really quickly right away, I'm guessing it will be closer to 45-60 days.

I wonder whether the special offer they ran for the National at $18 per card has resulted in some increased volume and slowed down their throughput.

[mq711]

Originally Posted by NATCARD

I have a 62 card order at the $150 level, YES $150 per card of $9000+. It was entered on the 20th of August and as of just now is still in Assembly. The site says Express is 14 calendar days. Maybe they shoul teach the graders to count before they teach them to grade. They are not good at either!

Would be nice if PSA charged for the service they actually provide; if cards submitted at 14 day turnaround but takes 60 days then down charge to lower rate. Great way to build PR and enhance CS, but I don’t think anyone cares.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by mq711

Would be nice if PSA charged for the service they actually provide; if cards submitted at 14 day turnaround but takes 60 days then down charge to lower rate. Great way to build PR and enhance CS, but I don’t think anyone cares.

We care enough to complain about it here…

[Jcosta19]

Originally Posted by raulus

Because misery loves company, I have a similar situation. Express order for 6 post-war low pop oddball cards, entered 8/24. Still at the grading stage. Based on progress to date, unless they get inspired to move really quickly right away, I'm guessing it will be closer to 45-60 days.



I wonder whether the special offer they ran for the National at $18 per card has resulted in some increased volume and slowed down their throughput.

In another example of their inconsistencies I had a single card express order arrived August 4th and got it back within 2.5 weeks or so.

Unfortunately the holder came back cracked and was obviously cracked in the PSA cert verification image as well. Spent 3 whole days in QA2 and no one picked up on it.

Now it's back at PSA for a free reholder and after a week still in Research and ID.



Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

[RhodeyRhode]

Was speaking to someone recently who stated they believe PSA is now under grading to try and correct for the over grade image. Anyone else have this experience recently. Or maybe not since they are so far behind.

[Tyruscobb]

Originally Posted by RhodeyRhode

Was speaking to someone recently who stated they believe PSA is now under grading to try and correct for the over grade image. Anyone else have this experience recently. Or maybe not since they are so far behind.

I'm not accusing any third-party grader of any misconduct, or doing what I'm about to explain. This is just my unsupported personal opinion.

What makes more business sense - to under or over grade? If a card is under graded (or perceived to be), there is a chance the company will get another bite of the financial apple. The reason is either the owner or a subsequent buyer may crack the card and re-submit it for grading. This produces another grading fee for the same card.

However, who, other than a fool, would submit an over graded (or perceived to be) card for resubmission? This doesn't create the opportunity for potentially more fees from the same card.

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by mq711

Would be nice if PSA charged for the service they actually provide; if cards submitted at 14 day turnaround but takes 60 days then down charge to lower rate. Great way to build PR and enhance CS, but I don’t think anyone cares.

If they gave people a refund who submitted cards at higher service levels for extra $$ thinking they would grade higher than they did. I mean they call you for MORE $$ if you underpaid, right!

The above ideas are a pipe dream.

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by Tyruscobb

I'm not accusing any third-party grader of any misconduct, or doing what I'm about to explain. This is just my unsupported personal opinion.

What makes more business sense - to under or over grade? If a card is under graded (or perceived to be), there is a chance the company will get another bite of the financial apple. The reason is either the owner or a subsequent buyer may crack the card and re-submit it for grading. This produces another grading fee for the same card.

However, who, other than a fool, would submit an over graded (or perceived to be) card for resubmission? This doesn't create the opportunity for potentially more fees from the same card.

The best business practice would be to offer a service and do it as well as possible every time and in the case of grading...being consistent. That way people will come back over and over. Well neither PSA nor SGC have had to do that. People come back no matter how frustrated and disappointed.

PSA is grading tougher, it would seem, part of it has to be too many people in the grading room. Try getting a room of 15 people to agree on where to go to lunch. PSA has more than 100 graders. I have seen PSA do this from time to time where they tighten up and then they relax. Who knows why. Consistently should be their number one goal.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by raulus

Because misery loves company, I have a similar situation. Express order for 6 post-war low pop oddball cards, entered 8/24. Still at the grading stage. Based on progress to date, unless they get inspired to move really quickly right away, I'm guessing it will be closer to 45-60 days.

I wonder whether the special offer they ran for the National at $18 per card has resulted in some increased volume and slowed down their throughput.

And now just today, my submission jumped! Popped up to QC1 phase. So apparently they jumped to the front of the line and got graded and assembled in a couple of days. If they blaze through the last couple of steps, maybe they'll come close to hitting that 2-week mark...

[Deertick]

Originally Posted by Tyruscobb

I'm not accusing any third-party grader of any misconduct, or doing what I'm about to explain. This is just my unsupported personal opinion.

