Payment plans sounds like a great idea, not because individuals can’t afford to pay in full up front but because that is a stark difference right now between submitting directly to PSA and submitting through Ludkins. One requires full payment up-front while waiting 8-10 months for a product, the other only requires payment once they’re actually ready to ship you the goods after 8-10 months.
I dont know how your/ludkins standard service relates to grading essentials of gradedgem but the service of gradedgem is cheaper. gradedgem 50-199 cards is 8,29 pounds whilst the ludkins standard service is 8,99 pounds for any order above 50 cards. How does the price guarantee work then?
For sure. Unfortunately, there’s another logistical challenge that is the flip side to that coin. If a few thousand cards default on PSA, it is an inconvenience to them. If a few thousand cards default on me, 11 people lose their jobs.
We aren’t big enough to attract a real creditor who is willing to systematize making your life hell when you don’t pay. So that leaves us to essentially harass customers for money, which is bad for our image, bad for people who can’t pay, and generally toxic. The payment upfront protects us from a horrible situation that is costly in so many ways.
When we tested it with dealers, one in seven overextended themselves in the shortrun and defaulted on return. What do I do when that person submitting to me is submitting on behalf of other people? Now we have a scam which inevitably, despite it being entirely NOT my fault in any way, is going to lead to people expect me to hand over their cards that some other guy took their money and ran with.
Ironically, our policy protects people from themselves in a lot of cases.
So while I’m still looking into how I can make this possible without just banking on the goodwill of internet strangers like some of our competitors do (none of them are backed by actual cash if it goes wrong, btw, and that should be cause for alarm. Just saying), it has to be done the right way. It has to be funded in a way that isn’t just raising prices for other people. It has to be backable by an institutional force that represents a pooling of interests beyond the scope of this super niche business alone. And it can’t become a situation where people wait until they hear the cards are back and then scramble to find the money to pay for their bill because they know they can leave them sitting at our warehouse on our dime until they feel comfortable coughing up the money.
I will find that solution. But IDK what exactly it looks like in the shortrun. Probably a financial vetting process similar to what major auction houses use and an application process for accessing the option. But I’ve got big ideas for how to make this process incredibly enticing for people who are pushing volume. Hopefully I can get the support I need in the shortrun to make those dreams come true. 
4 Likes
I run the US service which exclusively services non-EU clients. So you’ll have to reach out to the EU side about what they can do. I’m speaking from the perspective of the rest of the world, basically.
2 Likes
Never tried Graded Gem but as far as Ludkins is concerned, the service was awesome. They always provided me with updates regarding the state of my orders (including info regarding PSA and Covid related problems).
2 Likes
I thought you were the one who set up ludkins, I got that wrong then…
I just looked up the prices between gradedgem US and ludkins, and the difference in price is pretty big. In the EU/UK it is the other way around.
Great to hear about the new express service level coming. Excited to see what that looks like.
Regarding payment plans and paying upfront. I personally don’t mind the upfront costs, makes me budget accordingly and not over extend but it can certainly cause some hardship since PSA return times are so tough. If I sub 1 per month, I need to weather the storm of 8 months payments before I get cards back and can start “selling” to recoup those funds.
Perhaps a rewards/trust program could be implemented for repeat clients and then a perk could be payment plan options. Establish trust rather than all strangers on the internet being rewarded with that option? Not sure. More incentive for client loyalty and lowering the risk to you. Just brainstorming and I’m sure you’ve thought of that already.
Cheers!
1 Like
Ludkins is the bomb diggity.
2 Likes
I’ve been using Graded Gem since it was still a one man operation by the name of Gradedgroudon. Always been happy with their service and never had any issues. I’ve seen people mention a lack of communication, but that might be due to the big growth they’ve experienced recently. I believe up until very recently GradedGem was only 2 guys still XD Connor and Tom are very hard working and always do their best though! They’ve also got an Italian branch if I’m not mistaken for mainland Europe, and Z&G now does Graded Gem on USA side.
In the end I think both Ludkins and GradedGem are great options and it mostly comes down to preference. I personally have used GradedGem since before I joined E4 and before I even knew Ludkins existed and I’ve never had a reason to change.
