How do you package and send cards to TPG's to keep them secure

[Eric72]

I have only sent cards to SGC in recent years. There were a total of four; one reholder and three 2011 Topps Mike Trout rookies.

I opened the cards in 2011 and soft sleeved/top loaded them right away. It's not like I saw Trout as a future star of epic proportions. All the rookie cards get this treatment when I open packs.

Anyway, I kept them in the soft sleeve/top loader all the way up to the point when I sent them to SGC. Here's the method I used to pack them:

• New Ultra-Pro soft sleeve
• Sleeve into a new Ultra-Pro 3x4 top loader
• Top loader into a graded card sleeve (opening of the top loader flush against bottom of the graded card sleeve, so it cannot inadvertently slide out)
• Fill rest of the graded card sleeve with empty top loaders (a total of 10 top loaders will fit nicely)
• Seal the graded card sleeve and encase in bubble wrap
• Put the bubble wrapped package inside a small box, labeled "RAW CARDS INSIDE" (make sure contents cannot move during shipment)
• Pack this box inside a larger box, well-protected with packing peanuts to prevent the contents from moving during shipment

Again, this is what I did for a few cards a little over a year ago. No guarantees this will work in any particular circumstance. From what I understand, grading companies prefer items be shipped in CardSavers.

However, the cards came back 9, 9.5, and 9.5 - which is slightly higher than I would have graded them. I'm a harsh grader, though. Point being, they made it to SGC in the same condition as I sent them.

[butchie_t]

Originally Posted by Eric72

I have only sent cards to SGC in recent years. There were a total of four; one reholder and three 2011 Topps Mike Trout rookies.

I opened the cards in 2011 and soft sleeved/top loaded them right away. It's not like I saw Trout as a future star of epic proportions. All the rookie cards get this treatment when I open packs.

Anyway, I kept them in the soft sleeve/top loader all the way up to the point when I sent them to SGC. Here's the method I used to pack them:

• New Ultra-Pro soft sleeve
• Sleeve into a new Ultra-Pro 3x4 top loader
• Top loader into a graded card sleeve (opening of the top loader flush against bottom of the graded card sleeve, so it cannot inadvertently slide out)
• Fill rest of the graded card sleeve with empty top loaders (a total of 10 top loaders will fit nicely)
• Seal the graded card sleeve and encase in bubble wrap
• Put the bubble wrapped package inside a small box, labeled "RAW CARDS INSIDE" (make sure contents cannot move during shipment)
• Pack this box inside a larger box, well-protected with packing peanuts to prevent the contents from moving during shipment

Again, this is what I did for a few cards a little over a year ago. No guarantees this will work in any particular circumstance. From what I understand, grading companies prefer items be shipped in CardSavers.

However, the cards came back 9, 9.5, and 9.5 - which is slightly higher than I would have graded them. I'm a harsh grader, though. Point being, they made it to SGC in the same condition as I sent them.

Eric,

First, thank you for taking the time to reply. I appreciate that greatly.

Thanks for the detailed response. I appreciate your insight. You describe my concern accurately. Getting the cards to a grading company in the exact or as near as possible to how I pack them.

Thanks for the tips, I will use them when I send mine in.

Regards,

B.T.

[steve B]

That's way more involved that what I've done.
My first few went in toploaders,but were dropped off at a show for later grading.
The ones I mailed were sent in cardsavers, as that's what the card companies recommend.
I don't use card savers, so I had to save them up from ebay and card show purchases.

After that, cardboard stiffeners, wrapped in bubble wrap, and sent registered mail.