Just one day after being allowed to re-open, PSA was again forced to shut down grading and authentication Friday, following a new "stay at home" order that has effectively shuttered all non-essential California businesses. The company posted this on its website: Pursuant to Executive Order N-33-20, issued on March 19, 2020 by the Governor of California, Collectors … [Read more...]
Long Beach Expo Returns This Week
It’s not just a sports card show, but with hundreds of dealers in the building, you’ll definitely find them there. The long-running Long Beach Expo returns this weekend to the city’s convention center, bringing over 500 of the world’s top dealers in sports, coins, currency and stamps to the west coast for a three-day event. The event takes place from Thursday, … [Read more...]
Revenue, Submissions, Backlog Still Growing at PSA
Collectors Universe, the parent company of PSA and PSA/DNA, reported record revenues for fiscal year 2019 on Wednesday. The company took in $72.5 million in fiscal 2019, which ended June 30. That figure includes a record $5.4 million, or 25% increase in trading card and autograph authentication revenues. Revenue from trading card and autograph submissions in … [Read more...]
Notes: Rare Cy Young Card Auction; “Expos” Uniforms, Too; National Notes
Grey Flannel Auctions is selling one of only two known 1891 John H. Ryder Cy Young Cabinet cards, a newly uncovered example that represents possibly the first image ever produced of the Hall of Fame pitcher in a big league uniform. From the description: “This hobby fresh discovery was unearthed recently from an original album that was found in a factory almost 65 years ago. … [Read more...]
PSA Adds ‘SecureScan’ Service to Super Express Level Orders and Up
PSA is now taking high-resolution front and back scans of high value items it authenticates through five higher tier service levels. Launched last month, “SecureScan” is available at no cost to collectors and dealers who submit cards, tickets and packs through its Super Express, Walk-Through, Premium, Premium Plus and Premium Elite service levels. Fees for those … [Read more...]
PSA Offers Online Booking Tool for East Coast Office
PSA has unveiled a new landing page and online appointment booking tool designed to make it easier and less expensive for East Coast collectors to submit their items. The company’s headquarters are in Southern California but it also has a location in Woodbridge, NJ. It opened that office in 2011, but the company says most East Coast-based collectors still send their … [Read more...]
PSA Making Changes Aimed at Improving Submission, Communication Processes
PSA will announce several changes to its submission processing platform on Tuesday and provide customers with an update on efforts to combat slower than normal turnaround times. Company president Steve Sloan says some of those changes will include: A "Turnaround Times" feature on the PSA website that will update current turnaround times each Monday "using actual order … [Read more...]
Help Wanted: PSA Tries to Keep Up With Demand as Revenue Soars
PSA has moved to new offices and brought in newly hired help but the grading and authentication arm of Collectors Universe is still trying to decrease the backlog of submissions for autographs and trading cards. The news goes hand-in-hand with another record-setting financial quarter for the Southern California-based company. Collectors Universe released its financial … [Read more...]
PSA Announces New Pricing Structure
Still deluged by submissions, PSA is changing its pricing structure for several service levels beginning January 1. While collectors and dealers who submit orders of 50 or more cards for grading and encapsulation and those who use the company’s regular 15-day service won’t see any changes, those who want faster turnaround times will notice some significant price … [Read more...]
PSA Hires Head of Japan Office, Announces Plans
The new PSA office in Japan we’ve been telling you about now has a face—and a plan. Scheduled to open this month in Tokyo, the new digs won’t offer on-site grading and authentication but collectors and dealers won’t face language barriers anymore. They’ll be able to drop off or mail their shipments to the office and conduct business via a website created entirely in … [Read more...]