UPDATE:
I just got off a phone call with PSA, and they told me they double-checked the footage and said there was only 1 submission inside.
They told me I have to file a claim with USPS to start an investigation to progress this. They told me this would be the only route to release the footage (to USPS) since they cooperate with USPS.
I could also ask for details on what my package looked like. And that’s where a new issue comes in. They claim only 1 submission was in there and that the submission papers were folded and inside the package. It was not rubber banded on top of the cards. I have always rubber-banded my cards + papers together.
They nailed the packing and tracking number on my box correctly. As well as specific materials I used. I am fairly certain they are viewing my box.
So now I’m confused and wondering if an actual USPS worker stole one of the subs. The box was in transit for less than 24 hours, and at that time, someone opened, checked out the submission papers, and took over the entire submission. And re-sealed the box.
I also do not have insurance for the package. (Go figure) So even if the claim goes through, I will be entitled to a crisp $100. However, I am unsure if you even need insurance if the item is supposed to be stolen by a USPS worker.
I would love any advice or next steps you would take.
Hope you took some photos and feel free to share with your information blocked out.
Was the packaging label over one end of the seal and possibly the other side able to opened from the bottom?
I can imagine a USPS worker COULD do this, but opening other peoples mail is really punishable crime. Especially for something as trackabld as a package with specific routes and says it would go through the facility. So kind of confused whether this possibility is that viable
There are no photos, sadly. I submit pretty frequently to PSA, and I let habits get the best of me. They could have opened from the bottom as it was clear tape.
I’ve essentially run out of options.
PSA claims they did not receive the two submissions; the package was sealed and not tampered with, and the packaging differed from how I shipped it.
PSA also will not confirm if they have graded my serialized/numbered card. They claim there is no way for them to look up the Certs of a card based on the Set and Card number within their population report.
The contact I had with PSA (Head of TCG Dept) just forwarded my emails to the same CS Escelations person with whom I had the phone call. They say my only next step is to file a USPS claim.
USPS claim is being processed, but they will only pay out $100 because there’s no extra insurance. So that is a dead end as well.
The moral of the story is that I should buy Insurance. But even then, since it’s not a missing package but missing contents, it’s a he said she said situation. Where no one wants to be responsible for it.
That’s really disappointing. When you first posted I read the thread and thought it would all be fine. PSA loses track of submissions sometimes but nothing bad happens to honest graders I thought. I’m genuinely shocked that your entire submission disappeared
I will just put a not from my experience from the last week. PSA lost a submission june last year, after a while, they paid out the insurance for the cards in january.
On monday, i got an email, telling me that the submission was completed, and now i have the option to have the cards or keep the insurance. So they do find cards that is “lost” it seems. As I was told back in desember, card may get missplaced, but security is so thight, that they allmost NEVER get realy lost, and he was right it seems.
This can get very expensive on shipping though especially when shipping from abroad. 60 dollars per package adds up quickly. Realistically this shouldn’t be an issue the majority of the time, the problem is the one time it happens it can still be very expensive and painful. I guess there is always going to be some form of risk when submitting for grading no matter how careful you are and how much you try to mitigate it.
This is more of a he-said she-said situation. But I wanted to write it out in case anyone knows what the best steps are or for future reference.
Randomly, the person who connected me with the TCG people at PSA reached out and told me they had some updates from PSA, information that PSA could not tell me directly.
I won’t go into detail on how he got this information for privacy reasons. But from my perspective, it made sense; they knew the case details even though they were only in the initial conversation.
Turns out, after reviewing the footage, there were 2 different types of tape on my box before opening. The tape on the sides was fried, and it indeed did look tampered with. I am unsure why PSA said in their email that there is no evidence of tampering when they could have just not said something about that topic, to begin with.
However, I believe this person has my best interest in mind, and it seems that the submission never made it to PSA.
My next steps are to file a police report and give that information to PSA, BGS, and CGC in case they ever receive this card. It might not be graded or, better yet, sent back to me.
Inside the package was my entire missing submission. That includes the submission form and the cardboard + rubber bands I originally used.
Remember, this submission was alongside another submission in the same box. That other submission was processed just fine by PSA.
I have very little idea of how the package was opened; an entire submission was taken out and delivered to PSA without them noticing any tampering. (Officially speaking)
My USPS insurance claim (did not pay for extra) was declined, so it was not due to their investigation.
My current theory is that PSA actually did receive it, and due to the mix-up of submission levels, it became lost inside their facility. They found it and did not want to take any responsibility for losing said submission, so they slapped a “Return to Sender” label on it and returned it to me.
And for everyone who has been wondering what the cards were, you can view them below.
