PSA Adds Standard Card Grading Service Level After Backlog Pause

PSA’s new Standard service level gives collectors another grading tier to consider after the company paused several lower-priced options while working through a large backlog. The tier opened on September 14, following a pause that began June 2 and covered Value, Value Bulk, Value Plus, and Value Max.

What changed at PSA

Standard is now PSA’s lowest-cost service level, according to the source. Priority sits one tier above it, at $79.99 per card. Those details offer a useful snapshot of the service lineup when Standard opened, though the article provides no price for Standard itself, no turnaround estimate, and no submission limits. Collectors should check PSA’s current service information before choosing a tier or preparing a submission.

The source attributes the earlier pause to a substantial accumulation of cards awaiting grading, with the queue approaching ten million. It also says turnaround times for the Regular tier had been extended. That combination helps explain why the opening of a new level matters: service choices and expected timing can shape how collectors decide which cards to submit and when.

PSA’s service tiers can change as processing capacity and submission volumes shift. The September 14 opening date is therefore a historical detail from the source, not confirmation that the same options, prices, or timelines remain available today. For current grading information, consult PSA. The source also links to background on grading vintage baseball cards.

Details collectors should verify

Before sending cards, check the current service name, price, stated turnaround, and any submission requirements directly with PSA. The source identifies Standard as the lowest-cost tier at the time of its opening and lists Priority at $79.99 per card, but it doesn’t give enough detail to compare the two on processing time or eligibility. Those missing points matter: a tier’s price alone doesn’t tell a collector when a card may return or whether it fits a particular submission.

Collectors weighing a submission can also use this announcement as a reminder to separate the grading decision from the service-tier decision. First identify which cards merit professional grading for the collector’s purposes. Then compare the available tiers using PSA’s current terms. The source offers no card-specific grading guidance, condition criteria, or promises about final grades, so none should be inferred from the service change.

Related collection resources

The source article also describes ways to discuss or sell collections through Just Collect. Its buying interests include vintage sports and non-sports cards dated 1879 to 2009, along with select modern cards. Named examples include Mickey Mantle, Michael Jordan, and Tom Brady. These are the company’s stated interests, rather than a guide to what any particular collection may be worth.

For collectors considering an appraisal, the source describes a free evaluation and says mailed cards can be returned at the company’s expense if the owner decides not to sell. It says a FedEx account with two-day shipping and insurance is available for this option, arranged by contacting the office. Details of any appraisal or shipping arrangement should be confirmed with the company before sending a collection. The source’s contact page provides a way to start that conversation.

Other options described include visiting the office, meeting at a card show listed on the company’s travel schedule, or arranging a meeting in a public place near New York City through its New York City information page. The source also links to an account of a father and son who brought in a Michael Jordan rookie card stored in Tupperware since 1986: the 1986 Fleer Basketball Tupperware collection.

The article points readers to the Just Collect Buy List and to stories about collections it has purchased, including a T206 collection with Ty Cobb and rare backs, cards pulled from a sealed 1961 Topps pack, and a 1948 Leaf Baseball collection featuring Ted Williams and Honus Wagner. It also mentions a newsletter covering collections, shows, podcasts, and cards for sale.

For collectors following PSA’s service changes, the practical takeaway is to verify the current tier menu and turnaround details before submitting. Standard’s September 14 opening marked a new option at the time; the source’s account of the near-ten-million-card backlog explains the pressure behind that change, while leaving present-day availability and timing to be checked directly with PSA.

Related links from the source: Just Collect event page.