The Short Answer
- Submit now only your highest-confidence, highest-value gems through Regular.
- Hold borderline modern cards until Value tiers reopen (~4 months).
- Reroute bulk and mid-value cards to CGC or SGC.
- Pre-screen everything — an $80 floor punishes guesswork.
Step 1: Triage Your Queue
Sort every card you intended to submit into three buckets by all-in PSA 10 value: high ($300+), mid ($100–$300), and low (under $100). The pause affects each bucket differently. Pre-screen with the Grade Calculator so you are sorting by realistic outcomes, not hope.
Submit Now: High-Value Gems
High-value cards with strong PSA 10 confidence still clear the $79.99 Regular fee comfortably. Submit these now — the PSA-label premium is largest exactly where the cards are most valuable (key rookies, rare parallels, vintage). Waiting only delays revenue.
Hold: Borderline Modern
Mid-value modern cards that need Value-tier economics should sit tight. PSA estimates Value tiers reopen within ~4 months once the backlog hits 5 million. If grading is not time-sensitive, holding preserves margin. Track progress via PSA's monthly Backlog Tracker.
Reroute: Bulk and Mid-Value
For lower-value cards you want graded now, the economics favor alternatives:
- SGC for vintage and a clean, respected label.
- CGC for aggressive bulk pricing (mind the longer turnaround).
- TAG for tech-driven modern grading where premium slots are open.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do with cards I planned to submit to PSA Value?
Should I wait for PSA Value tiers to reopen?
Where should I send bulk cards during the pause?
Sources & Further Reading
Marcus Chen has evaluated over 50,000 sports cards and TCG cards across PSA, BGS, SGC, and CGC standards. Before joining PreGradeCards, he worked as a submission specialist for a major grading company and trained collectors and dealers on condition assessment.
With submission floors rising, pre-screening is no longer optional. Use our AI Pre-Grade Calculator to score a card's PSA 10 odds before you pay, and the Submission Planner to pick the right tier.