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PSA Magazine Grading Program Launches, But Turnaround Time Jumps to 75 Days

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Collectors excited about PSA’s newly launched comic and magazine grading service got an unwelcome surprise this week, as the grading giant quietly increased its advertised turnaround time from 20 days to a much longer 75 days. The update comes just days after PSA began taking submissions, rolling out an introductory price of $25.99 for modern books and $39.99 for vintage, each a few bucks off the regular rates for lower-value issues.

The company’s magazine and comic program made a big splash when it was announced, but the change in service speed has left some customers frustrated. According to a source at PSA, the delay stems from the company not yet having the new magazine-sized slabs on hand. They’d hoped to have them available at launch, but unexpected delays—reportedly due to tariffs—mean the first slabs won’t roll off the line until September.

PSA did sweeten the offer a bit by debuting an in-house pressing service: For $11.99 (modern) or $29.99 (vintage), collectors can have their comics or magazines pressed before grading to help eliminate wrinkles. However, there’s a catch—if you opt for pressing, it applies to every item in the order; you can’t split between pressed and non-pressed within the same submission.

While PSA’s new services are sure to attract attention, their approach to labels leaves something to be desired. Let’s be honest—compared to CGC, PSA’s labels just look tired. CGC offers custom label designs, including the option to feature actual comic characters for a few extra bucks, which gives each slab a pop of personality and shelf appeal. PSA’s labels, by contrast, are utilitarian and a bit dull—an issue that’s been pointed out in the trading card space as well.

Collectors have long debated which company offers the better slab, but when it comes to presentation, CGC’s vibrant, customizable labels are clearly ahead of the game. With more collectors looking for display-worthy collectibles, it might be time for PSA to update its look and bring a little more energy to its slabs.