New eBay Feature Lets You Grade Raw Cards with PSA at Checkout
eBay and PSA Have Teamed Up To Make Our Lives A Little Bit Easier
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Buying raw cards on eBay has always been a bit of a gamble.
You spot a nice-looking card—a 2001 Bowman Chrome Pujols rookie or a clean Jayson Tatum Prizm. The photos look good, and the description checks out.
But you still wonder: Is that surface as clean as it looks? Are the corners as sharp as advertised? And if you buy it, will you ship it to PSA for grading?
Well, eBay just introduced a solution that makes that entire process way easier for collectors: a built-in PSA grading option at checkout for eligible raw cards.
What’s This New eBay & PSA Service?
This new feature allows buyers to purchase raw trading cards and send them directly to PSA for grading without ever touching the cards.
Here’s how it works:
- Buy a qualifying raw card (more on that below).
- At checkout, select the “Add PSA grading” option.
- The seller ships the card to eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee hub.
- PSA experts authenticate and inspect the card.
- If it passes, PSA grades and slabs the card.
- The graded card is shipped directly to you.
It’s seamless. You buy it, and PSA handles the rest.
What Does It Cost?
The PSA grading service offered and the cost to grade depends on the card’s value.
The PSA Value Plus level covers any cards valued up to $500, costing $39.99 per card. The grading costs increase based on the card’s declared value (more on PSA’s grading costs).
This includes:
- Authentication
- Grading (with an estimated turnaround time of 20 business days or less)
- A new PSA account (automatically created using your eBay email)
- Dedicated PSA support
- And—for a limited time—free return shipping from PSA through June 30, 2025
There are no hidden upcharges or shipping fees beyond the $39.99 (for Value Plus service level) you pay at checkout. Once the card is authenticated and graded, the transaction becomes final—no returns.
Which Cards Are Eligible?
To qualify, the card must:
- Be raw (ungraded) and non-autographed
- Be priced at $250 or more
- Have at least two high-quality photos in the listing
- Be a single card; not a lot
- Be purchased by a buyer in the United States
That covers various desirable cards—from vintage Hall of Famers to modern stars and prospects.
Why This Matters to Collectors
Collectors have had to juggle the raw card buying process and grading submissions for years. This new feature from eBay and PSA changes that—and here’s why it matters:
1. Peace of Mind
No more wondering if that raw card is trimmed, altered, or hiding flaws. PSA inspects and authenticates before grading.
2. Time Saved
There is no need to prep cards, fill out forms, or wait for bulk submissions to fill up. You buy the card, and PSA handles the rest.
3. Condition Preservation
The fewer hands a raw card passes through, the lower the risk of damage. This reduces the chance of shipping wear or handling flaws.
4. More Transparent Market Values
With more raw cards getting slabbed quickly after the sale, expect a shift in pricing and trust levels. Fewer “guess grades”—more concrete values.
A Real-World Example
A friend bought a raw 2018 Bowman Chrome Ohtani rookie for $299. Usually, he’d inspect it himself and maybe send it off in his next PSA batch. But with this new option, he added PSA grading at checkout. The other day, the grades popped, and PSA notified him that his Ohtani had graded a GEM-MT PSA 10. There is no need to send off to PSA, no extra steps, and no second-guessing.
Things to Consider
While this feature brings tons of value, there are a few caveats:
- Final Sale: Once PSA authenticates and grades your card, you can’t return it, even if the grade it isn’t what you hoped.
- No Control Over Submission: You won’t get to inspect the card yourself before grading or choosing subgrades, upcharges, or packaging preferences.
- Estimated Turnaround Time Not Guaranteed: PSA aims for 20 business days, but there’s no hard guarantee.
Still, for many collectors, the ease and protection outweigh those trade-offs.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a new feature—it’s a significant shift in how collectors can buy and grade cards online. By partnering with PSA, eBay creates a safer, smoother path from raw to slab. And for collectors looking to protect their investment or flip graded cards more efficiently, that’s a big win.
It might not be for every card or every buyer, but for the right raw card at the right price, this could be the new default move.
So, what’s the first card you’re sending in?