1 Like
By this time next week probably Ludkins will have subbed over 300 of my cards in 6 subs on 2 different service levels… ive found the pregrades to be useful on one sub that contained a potential 5 figure card, and ive found the responses from Peter and Charlie to be extremely prompt and helpful. I used to like ZandG but as soon as he started doing the graded gem thing and doing those long annoying videos of submissions i basically vowed to not watch his content anymore. That being said i think Connor and Tom on the UK side of things are still somewhat entertaining because they at least dont seem as “selloutish” (not sure if that makes sense). I dont really watch them anymore either though. Poketubers are pretty lame now lol except TCA hes the GOAT.
That was off tangent, but if i had to make any critiques of ludkins it would be the payment plan thing. Never crossed my mind but it wouldnt be a bad idea to sub all at once and pay over a longer period instead of doing smaller batches as the funds are available.
2 Likes
Didnt see this before making my post where i mention payment plans. Ludkins=GOAT for subs imo
I just issued my first express sub to Graded Gem so I will let you know once I get it back 
I really like to sent some cards to PSA to grade with Ludkins, but have no idea how this will go. I’m from Europe.
It takes time to sent, grade and getting them back… what about the brexit.
Will the go out the EU in 2020/2021 or will they stay. I have no clue. (import fees…)
What’s wrong with z’s submission videos. I find them pretty good.
1 Like
I’ll be sure to shut down my lame channel immediately because of this random internet stranger’s very VERY intelligent comment.
6 Likes
Sorry, i hope you dont think i was encompassing every person who does pokemon videos on youtube by me saying poketubers, i can see how you think that though because i didnt explain myself too well on it. I dont like poketubers who are cashing in on it. The average guy who is doing it for fun is the best and those people i always enjoy watching because its much more genuine and the content is more inline with myself. The poketubers im talking about being lame are the ones who play loud music when they get a pull, the ones who say a card is worth $xxxxx when its actually worth half that, i could make a long list of why i moved on from most pokemon youtubers but i would rather say the things about tca that made me still watch him: he doesnt scream in his videos, he is a family man and also has some spiritual beliefs inline with myself, he offers knowledge whenever possible, he doesnt play music in his videos, he doesnt have 37 camera angles and 20482 ad breaks and attempts to plead for my like and subscription, he clearly shows his own collection more often than his sales, when he shows his purchases and sales he will usually disclose the amount of $, the list goes on
Around the time he started doing them my work week became 60+ hours apposed to the 40-50 it was, so i was thin on time to start off, and as soon as he started them i could hear in his voice how uninterested he was so that kind of put me off, also its not exciting for me to see these cards, maybe 1 in 100 cards in the submission videos is something cool to me.
Ive also emailed him to inquire about some prices for packs he is selling and ive never seen him ask a middle of the line price, its always highest by a mile. Paying for “UnWeIgHtEd” from a “TrUsTeD sOuRcE” is stupid when the prices he wants for unweighed is like 25-50% more than what the packs are selling for and for that same price he is asking i would only need to add a small percent to find the same packs weighed heavy. He’s a fine businessman and a reliable seller but the premium he puts on the packs along with the boring submission videos just made me focus on other things and find more enjoyment from other people with videos i feel are better
You do realize that jcincy101 is Z&G right? If not, well now you do!
2 Likes
Hey I’ve said many time sub videos are boring haha. But it’s only 2 videos a month now.
And I mean I’ve been selling fossil 1st ed Unweighed for $250 for the past month (just sold last one today)…TCA Gaming is selling a light art set for $799.99 (which is fine by me of course). So…once again, do your research people. Maybe my Skyridge and neo destiny 1st for $975 are high (the only packs I have left) but I mean…it’s Neo Destiny 1st and Skyridge.
Anyway, thanks for the comment.
3 Likes
Yeah i knew he was on here and also figured he wouldve seen the comment, im not a fan of everything and everyone, just because what i say may ruffle a couple feathers it doesnt matter and i will still say it. Im not and never have been a person who cares about what people think about my opinion. You could probably ask him and he would even say ludkins offers the most proven psa service in the pokemon world. As far as pack prices go James i never have been a buyer of tca’s packs or even looked at the prices, so its no surprise he might have something you can outprice. Would i be paying half of either of your prices though? No, its not that important to me. Do they still sell? Yes, because im not important to the market. For reference on why i said your prices were high for packs im talking about the shadowless packs, at the same time you were selling unweighed shadowless i had a friend find shadowless guaranteed art sets for $1500 cad, with one pack being holo. So when i asked about your pack and heard the price i kind of figured i would succeed finding cheaper prices elsewhere, and i have. I admire the collection and dedication put into your business tho James, i just dance to the beat of a different drum