What makes more business sense - to under or over grade? If a card is under graded (or perceived to be), there is a chance the company will get another bite of the financial apple. The reason is either the owner or a subsequent buyer may crack the card and re-submit it for grading. This produces another grading fee for the same card.

However, who, other than a fool, would submit an over graded (or perceived to be) card for resubmission? This doesn't create the opportunity for potentially more fees from the same card.

The number of 'crack and resubmitters' are infinitesimal compared to the raw card universe. Would be a very inefficient business plan.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by Jcosta19

In another example of their inconsistencies I had a single card express order arrived August 4th and got it back within 2.5 weeks or so.

Unfortunately the holder came back cracked and was obviously cracked in the PSA cert verification image as well. Spent 3 whole days in QA2 and no one picked up on it.

Now it's back at PSA for a free reholder and after a week still in Research and ID.

It is very frustrating when a card spends days to weeks in not one but TWO QA "checks", then shows up with obvious damage, typos, etc. Why bother to have QA if nobody is actually going to look at the cards?

[Johnny630]

Bulk Is Back, $22 per card. 120-150 Calendar Days.

Sweet !!!!

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

It is very frustrating when a card spends days to weeks in not one but TWO QA "checks", then shows up with obvious damage, typos, etc. Why bother to have QA if nobody is actually going to look at the cards?

Because they're actually built-in ways to stall?

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Bulk Is Back, $22 per card. 120-150 Calendar Days.

Sweet !!!!

Remember when bulk was $6 >sigh<

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Because they're actually built-in ways to stall?

Yeah, I guess. It's just crazy because if they ACTUALLY did some QA, they'd save themselves a lot of time and money AND make customers happier.

[55koufax]

Yesterday I went to PSA and my REP told me they are just about caught up with the early 2021 BULK SUBS.....that said, they still have 225 of mine that were dropped off MAR, 2021. They are almost done, and I p/u'd about 500 others from MAR, 2021 that were recently completed.

He told me PSA made ZERO profit and just breaks even from my MAR 2021 subs and the same type of profit holds true for everyone's last BULK SUBS that got in under $10 per. in early 2021...

Those days are long gone...

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by NATCARD

I have a 62 card order at the $150 level, YES $150 per card of $9000+. It was entered on the 20th of August and as of just now is still in Assembly. The site says Express is 14 calendar days. Maybe they shoul teach the graders to count before they teach them to grade. They are not good at either!

you really like when they will POP and Pop in general. Hop on Pop. POPOPOPOPOPOP. Can't wait for ya to POP. Forget this assembly stuff. Let us know when they Pop? For 9K I would expect Popage of some sort? AND FAST

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by raulus

And now just today, my submission jumped! Popped up to QC1 phase. So apparently they jumped to the front of the line and got graded and assembled in a couple of days. If they blaze through the last couple of steps, maybe they'll come close to hitting that 2-week mark...

That's what I like. POPS!!!! And the excitement that only POP can create. I'm Happy!!!!!

[Bridwell]

I did finally receive my 2 PSA orders I had mailed to them 17 months ago. The excitement was dampened by some surprisingly low grades on many of the cards. Many Near Mint newer cards got 5's and 6's.

[chadeast]

Originally Posted by 55koufax

Yesterday I went to PSA and my REP told me they are just about caught up with the early 2021 BULK SUBS.....that said, they still have 225 of mine that were dropped off MAR, 2021. They are almost done, and I p/u'd about 500 others from MAR, 2021 that were recently completed.

He told me PSA made ZERO profit and just breaks even from my MAR 2021 subs and the same type of profit holds true for everyone's last BULK SUBS that got in under $10 per. in early 2021...

Those days are long gone...

I don't know how that could be true unless their economics have significantly changed in two years. They were happy grading hundreds of thousands of cards bulk at < $10 for many years, and the registry exists because of it. If those days are long gone then the registry's days as the supposed driver of PSA's dominance in the market are going to come to an end as well. And perhaps they realize that and have decided that they are OK with it.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

Yeah, I guess. It's just crazy because if they ACTUALLY did some QA, they'd save themselves a lot of time and money AND make customers happier.

I thought QA meant quality assurance, come to find out it means Quietly Avoiding.

[hockeyhockey]

Originally Posted by Mike D.

