Grading PSA Cards 101

Did you ever have problems grading? Do you want to start grading on your own without a middle-man? Do you already grade cards but need some extra tips?

In this article, I help explain the best practices in grading cards from my own experience and from the results. Instead of watching many hours on Youtube, this article seeks to condense various topics altogether so you have a great place to look at.

Here are the steps you need to follow:

1. First, you need to create an account at PSA (Professional Sports Authenticators, part of Collectors Universe) here: https://www.psacard.com/ or BGS https://www.beckett.com/submit or CGC https://www.cgcgrading.com/
1. Note: Having an Account for each helps with discounts, gives special offers+grading deals and marketing/promotions (Recommended if you grade with a specific vendor)
2. Next, you need to decide what cards you want to send for grading
1. Ask yourself, where are you sourcing your cards? Are you packing ("opening packs") them? Are you buying them from other vendors?
2. Are you pre-grading them accurately and efficiently? (Article to come out) (Video)
3. After creating a submission, enter the type of grading that you want
4. Add all of the lines for each card (1 kind of card will be 1 line usually, with the option to have more quantity as the same line)
5. Decide what is the Declared Value (most often, you would check eBay's last sold (Filter by: Completed Listings>All Auctions and Buy in Now) and enter it
1. Here is an example for all PSA 10 Charizards: PSA 10 Charizard Completed Items Ended Recently
6. Enter Shipping Method, Insurance, Return Shipping
7. Agree to policies and terms
8. Review Order
9. Submit Order
10. Ship your order
1. I Recommend USPS Priority Mail, either flat rate package or cubic. 
2. Get a ruler and a scale to make shipping anything VERY easily
1. Label Makers help as well, this is the one I use for shipments: Dymo Labelwriter 450
2. Any Ruler will do
3. Scale: Amazon Basics Scale
3. Create an account at https://www.pirateship.com/ and get started
1. Note: I believe they have the best rates and are very discounted compared to spending hours at the post office getting them done
2. Steps for shipping:
1. Create Single Label
2. Enter Recipient
3. Check Measurements (Length, Width, Height)
4. Check Weight (In OZ or LB)
5. Calculate Cost
6. Buy Label
7. Download and Print Out the Label
8. Stick onto your package
9. Go to a nearby USPS or blue mailbox and drop it off and you're done!
11. (Optional) If you decide to sell cards, what medium are you going to use to sell? Do you have a store? Do you have people who want to buy from you? Do you want to sell online?
1. If you want to sell online, I suggest eBay.com (https://www.ebay.com/). There are various options including Mercari, Craigslist, or even having your own site
2. Article for eBay coming out soon.

Comment below if you have any questions and keep an eye out for more. Bookmark this blog since I will be posting very frequently.

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