Should You Wait for PSA to Reopen? The Answer Is No.
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Should You Wait for PSA to Reopen? The Answer Is No.
PSA’s temporary pause on its Value grading tiers has left many collectors asking the same question:
Should I simply wait for PSA to reopen?
The short answer is no.
That does not mean collectors should stop using PSA. PSA remains one of the most recognized names in card grading, and there are plenty of cards that may still make sense to submit when its lower-cost services return.
But waiting does not have to mean doing nothing.
What Is Happening at PSA?
PSA temporarily paused new submissions for its Value Bulk, Value, Value Plus, and Value Max tiers on June 2, 2026. Regular, Express, Super Express, Walk-Through, and higher service levels have remained available.
According to PSA, a surge in submissions pushed its active backlog toward 10 million cards before the pause. PSA’s August 11 update reported approximately 11.85 million cards still in its active backlog.
PSA has said the paused tiers will return based on operational progress rather than a guaranteed reopening date. Its stated goal is to reduce the backlog to approximately five million cards before fully restoring those services.
Collectors can follow the latest numbers on the official PSA Backlog Tracker.
Do Not Put Your Collection on Hold
The hobby does not stop because one grading company pauses several service levels.
Card shows continue. New products continue to release. Players get hot. Prospects get called up. Records are broken. Markets rise and fall.
A card that makes sense to sell today may not have the same opportunity several months from now. Likewise, a card you purchase today may become an even stronger grading candidate before PSA’s Value tiers reopen.
The answer is not to stop making decisions. The answer is to make better ones.
Start Preparing Your PSA Submissions Now
If PSA is still your preferred destination, use this time to build a carefully selected submission.
Inspect every card. Check the corners, edges, surface, and centering. Look for print lines, scratches, stains, creases, dents, and other defects that may affect the grade.
Then separate your cards into clear groups:
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Strong PSA candidates
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Cards that may be better suited for another grading company
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Cards that should remain raw
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Cards that should be sold or traded now
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Cards that need additional research
When PSA’s Value tiers reopen, there could be a large wave of pent-up submissions. Collectors who prepare in advance will be ready to act instead of starting from scratch.
Consider Other Grading Companies
PSA is not the only grading option.
Depending on the card and your reason for grading it, SGC, Beckett, CGC, TAG, or another established grading company may make sense. Each company has its own strengths, pricing, turnaround times, holder designs, grading standards, and position in the resale market.
The right choice depends on the card.
A vintage card intended for a personal collection may have a different best destination than a modern rookie being graded for resale. A card does not automatically need a PSA holder to be protected, authenticated, enjoyed, or sold.
Before choosing a grading company, compare:
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Expected grading cost
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Current turnaround time
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Resale value
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Buyer demand
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The type and age of the card
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Your personal preference
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Whether you plan to keep or sell it
There is no universal answer for every card.
Do Not Overpay Just to Avoid Waiting
PSA’s higher-priced service levels remain open, but that does not mean every card belongs in one.
Paying a premium grading fee for a lower-value card can destroy the economics of the submission. Before using a more expensive tier, estimate the card’s likely value at several possible grades.
Ask yourself:
If this card receives a lower grade than expected, will the submission still make financial sense?
If the answer is no, paying for faster or currently available service may not be worth it.
Patience can be smart. Inactivity is different.
Sell Some Cards Raw
Not every card needs to be graded.
Strong raw cards can still attract buyers, especially when they are accurately described and photographed clearly. In some cases, selling a card raw today may be more profitable than paying grading fees and waiting months for its return.
This is especially important for cards affected by short-term market momentum, including:
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Hot rookies
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Breakout players
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Playoff performers
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Newly announced Hall of Fame selections
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Trending prospects
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Recently released products
Grading should add value or confidence. It should not become an automatic expense attached to every card.
Use the Pause to Become More Selective
One of the biggest mistakes collectors make is submitting cards based on hope.
A card may look flawless inside a sleeve while still having a small corner issue, surface scratch, centering problem, or print defect. Those missed details can turn a profitable submission into an expensive disappointment.
GemGrade helps collectors evaluate cards before spending money on professional grading. By reviewing the front and back of a card, collectors can identify potential concerns and make a more informed decision about what to submit.
GemGrade does not replace professional grading, and it cannot guarantee the grade a card will receive. It is designed to help answer the question that comes first:
Is this card worth submitting?
That question matters even more when grading access is limited and every submission dollar needs to work harder.
Keep Moving Forward
PSA will reopen its paused Value tiers when its backlog reaches the operational level it has established. Until then, collectors still have choices.
You can prepare future submissions. You can use another grading company. You can sell selected cards raw. You can trade into stronger inventory. You can study your cards more carefully and avoid paying to grade cards that do not have the necessary condition or value.
Waiting for PSA may be part of your strategy.
It should not be your entire strategy.
The hobby is still moving—and collectors should keep moving with it.
Know before you grade.