It is very frustrating when a card spends days to weeks in not one but TWO QA "checks", then shows up with obvious damage, typos, etc. Why bother to have QA if nobody is actually going to look at the cards?

it is pretty ridiculous. the QA process would be great if the people doing those jobs actually did the job.

as far as the current timeline, i have a 30 card order that zipped through grading and assembly in a month. sent in july, was in QA1 as of 4 weeks ago. 2 weeks in QA1, and now 2 weeks in QA2, still there. 2 months is great, no complaints whatsoever about that...but would be cool to find out how the whole assembly line from soup to nuts actually works. seems more of a totally random process from afar.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by hockeyhockey

it is pretty ridiculous. the QA process would be great if the people doing those jobs actually did the job.

as far as the current timeline, i have a 30 card order that zipped through grading and assembly in a month. sent in july, was in QA1 as of 4 weeks ago. 2 weeks in QA1, and now 2 weeks in QA2, still there. 2 months is great, no complaints whatsoever about that...but would be cool to find out how the whole assembly line from soup to nuts actually works. seems more of a totally random process from afar.

I'm with you. I have a few subs I sent in July. One in grading, one in Q1, and one in Q2...I've had some subs be through QA1 and QA2 in a few days, but these have been in their current state a few weeks now.

I get that demand ebbs and flows, but it'd be nice to have a bit more transparency in the whole process.

[NATCARD]

Just an update as my $9000 Express order at $150 a card *60 cards is in day 24 of a 14 day estimate. Still in Qcheck 1 where it has been now for 7 days!
As an aside Sent SGC 202 cards that were received on September 6th, Graded on the 12th and fed ex shipped back TODAY! 1 WEEK!

[raulus]

Originally Posted by NATCARD

Just an update as my $9000 Express order at $150 a card *60 cards is in day 24 of a 14 day estimate. Still in Qcheck 1 where it has been now for 7 days!
As an aside Sent SGC 202 cards that were received on September 6th, Graded on the 12th and fed ex shipped back TODAY! 1 WEEK!

Well, here's a little hope for you:

PSA just sent me my grades yesterday. Smaller express order of just 6 items, entered on 8/24. But finished yesterday, which equates to 19 days. Not exactly 14 days, but also not tooooooooooooooo far off.

I won't comment on the grades, but I expect that 4 of my items will be resubmitted at some point.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by 55koufax

He told me PSA made ZERO profit and just breaks even from my MAR 2021 subs and the same type of profit holds true for everyone's last BULK SUBS that got in under $10 per. in early 2021...

Those days are long gone...

I agree that those days are long gone, but I call bullshit on them claiming they can't profit at $10 per card. Graders look at them for less than 1 minutes each, and the aggregate time spend per card for receiving, research, QA, and shipping has to be less than 5 minutes in total for bulk subs, and most likely less than 2 or 3 minutes per card average. There's no scenario whatsoever that this doesn't cover their costs.

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by Bridwell

I did finally receive my 2 PSA orders I had mailed to them 17 months ago. The excitement was dampened by some surprisingly low grades on many of the cards. Many Near Mint newer cards got 5's and 6's.

Unfortunately, you're not alone. I just got two legit gem mint cards back in my most recent sub that they gave a 9 and an 8 to. Both were SGC 10s, and both which I graded as 10s myself (and historically, I've been more strict than both PSA and SGC on my submissions). Meanwhile, in the same sub, they gave me a 10 on a card they graded as a 9 last time. Lol

[55koufax]

I agree that those days are long gone, but I call bullshit on them claiming they can't profit at $10 per card. Graders look at them for less than 1 minutes each, and the aggregate time spend per card for receiving, research, QA, and shipping has to be less than 5 minutes in total for bulk subs, and most likely less than 2 or 3 minutes per card average. There's no scenario whatsoever that this doesn't cover their costs.

Assuming PSA made a profit in 2008 with my very 1st BULK SUB @ $4.25 per
It stands to reason that if you DBL it to $9, 14 years later, they should still make a profit @ $9 per (likely less as SNOWMAN points out).

This $18 per and $22 per means exceptional profits.

One thing that should be analyzed, is PSA far less efficient with their new ownership, leadership, and staff vs. 2008 when Joe O. was in charge?

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by NATCARD

Just an update as my $9000 Express order at $150 a card *60 cards is in day 24 of a 14 day estimate. Still in Qcheck 1 where it has been now for 7 days!
As an aside Sent SGC 202 cards that were received on September 6th, Graded on the 12th and fed ex shipped back TODAY! 1 WEEK!

You're a gradeaholic, Yeesh. Good luck

[Fuddjcal]

Originally Posted by Snowman

Unfortunately, you're not alone. I just got two legit gem mint cards back in my most recent sub that they gave a 9 and an 8 to. Both were SGC 10s, and both which I graded as 10s myself (and historically, I've been more strict than both PSA and SGC on my submissions). Meanwhile, in the same sub, they gave me a 10 on a card they graded as a 9 last time. Lol

I'm a strict grader too. All my cards are 10's