PSA has announced another major grading service update, and for collectors, the news is difficult to ignore.
Longer turnaround times.
Higher costs at certain service levels.
More restrictions on bulk submissions.
You can read PSA’s full announcement here:
PSA Service Level Update – May 2026
While PSA frames these changes as operational adjustments tied to demand, the bigger picture paints a troubling story for the hobby.
What Changed?
According to PSA, new submission timelines now look like this:
- Value Bulk: 140–160 business days
- Value: 100–120 days
- Value Plus: 60–80 days
- Regular: 30–40 days
- Express: 20–30 days
PSA also raised pricing for Super Express, increasing it from $299 to $349 per card. And beginning May 18, Value Bulk submissions now require a 50-card minimum.
That means:
- Budget grading gets slower
- Fast grading gets more expensive
- Smaller submitters have fewer options
This Isn’t Entirely on PSA
It’s easy to blame PSA alone — and they certainly deserve criticism for capacity and turnaround issues — but collectors also need to look inward.
A major reason grading backlogs continue is simple:
Too many cards are being graded that probably shouldn’t be.
Over the past several years, the hobby developed a grading obsession.
Common modern base cards.
Mass-produced inserts.
Low-value parallels.
Cards worth less than the grading fee itself.
Many submitters grade first and ask questions later.
When thousands of cards with little market value flood the system, delays become inevitable.
That doesn’t excuse PSA’s problems — but it does explain part of them.
The hobby created demand that grading companies were never designed to handle at this scale.
Still, This Is Bad for the Hobby
Even acknowledging submission volume, these changes are not good for collectors.
The reality:
- Bulk grading is approaching 5–7 month waits
- Costs continue climbing
- Entry-level collectors get squeezed out
PSA remains the market leader because of resale value and brand recognition.
But leadership comes with responsibility.
Collectors have tolerated delays before, especially during the pandemic-era grading boom. The problem is that years later, long waits and service adjustments continue resurfacing.
That hurts:
- Market liquidity
- Card availability
- Smaller collectors and flippers
- Confidence in grading timelines
What About SGC?
This situation affects more than PSA.
Months ago, PSA parent company Collectors acquired SGC.
At the time, collectors were promised that SGC would continue operating independently.
But many hobbyists remain skeptical.
Since the acquisition:
- SGC turnaround times have become less predictable
- Questions remain about staffing and operational priorities
- Collectors worry SGC resources may increasingly support PSA infrastructure instead of remaining fully independent
Whether intentional or not, the perception is damaging.
SGC built its reputation on:
- Fast turnaround
- Competitive pricing
- Vintage expertise
If those advantages erode, collectors lose another meaningful alternative.
A Strong Alternative: CGC
Collectors frustrated with PSA or uncertain about SGC should take a serious look at CGC.
For years, CGC was viewed primarily through the lens of comics and TCG.
That perception is outdated.
CGC now offers:
- Competitive pricing
- Consistent grading standards
- Strong slab presentation
- Reasonable turnaround options
- Independence from the growing consolidation surrounding PSA/Collectors
Will CGC immediately replace PSA in resale value for modern sports cards?
No.
PSA still commands the strongest premiums in many categories.
But grading should not be treated as a one-company ecosystem.
Competition matters.
And right now, CGC deserves more attention than it receives.
The Bigger Picture
The grading industry keeps moving toward concentration.
Collectors owns:
- PSA
- SGC
- Beckett acquisition efforts
That level of market control should concern collectors, regardless of brand loyalty.
When competition shrinks:
- Prices rise
- Alternatives weaken
- Collectors lose leverage
Sound familiar?
It’s the same conversation happening across sealed product, distribution, and hobby access.
Final Thoughts
PSA’s May 2026 update is more than a turnaround announcement.
It highlights several uncomfortable truths:
- Collectors continue over-submitting low-value cards
- PSA remains overwhelmed at lower service levels
- Costs are climbing
- SGC’s future feels less certain under shared ownership
- Healthy competition in grading is becoming increasingly important
PSA is not solely responsible for this problem.
But the result is still the same:
Longer waits, higher costs, and more pressure on the hobby.
Collectors would be wise to explore alternatives — and CGC may be one of the strongest options available right now.