PSA announced on 28 May 2026 that it is pausing several of its most popular submission tiers effective 2 June 2026. For Singapore collectors — many of whom rely on the Value and Bulk tiers as their primary grading entry point — this is significant news that requires an immediate plan of action.
What PSA Paused and Why
The following tiers are suspended from 2 June 2026 until further notice:
- Value Bulk
- Value
- Value Plus
- Value Max
PSA's stated reason: the company's grading backlog is approaching 10 million cards. With submission volumes continuing to outpace throughput capacity, PSA determined that pausing the highest-volume, lowest-cost tiers was the only viable way to prevent turnaround times from becoming commercially unworkable for all customers across all tiers.
PSA also announced two accompanying measures:
- Extended Collectors Club memberships — existing subscribers will receive complimentary extensions to compensate for the service interruption, acknowledging the real cost this pause imposes on paying members
- Public backlog tracker — a new tool on PSA's website allowing collectors to monitor the live backlog count and estimated processing timelines by tier, giving transparency that was previously unavailable
Which PSA Tiers Are Still Open
The pause affects only the Value family of tiers. As of 2 June 2026, the following tiers remain open:
- Standard, Express, Super Express, Walk-Through
- All premium tiers (Premier, Supreme, etc.)
- Autograph authentication services
- Coins, stamps, and other non-card categories (separate queue)
The implication is stark: grading through PSA is still possible, but only at a significantly higher price point. For a Pokémon card previously submittable at the Value tier for approximately USD $20–25, the next available tier (Standard) costs USD $50+. This more than doubles the grading cost per card and fundamentally changes the economics of bulk submissions.
For the full breakdown of current tier pricing and turnaround comparisons, see our 2026 TCG grading costs guide. Also relevant: PSA's earlier price increase in February 2026 which already tightened the economics of bulk grading before this suspension was announced.
What Happens to In-Flight Submissions
Cards already submitted under the Value tiers before 2 June 2026 will continue to be processed. PSA has confirmed there will be no cancellations of existing in-flight orders. However, turnaround times for these cards may be extended beyond original estimates as PSA works through the backlog without accepting new low-tier volume.
If you have cards currently in transit to PSA under a Value tier, track them through the PSA submission portal and expect delays. PSA's new public backlog tracker will give you improved visibility into progress compared to previous periods of backlog stress.
Impact on Pokémon Collectors
For Pokémon collectors, the timing is awkward but manageable. The Mega Evolution era sets — particularly the recently launched Chaos Rising — have strong chase card candidates worth grading at any tier. However, those cards will now need to go in at Standard tier minimum (USD $50+), which changes the economics substantially.
The practical impact for Singapore collectors submitting through local middlemen: expect service fees to increase correspondingly as the per-card submission cost rises. Bulk grading as a casual activity — sending in 20–40 cards at Value tier to assess your pulls — is essentially paused until PSA reopens those tiers. Collectors must now be far more selective about what they choose to grade.
The silver lining: fewer submissions overall means smaller PSA 10 populations for cards graded during this period. Collectors who do submit at Standard tier now will be among fewer competitors racing to establish low pop report positions on new chase cards.
Impact on One Piece Collectors
The timing for One Piece collectors is particularly brutal. OP-15 launched just two months ago, and OP-16 English launches on 12 June 2026 — one week after the Value tier suspension takes effect. Collectors who planned to bulk-submit their OP-15 and OP-16 manga rares and alternate arts at Value pricing will now need to either:
- Submit at Standard tier and absorb the higher cost per card
- Wait for PSA to reopen Value tiers (timeline unknown — PSA has not committed to a specific reopening date)
- Consider alternative graders such as CGC or BGS for this window
For context on which One Piece cards are most worth the higher grading cost during this period, read our One Piece investment analysis. Cards with genuine scarcity potential — OP-15 Enel Manga Rare, Nami EB-04 crossover, OP-16 Marineford arc manga rares — justify Standard tier spending. Lower-ceiling cards should be held until Value tiers reopen.
Impact on Singapore Middlemen and Bulk Submitters
Singapore-based PSA submission services that aggregate bulk submissions from local collectors will need to restructure their entire pricing model. The economic foundation of "submit 50+ cards at Value tier, charge SGD $35–45 per card with a margin" no longer works at current Standard tier rates. Expect local middlemen to either shift to Standard tier pricing (SGD $70–90+ per card including service fee), temporarily pause new intake, or redirect clients to CGC while PSA works through its backlog.
Collectors who rely on local submission agents should contact them immediately to understand the new pricing and whether existing batch orders will be affected.
Does CGC or BGS Benefit?
Collector's Galaxy Grading (CGC) and Beckett Grading Services (BGS) are the two most credible alternatives to PSA for TCG cards in Singapore's market:
- CGC — more widely used for Pokémon and One Piece among Singapore collectors in recent years. CGC grades are recognised on major resale platforms including eBay and TCG.SG. Current turnaround times are faster than PSA's Standard tier, and CGC's pricing structure makes it genuinely competitive for mid-value cards.
- BGS — historically more popular for sports cards but has a growing TCG presence. The sub-grade system (centering, edges, corners, surface) appeals to collectors who want detailed condition analysis before deciding whether to sell or hold.
PSA's pause is an opportunity for CGC and BGS to capture significant grading volume. Singapore collectors who have not graded with CGC before should consider trialling a batch of lower-value cards to assess quality and turnaround consistency before committing their most valuable submissions.
What Should Collectors Do Now?
- In-flight submissions: Monitor via PSA portal — no cancellation action needed, just patience.
- Cards you planned to submit at Value tier: Prioritise only the highest-value, highest-certainty pulls for Standard tier submission immediately. Hold the rest in top loaders and penny sleeves.
- New pulls from OP-16 and Chaos Rising: Set them aside — there is no urgency to submit at inflated pricing for cards where the investment thesis runs 12+ months out. The PSA backlog situation will evolve, and Value tiers may reopen before your target hold period ends.
- Consider CGC: If you need to grade now and PSA Standard is cost-prohibitive, CGC is the most credible alternative with meaningful Singapore market liquidity and resale recognition.
- Contact your submission agent: If you use a local middleman, confirm their updated pricing and intake policy before making grading decisions.
For guidance on which cards are worth grading even at higher prices, use our card grading guide for Singapore collectors.