Thinking about sending your Pokémon, One Piece or TCG cards to PSA in the USA? Here is why grading in Germany with Platin Grading Service is faster, more predictable and often cheaper for most collectors in Europe – with no hidden costs.
Grading in the USA sounds tempting – but the total bill is decided by shipping, customs, value charges and waiting time. Here is how both services compare in a collector's everyday life:
| Criterion | PSA (USA) | PGS (Germany) |
|---|---|---|
| Location & shipping route | USA – international shipping, often via middlemen or bulk submissions | Cologne, Germany – short, insured shipping within Germany |
| Price per card | Tiered by declared card value – expensive cards cost significantly more | Fixed price from €15.95 – no matter what your card is worth |
| Value charge / upcharge | Yes If the determined card value rises, an upcharge is billed afterwards | No No value charge, no re-billing – the price is fixed before you order |
| Customs & import VAT | Yes Import duties, customs clearance and possible delays on the way back | No No customs, no import VAT – your cards never leave Germany |
| Turnaround time | Often several weeks to months – including international shipping both ways | 1–15 business days depending on service – Express, Premium Express and Same-Day available |
| Shipping risk | Long international transport routes, multiple handovers | Short, insured routes – personal drop-off in Cologne possible |
| Support & language | English-speaking, 6–9 hours time difference | German & English support, weekdays 9:00–16:00 CET |
| Status tracking | Limited insight into processing status | Live status for every card in the customer portal – from arrival to return shipping |
| Invoice | US invoice without German VAT | German invoice with VAT shown – ideal for dealers as well |
Information about third-party providers is based on publicly available sources (as of 2026) and may change – no guarantee. PSA is a trademark of Professional Sports Authenticator; PGS is not affiliated with PSA.
At PSA, the grading fee depends on the declared value of your card. If grading reveals the card is worth more than declared, an upcharge is billed afterwards – so you pay the most for your best cards.
At Platin Grading Service you pay a fixed price from €15.95 per card – whether it is worth €10 or €10,000. You know the exact cost before you order. No surprises.
Sending cards to the USA and back means customs clearance and import duties on re-import – plus waiting time at customs and paperwork if anything is declared incorrectly. Especially with valuable cards this quickly adds up.
With PGS your cards stay in Germany the whole time: no customs, no import VAT, no risk at the border – and personal drop-off in Cologne if you prefer.
USA grading means international shipping, collection points, processing and the return trip – realistically often several weeks to months in which you see neither your cards nor your money.
PGS grades in 1–15 business days depending on the service – with Express, Premium Express and Same-Day options. You follow every single card live in the customer portal, from arrival to return shipping with tracking number.
Let's be honest: if you sell high-end cards specifically on the US market or collect for an existing PSA set registry, a PSA grade can still make sense there – the brand is internationally established.
For collectors and dealers in Germany and Europe, however: a certified, independent rating with tamper-proof seal, serial number, pop report and public cert verification is available from PGS faster, more predictably and without customs or value-charge risk – with a German-speaking contact whenever you have questions.
The value charge (also upcharge) is a surcharge based on your card's value. At PSA the declared or determined card value defines the service level and fee – if your card grades higher than declared, you pay extra afterwards. Platin Grading Service has no value charge: the price is fixed before you order, regardless of card value.
No. Since your cards never leave the country when graded in Germany, there are no customs fees and no import VAT. When grading in the USA you have to factor in import duties, customs clearance and possible delays on the return shipment.
PGS grades in 1–15 business days depending on the chosen service – including Express, Premium Express and Same-Day options. With grading in the USA, international shipping and processing often take several weeks to months until the cards are back with you.
Yes. Every card is rated against clear criteria (centering, corners, edges, surface), sealed in a protective case with a tamper-proof blacklight label and individual serial number, and is publicly verifiable via our database, pop report and cert verification – building trust with buyers in Germany and the EU.
Grading starts at €15.95 per card – a fixed price with no value charge and no re-billing. Bulk discounts are available. You can find all services and prices in the shop; the grading process explains how rating works step by step.
Fixed price instead of value charge, business days instead of months, insured shipping instead of customs risk. Put your cards in the hands of a German grading service – and follow every step live.