Running PSA Order Tracker

[redgem]

Sold a Raw card on May 13th for $1K from Los Angeles, shipping was to PSA in Santa Ana about 30 minutes away for authentication, buyer in Seattle. USPS Card tracking shows it arrived in Southern MAINE on May 16th, then Arizona on May 19th, and finally at PSA on May 21st. Authenticator indicated card has a minor crease in it (which was not shown on the listing photos on Ebay), so it was rejected and buyer cancelled, card returned to me with a letter saying so sorry but your listing did not include anything about a crease in the card (the listing photos on Ebay do not show any creases). This is truly the failure of authentication process in action...

[gowizards0]

Originally Posted by gowizards0

I'm still stuck in Research & ID on a very similar order

Type: TCG Bulk Value
# of cards: 29
Received per PSA: 3/12
Order Prep: 4/9
Research & ID: 4/9
Grading:
Assembly:

I'm over 6 weeks in research and ID, anything I can do?

[bojesphob]

Originally Posted by gowizards0

I'm over 6 weeks in research and ID, anything I can do?

Not much you can do until it's past your estimated completion date.

[inaka]

Originally Posted by gowizards0

I'm over 6 weeks in research and ID, anything I can do?

[evileddie]

Originally Posted by evileddie

Type: Value Bulk 1980+
# of cards: 53
Estimated Completion Date: 7/7/25
Shipped to PSA: 4/1/2025
Delivered: 4/3/2025
Order Prep: 4/30/2025
Research & ID: 5/1/2025
Grading:
Assembly:
Green Check Assembly:
Grades Ready:
QA:
Shipped:
Delivered:

Hoping for some movement this week.

[David85]

I wanted to share a problem I'm having with PSA. I sent some cards for submission at the end of January (January Value Bulk Special 1990-Present service), and they were received by PSA on February 1st. It wasn't until March 4th that the order progressed to the next step (order prep), and the next three steps (Research, Grading, and Assembly) moved relatively quickly. However, since April 3rd, the order remains in Assembly status with a green check mark, and there have been no updates. The Estimated Completion Date was May 13th, and I have contacted PSA several times requesting more information about the location of my cards, and the only response I receive is: I'm still waiting for an update from the logistics team".

My question is, should I be concerned, or is this a normal delay? Is there a specific timeframe by which I should receive an answer if the cards have gone missing?

Thanks

[bojesphob]

Originally Posted by David85

I wanted to share a problem I'm having with PSA. I sent some cards for submission at the end of January (January Value Bulk Special 1990-Present service), and they were received by PSA on February 1st. It wasn't until March 4th that the order progressed to the next step (order prep), and the next three steps (Research, Grading, and Assembly) moved relatively quickly. However, since April 3rd, the order remains in Assembly status with a green check mark, and there have been no updates. The Estimated Completion Date was May 13th, and I have contacted PSA several times requesting more information about the location of my cards, and the only response I receive is: I'm still waiting for an update from the logistics team".

My question is, should I be concerned, or is this a normal delay? Is there a specific timeframe by which I should receive an answer if the cards have gone missing?

Thanks

I wouldn't say it "went missing" per se, it's probably sitting on someone's stack of orders to do waiting for scans and got buried by newer orders. I would say that the "waiting for the logistics team" means that they are going through orders in the area that it was last tracked at trying to find it in the mess that is their process. I would probably liken it to a piece of mail that was on the conveyor at the PO and fell off, and someone has to go actually physically look for it. Now, I could be wrong, but they probably have to sift through hundreds of orders to find it, and I would imagine that takes time, especially if they don't want to force other orders to be delayed by trying to find it. I would contact them every other day about it, since the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

[bojesphob]

Originally Posted by evileddie

Hoping for some movement this week.

If my and others' orders are any indication, you've got several weeks yet until you get movement. My current in process sub went into R&ID on April 17th, and is still there.

[metsandweezer]

I really wish after all of these years that PSA would figure out how to grade everybody’s cards in less than one month. The fact that they have not figured this out is astonishing. They are too focused on their on eBay auction consignments, vault options, and eBay authenticity program. The fact that their turnaround times have gotten worse is so bad for the hobby because people cannot get their cards back in a timely matter. I say this as all five of my orders at PSA are currently in Research & ID.

[Snowcat]

Originally Posted by metsandweezer

I really wish after all of these years that PSA would figure out how to grade everybody’s cards in less than one month. The fact that they have not figured this out is astonishing. They are too focused on their on eBay auction consignments, vault options, and eBay authenticity program. The fact that their turnaround times have gotten worse is so bad for the hobby because people cannot get their cards back in a timely matter. I say this as all five of my orders at PSA are currently in Research & ID.

PSA already has the staffing numbers to shift towards grading hubs across the country. It's 2025 and PSA staffs over 150 card graders. Move staff and open more locations.

Internal communication is easier than ever, and training isn't as difficult as many may believe

[metsandweezer]

I can’t believe they’re focusing on Game Stop orders instead of PSA membership orders. They’re grading Game Stop orders in 6 weeks.

[synergy]

Originally Posted by metsandweezer

I really wish after all of these years that PSA would figure out how to grade everybody’s cards in less than one month. The fact that they have not figured this out is astonishing. They are too focused on their on eBay auction consignments, vault options, and eBay authenticity program. The fact that their turnaround times have gotten worse is so bad for the hobby because people cannot get their cards back in a timely matter. I say this as all five of my orders at PSA are currently in Research & ID.

