The grade isn't decided at the grader. It's decided at your desk.

Until now, European submissions went to the US or through middleman services — customs, shipping risk, weeks in transit. With PSA Germany you submit domestically: shorter transit, no customs, full tracking. Your preparation doesn't change — holder and packaging requirements stay identical.

Graders score four criteria: centering (border ratios, front and back), corners (sharp or blunted?), edges (whitening?) and surface (scratches, print lines, fingerprints - check in raking light). Be honest with yourself: a card that visibly sits at a 7 won't grade better for being submitted.

Handle the card by its edges only (cotton gloves optional, clean dry hands mandatory). The card slides into the Inner Card Sleeve (40 µm, perfect fit) with the opening facing up - so the grader can remove it without prying.

The sleeved card goes into the Semi Rigid Card Shield. Grading services require semi rigids because they protect in transit without trapping air - and the card comes out without risk. Toploaders are rejected at submission. No tape over the mouth - the shield's crimped opening holds the sleeve by itself.

Place the cards between two rigid pieces of cardboard, fix loosely (rubber band around the cardboard, never around the cards), wrap in bubble wrap, then into a sturdy outer box. Ship insured with tracking. Include the submission form - card order must match the list.

Your card comes back in a PSA slab - and now the slab itself is the surface that scratches. A PSA Graded Slab Sleeve (55 µm, resealable) keeps case and label pristine. A scuffed case undersells a Gem Mint 10.