u/Kingztarm

Hey peeps. I’ve been seeing a lot of confusion lately and figured I’d just lay out the new PSA "rules of engagement" for 2026 so we can all stop guessing.

​PSA basically reset the board back in February/April, and if you haven’t submitted in a while, your old "mental math" for what’s worth grading is probably wrong now.

​The "Why Is My Rate So Low?" Section (Stricter Centering). PSA has really tightened the screws on the 55/45 centering for PSA 10s. We used to get away with 60/40 on some modern cards if the surface was perfect, but those days are essentially gone. If it looks even slightly heavy on one side to your eye, just expect a 9. Don't be the person posting a "Why did this get a 9??" thread when the left border is clearly thicker.

​​Prices went up across the board (mostly a flat $5 increase). If you’re a member, here’s the current reality:

​Value Bulk: $24.99 (This is the new "floor").

​Value: $32.99

​Regular: $79.99 (Wait times for this are now roughly 25 business days).

​Also, TCG Bulk is dead. It’s all just "Value Bulk" now. If you’re grading a $10 holographic Charizard, you’re now paying $25 to do it. Think about the ROI before you ship.

​I know some of you are going to ask where this is coming from or if I'm just making up numbers. Most of this was broke down really well by Rohit Gupta at Athlon Sports and was confirmed in the recent PSA Pod with Ryan Hoge (President of PSA). If you want the deep-dive explanation on the math and why they did this, go watch "PSA Grading Prices Explained" on YouTube. It explains the shift from the "junk slab" volume to this new "premium" focus way better than I can in a Reddit comment.

​so to sum things up; Pre-screen your cards harder than you used to. The $25-per-card "gamble" adds up fast if you're hitting 8s and 9s on cards that only sell for $30.

​Good luck with your subs!

I’ve been sitting on a decent collection of Digimon cards from back when the game first launched—specifically a lot of hits from the Special Boosters (Version 1.0 and 1.5).

​I’ve kept them in immaculate condition since pulling them, and honestly, some look like they could be easy 10s. However, I’m torn on whether it’s actually worth the PSA fees. While I know Pokémon and Magic have huge grading markets, I’m not as plugged into how the "investor" or collector side of the Digimon TCG looks.

​A few questions for those who follow the Digimon market:

​Demand: Is there a high demand for PSA-graded Digimon cards, or do most collectors prefer them raw for play?

​Are the Alt Arts or Secret Rares from those early 1.0/1.5 sets seeing a significant value bump in a slab?

​ROI: Given the current PSA turnaround times and costs, is it worth grading anything that isn't a guaranteed 10?

​I love the art on these and think they’d look great in a slab, but I don't want to spend a fortune grading them if the market for Digimon slabs is relatively niche.

​Would love to hear from anyone who has experience grading this TCG or has sold any Digimon slabs recently!

Hey everyone, just wanted to share a quick update on my first batch through GameStop. My tracker just hit the Assembly stage today and I am beyond hyped (and a little nervous).

​I submitted 3 cards back on February 10th at my local store. Two of them are the Metal Charizard and Metal Pikachu from the Celebrations Ultra-Premium Collection.

​They sat in "Research & ID" for about a month, which was a test of patience, but seeing that bar move to Assembly feels like the home stretch. That being said, I have some mixed feelings about the transparency of the GameStop process:

​The "Black Box" Problem: Once you drop them off, you’re basically locked into GameStop's internal tracker. I really wish they provided the actual PSA submission number or a direct link to the PSA dashboard.

​The Cert Mystery: It’s frustrating that I can’t see the certification numbers or any high-res scans while it’s in Assembly. I’ve seen some people say they can see them in the app, but my app is currently broken (classic), and the website doesn't show much detail.

​Metal Card Anxiety: Since PSA is notoriously tough on the metal cards, I’m just praying they didn't get dinged up during the "bulk batching" process. Without being able to see the grader's notes or early scans, I'm just refreshing the page and hoping for the best.

​Has anyone else here used GameStop for the thicker metal cards? Did you get any upcharge notifications during Assembly? I'm just ready to get these back in hand and see those slabs!

​Status: Assembly

Submission Date: 2/10

Arrived at PSA: 2/17

Hey everyone, I finally pulled the trigger and sent my metal Charizard and Pikachu from the Celebrations Ultra Premium Collection to PSA back in February. I know the reputation these have for chipping and surface issues right out of the box.

​I don't have photos on hand to share, but for those who have sent these off recently:

​What was your turnaround time like for metal cards?

​Did anyone actually land a 10, or is it mostly 8s and 9s across the board?

​Has PSA's consistency with these improved since they resumed grading them?

​Just trying to manage my expectations before the 'Grades Available' email hits. Thanks!