Couldn't agree with this more. I put out a video on this over a month and a half ago (after the most recent statement from PSA), and things haven't gotten better in the slightest despite "promises" to get things under control. Hard to say what the solution is, as the other companies would be even worse at handling huge influx of submissions

[bojesphob]

Originally Posted by synergy

Couldn't agree with this more. I put out a video on this over a month and a half ago (after the most recent statement from PSA), and things haven't gotten better in the slightest despite "promises" to get things under control. Hard to say what the solution is, as the other companies would be even worse at handling huge influx of submissions

My recent foray into grading was solely because things I had from around 2012-2017 were worth far more graded by PSA than not. I have one outstanding order that's now 6 weeks in R&ID, and once that's done, I won't be doing any more subs with PSA. Of course, nothing I till have that I might want to grade is worth 20 dollars+shipping to grade, so that is sort of a no brainer.... I like being able to vault stuff and sell, and not have to worry about shipping the items out myself, but anything that sells for under 100 dollars isn't worth the extra fees (several that I sold last night that went for under 100 had an effective fee rate of over 20%). I guess if I was making 100s of thousands a year grading and selling, I'd probably continue and just deal with the delays and such, but I have an actual job, and this recent grading and selling is a temporary side hustle, and not worth the extra headache beyond what I've done and what I currently have in process.

I guess I should have finished that thought before hitting post... PSA is making grading nigh unapproachable for stuff that's not worth more than a couple hundred dollars. Maybe that's the way they want it, but sooner or later all those people buying the small value cards and grading them are going to say "nope, not worth 20 dollars to grade this card that will be worth 13 when it's graded instead of 50 cents". How so many people sub and lose massive amounts of money on cards not worth grading is beyond me. If it's for a PC and you want them encapsulated (like the lower versions of the 2014 Prizm rainbow I now have graded) for display, ok, I get spending a little to get them graded, but if you're looking to make money off grading, the cost currently is unsustainable.

[duynamo]

Type: TCG Bulk Value
# of cards: 20
Shipped to PSA: 3/8
Received per PSA: 3/10
Order Prep: 4/7
Research & ID: 4/7
Grading: 5/15
Assembly: 5/16
Green Check Assembly: 5/20
Grades Ready: 5/22
QA: 5/22
Shipped: 5/29

Type: TCG Bulk Value (Gamestop)
# of cards: 1
Dropped off at GameStop: 5/18
Shipped to PSA: 5/19
Arrived at PSA:
Research & ID:
Grading:
Assembly:
Grades Ready:
QA:
Picked Up:

[metsandweezer]

Turnaround times will only get worse once the week of the National comes around.

[gowizards0]

7 weeks in research id woooo

[Oldnavy788]

I started sending in and grading just over 2 years ago, and I never had an order late until my last 2 card Value Plus order this month. In fact my orders were most of the time done one week ahead of my eta date even bulk of 20-60+ cards.
I received the grades one day after my eta date. It shipped 7 days after my eta date, but it did have a 3 day holiday weekend in there.
Is it all the new Gamestop orders being sent in that is causing the backlog?

[oddstuff]

Originally Posted by Oldnavy788

I started sending in and grading just over 2 years ago, and I never had an order late until my last 2 card Value Plus order this month. In fact my orders were most of the time done one week ahead of my eta date even bulk of 20-60+ cards.
I received the grades one day after my eta date. It shipped 7 days after my eta date, but it did have a 3 day holiday weekend in there.
Is it all the new Gamestop orders being sent in that is causing the backlog?

1.5 million was graded last month and this month is on track to hit that mark. Nearly 2/3 of all submissions are in the TCG category...that is what is driving the backlog experienced currently.

[Oldnavy788]

I guess that would explain it if TCG has taken over that much by volume.

[lakesidez]

I'm guessing a card sitting in the assembly stage is normal to take 14 days and counting? I'm waaaaaay past my estimated completion date which was May 21st.

[bojesphob]

Originally Posted by lakesidez

I'm guessing a card sitting in the assembly stage is normal to take 14 days and counting? I'm waaaaaay past my estimated completion date which was May 21st.

My last order took a while in assembly. Seems there's a back up at the machines to seal them.

[Cracktoast]

Order arrived May 12th and went to Research & ID today. Touch over 2 weeks to check it in. Shows arrived May 12 with an estimated return sometime mid September.

[JetLagger55]

Originally Posted by lakesidez

I'm guessing a card sitting in the assembly stage is normal to take 14 days and counting? I'm waaaaaay past my estimated completion date which was May 21st.

Welcome to the club, I am approaching 5 weeks in assembly with a completion estimate of June 5.

[inaka]

Originally Posted by JetLagger55

Welcome to the club, I am approaching 5 weeks in assembly with a completion estimate of June 5.

If it makes you feel any better. Here's my small 2 card PSA/DNA order that has been stuck in Assembly past the completion date.



Does PSA ever give a voucher or hook up if they miss the completion date by a certain amount of time? (over 2 weeks, etc?)

Just wondering.

P.S. Man, if SGC ever went back to doing in-person auto/card grading, aside from a few longtime PC sets I'm finishing, I'd never use PSA again.

[gowizards0]

Originally Posted by gowizards0

7 weeks in research id woooo

sometimes complaining works

Type: TCG Bulk Value
# of cards: 29
Received per PSA: 3/12
Order Prep: 4/9
Research & ID: 4/9
Grading: 5/30
Assembly: