Last Updated: September 10, 2026
These PSA Submission Services Terms and Conditions (the “PSA Terms”) govern the services provided by Collectors Universe (Germany) GmbH, Insterburger Straße 16, 60487 Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland (“We” or “PSA”) under the PSA, PSA/DNA Authentication Services, and related brands in connection with items submitted to PSA, including:
the authentication, grading, and encapsulation of cards, packs, tickets, and other collectibles (the “PSA Grading Services”); and
the authentication, grading, certification, and/or encapsulation of autographs and other memorabilia items (the “PSA Authentication Services”) (collectively with the PSA Grading Services, the “PSA Services”).
The PSA Services are subject to the specific terms and conditions provided below. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined below are defined in the User Agreement and incorporated here by this reference.
1. Validity, Scope of Terms, Changes to these PSA Terms
Beside the PSA Terms, the PSA Services are additionally subject to all applicable fees, prices, rates, and charges indicated by PSA on its submission forms, including the online submission form located at www.psacard.com/en-DE/startsubmission; and/or its Pricing Page, located at www.psacard.com/en-DE/services/tradingcardgrading; and the Collectors User Agreement (“User Agreement”), located at www.collectors.com/en-DE/collectorsuseragreement, incorporated herein by this reference (collectively, the “Terms”).
PRIOR TO USING ANY PSA SERVICES, YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ THE TERMS. As part of making a submission to PSA, you must read and affirmatively agree to these PSA Terms to complete an order. You agree to abide by and to be bound by these Terms and further agree that PSA is entitled to rely upon and benefit from this agreement, as part of the submission process. If you do not agree to the Terms, then you should not submit any item to PSA or otherwise request or use any PSA Services.
We do not accept your terms and conditions where they differ from ours. This holds true even if we don't explicitly object to your terms. Should you object to any of the Terms, or any subsequent modifications thereto your sole remedy is to discontinue use of the PSA Services and request return of your item(s), as applicable, in the manner provided in the Terms.
The terms posted on this page (www.psacard.com/en-DE/termsandconditions) at the time you agree to them during submission creation shall control that submission. We reserve the right to update and make changes to the Terms at any time by updating this posting or providing notice to you electronically or as otherwise permitted under applicable law. Such changes will apply to all orders placed subsequent to posting unless we specify an effective date in a related notice or the terms themselves.
2. Offer, Conclusion of Contract
A binding contract between you and PSA is formed only when PSA expressly accepts your order. The presentation of our services on the website does not constitute a binding offer. You place an order by completing and submitting the applicable PSA online submission form (or, in limited cases, paper submission form) and sending the item(s) identified on that form. By clicking the order button (“Zahlungspflichtig bestellen”) you submit a binding offer to us. Before submitting your order you can review all entries on the summary page and correct them using the "back" or edit functions of your browser or of the submission form. If PSA does not receive the item(s) identified in your submission within sixty (60) days of order creation, the order lapses, and you must create a new submission and agree to the Terms again before resubmitting. PSA will confirm the order via a separate email after the item has been received by PSA.
PSA stores the text of the contract, but it cannot be retrieved by you once the order process has been completed. Immediately after the order has been placed, PSA will send confirmation of receipt with an overview of the order data and a durable copy of these Terms (or means to obtain one) to the email address provided by you. This automatic confirmation of receipt merely documents that PSA has received your order and does not constitute acceptance of the order.
3. Eligibility for Submission, Restriction of Collectors Account.
To use the PSA Grading Services, you must (a) have a valid and active Collectors Account (“Account”) and have affirmatively agreed to the Collectors User Agreement, available here, and (b) complete in full the PSA Online Submission process, including selection of the applicable services, grading submission type and label placement (as applicable). Eligible customers may create a Collectors Account here. Only authorized dealers who have completed and signed a PSA Dealer Application and are appointed by PSA as a PSA dealer are authorized to submit items to PSA for PSA Services to be performed on behalf of individuals, subject to the terms of the PSA Dealer Agreement. Submissions on behalf of group submitters or on behalf of other dealers are expressly prohibited.
Each person may only have a single Collectors Account. If your Collectors Account is canceled, disabled, blocked, or otherwise restricted by PSA or its affiliate(s), because PSA has concrete indications of abuse of the Grading Services provided by PSA, false information regarding the submitted order, non-payment, or any other breach of the Terms, you may not submit it under another account. Before PSA cancels, disables, blocks or otherwise restricts your Collectors Account, PSA will inform you of the intended measure, state the concrete reasons for it, and give you a reasonable period of at least 14 days to comment. PSA will then decide whether to carry out the measure and will notify you of that decision. Prior information and opportunity to comment are not required where, after weighing both parties' interests, particular circumstances justify immediate action. In these cases, PSA will provide the reasons and the opportunity to comment without undue delay after the measure has been taken. A restriction of your Account does not affect orders already accepted by PSA. PSA will complete such orders, and where PSA does not complete them, PSA will return the submitted items to you at PSA's expense. Any account created by or on behalf of a person whose account was previously restricted is invalid. PSA reserves the right to refuse to perform one or more PSA Services for anyone, including refusing service to any person associated with a duplicate or otherwise invalid Collectors Account.
Each order submitted for PSA Services may only include a single service type (e.g., Grading, Crossover, Review, or Reholder) and item type (e.g., Trading Cards, Tickets, Comics, Autographs, or Packs). If a submission is received for mixed services or item types, PSA may separate the items for processing according to PSA submission requirements. Multiple orders submitted in consolidated packaging will be shipped back to you separately at completion. If your submission is not in conformity with the Terms or PSA's written submission instructions, PSA reserves the right to (a) reject and return the item submitted by you at your risk and expense to the extent that the non-conformity is attributable to you and not PSA; or (b) process the submission and correct any non-conformity (including to reflect its current service and shipping prices). If PSA processes the submission and corrects the non-conformity, PSA will calculate an updated price for the Grading Services and notify you of the revised price before commencing any services. The revised price becomes part of the contract only upon the customer's express consent. If the customer does not consent within 10 days of the notice, the order shall be deemed cancelled. PSA will then return the submitted item and refund any amounts already paid without undue delay. Return shipping costs in the event of such cancellation shall be borne by the customer only to the extent that the non-conformity is attributable to you and not PSA. With regard to any costs or risks borne by you under this paragraph, you may demonstrate that no costs or lower costs were incurred.
4. Service Levels and Maximum Insured Value.
PSA offers various estimated turnaround time and pricing combinations (“Service Levels”) depending on the type of item(s) you submit. Any Service Levels stated on the PSA website or in any applicable paper submission form are provided for the convenience of our customers only. Orders that require special handling or that have payment or shipping issues may experience delays from the published Service Levels. PSA may offer certain Service Levels exclusively to subscribers of a PSA membership program according to the terms of such program (see Section 21). The Service Level you select determines the Maximum Insured Value applicable to your submitted items, unless you indicate an alternative Maximum Insured Value. As further described in Section 11, “Maximum Insured Value” (which may be referred to as “Declared Value” on certain submission forms) refers to the value you declare for the relevant item and serves (i) as the maximum compensation you can receive for actual damage or loss sustained to each submitted collectible while in PSA’s possession subject to PSA's limitation of liability and unlimited liability pursuant to Section 23, and (ii) as the basis for PSA's internal handling and security requirements. The Maximum Insured Value constitutes a rebuttable presumption as to the value of the item; both you and PSA may demonstrate that the actual fair market value of an item is higher or lower. Except in cases of PSA’s gross negligence or intentional misconduct or where PSA’s liability cannot be limited according to Section 23 below, the Maximum Insured Value limits PSA's liability for loss of, or damage to, your item while it is in PSA's possession. PSA's liability in such cases is governed by Section 23 and by any applicable statutory provisions. Therefore, you should select a Service Level with a Maximum Insured Value greater than your estimate of the post-grading fair market value of each item in your order. For additional information regarding Maximum Insured Value, refer to the FAQ on PSA's website at https://www.psacard.com/en-DE/support/faq#maxinsuredvalue.
If PSA determines, at any point in the process, that an item you submitted has a fair market value exceeding the Maximum Insured Value of your chosen Service Level. PSA will notify you in text form, stating the data relied upon, and will offer you the Service Level whose Maximum Insured Value exceeds the fair market value so determined, together with the resulting additional fee. The higher Service Level and the additional fee become part of the contract only upon your express consent. PSA will not charge any increased fee without such consent. You may demonstrate that the fair market value of the item does not exceed the Maximum Insured Value of the Service Level you originally selected. If you do not consent or elect to demonstrate within 10 days of receiving PSA's notice, the order shall be deemed cancelled with regard to each such item described in PSA’s notice. PSA will in that case return your submitted item to you unprocessed at your cost, and you will be charged for the Service Level at which you submitted the item.
5. Turnaround Times.
Any time frame indicated by PSA for completion of Services on a submitted item, including any estimated turnaround time for a Service Level, is a non-binding guideline and not a binding date for performance. Return times are based on when your package arrives at PSA, and may be impacted at any time by PSA's submission volume, capacity, and other relevant circumstances. Items submitted in-person (e.g., at a show or drop-off event) are not guaranteed to be available for in-person pickup by the end of the show / event. PSA will endeavor to provide the PSA Services within the time frame, if any, offered as part of the PSA Services at the requested Service Level. The limitation of PSA’s liability according to Section 23 applies for any damages (direct, indirect, incidental or consequential) due to PSA's failure to grade or authenticate any items within any specific time frame. All days referenced in these terms or with the PSA Services refer to business days (unless otherwise stated).
Customers may not contact PSA regarding results before PSA returns your submitted items or makes your submission results available on the PSA website (accessible via a valid Collectors Account login). Absolutely no authentication or grading results will be given via email, phone, or our support portal. This does not restrict your right to contact PSA at any time on any other matter relating to your order, in particular in order to assert your statutory rights.
6. Eligible Items and Services.
(a) In General. PSA will provide the PSA Services on items submitted to it by you in accordance with the applicable PSA authentication, grading, and/or certification standards in effect at that time. PSA may from time to time change the item types eligible for submission, the types of service offered, and the specific elements of each PSA Service. The most up-to-date descriptions of the PSA Services currently offered may be found at www.psacard.com/en-DE/services/tradingcardgrading and, with regard to the specific PSA Grading Services available to you, the Online Submission Center flow (including tooltips and linked FAQs).
PSA will not grade items which bear evidence of trimming, recoloring, restoration, or any other form of alteration or tampering, or that are of questionable authenticity, and you agree not to knowingly submit any such items. Encapsulated items (e.g., those submitted for Review or Reholder services) in holders that are open, unsealed, or otherwise showing evidence of tampering, fraud or damage, are subject to new authentication and grading, and may be deemed inauthentic or receive a lower grade. PSA may refuse to authenticate, grade, re-encapsulate, or certify items that are critically damaged and/or too fragile, or may alternatively, before performing the services, inform you of the specific risks arising from the condition or fragility of the item and require you to confirm in writing that you nevertheless wish PSA to proceed and sign a Release of Claims Agreement.
(b) Autograph Services. PSA may not authenticate or certify autographed items consisting of (1) autographs NOT listed on the PSA Autograph Pricing Schedule; (2) autographs that are damaged and/or illegible; or (3) autographed items exceeding PSA’s weight restrictions. PSA may refuse to authenticate or certify items submitted in irregular containers such as binders or frames. Removing an item from such containers may cause damage to such item. PSA reserves the right to refuse to authenticate or certify any item where objective reasons justify the refusal, in particular where (i) the item does not meet the submission requirements set out in these Terms or in PSA's published submission instructions, or (ii) the item is damaged beyond recognition.
(c) PSA Reholder Service. Items that are currently encapsulated in a PSA holder are eligible for the Reholder Service. Generally, an eligible item submitted for Reholder will not be re-graded or examined for authenticity. Instead, the item will be inspected to determine if the PSA holder and label are authentic, to confirm the integrity of the PSA holder and label, and to ensure the information on the label remains accurate. An item must pass all elements of this inspection to be re-encapsulated at the same authenticity and grade noted on the submitted label.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding paragraph, PSA may not complete the Reholder service if: (1) the PSA case or label shows signs of unsealing or tampering, (2) the PSA case is fractured over or near the item itself, (3) the item’s current condition has changed, such that it is inconsistent with the prior grade (e.g., the item has suffered fading due to sunlight exposure since the initial grading), or (4) the card or some element thereof (e.g., a serial number or stamp) is a known subject of counterfeiting. BY SUBMITTING AN ITEM FOR THE REHOLDER SERVICE, YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTAND, AND AGREE THAT PSA MAY IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES EXAMINE THE ITEM RAW WITHOUT REGARD FOR ANY PRIOR GRADE OR FINDING OF AUTHENTICITY, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A LOWER GRADE. Consistent with Section 13(f), it is possible that a card that you submit for Reholder may ultimately be returned to you only after PSA has changed the grade/label as appropriate or removed the item from its holder (i.e., returned raw).
7. General Shipping Requirements
You agree (a) to pack and ship each item you submit to PSA in strict accordance with all applicable submission instructions and requirements (including without limitation those in your Submission Form, the PSA Shipping Guide at https://www.psacard.com/en-DE/info/shipguide, and the shipping carrier’s site (e.g., DHL’s at https://www.dhl.de/en/toolbar/footer/informationen/richtig-verpacken.html)); and (b) to be charged for non-conforming packaging of any item, order, or group of orders, as disclosed in the Shipping Guide, where the non-conforming packaging is attributable to your fault. You may demonstrate that no such expense, or a substantially lower expense, was incurred; in that case no fee, or only the lower amount, will be charged. For the avoidance of doubt, “non-conforming packaging” includes, but is not limited to, submission of items in incorrect materials (e.g., rigid “toploader” sleeves), inclusion of extraneous materials (e.g., pull tabs or stickers), submission of items in a different order than that on the Submission Form, and any other deviation from the Shipping Guide instructions published at psacard.com at the time your submit your order.
Carriers to whom you entrust your inbound items do not represent and do not act as an agent of PSA. PSA shall have no liability for (i) any damage to any item while in transit to PSA, (ii) any damage caused as a result of packing that does not strictly conform to our written specifications (found at https://www.psacard.com/en-DE/info/shipguide), including such damage occurring in the course of unpacking or (iii) any damage to or loss of extraneous objects or packaging (e.g., binders, frames, protective plastic, cardboard) included with a submitted item.
Regardless of the method of transportation you utilize for delivery of your item(s) to PSA, you bear the sole cost and risk of: (A) all loss, damage, theft, delay, or destruction in connection with the shipment and delivery of any item(s) to PSA (even if PSA provides a shipping label for shipment of the item(s)); (B) obtaining or foregoing insurance coverage on your item while in transit; and (C) the expense of the delivery and shipment of the item(s). This paragraph allocates the cost and the risk of accidental loss and accidental deterioration during transit; it does not exclude or limit any statutory claims you may have against PSA or against the carrier.
PSA bears no responsibility for any item until that specific item has been unpacked, identified, and confirmed received (e.g., by having the 'Order Prep' status in PSA's tracker); the carrier's completion of delivery shall have no effect on PSA's responsibility, even if PSA signed for the package. Notwithstanding the foregoing, PSA remains liable for damage caused by its willful misconduct or gross negligence or for which PSA’s liability cannot be restricted according to Section 23 below. For return shipment following completion of PSA Services or upon rejection of an item, you may at your option: (x) have PSA ship and insure the applicable item and charge you for such insurance, (y) obtain your own insurance, or (z) ship through your own shipping account, which means PSA will not insure your outbound package. With respect to any item insured by PSA for return shipment, the provisions of Section 11 shall apply.
8. Warranty, Return and Inspection of Submitted Items.
Your statutory warranty rights apply unless otherwise stated in these PSA Terms.
If you elect to have your items returned to you after processing, PSA will generally ship them to you via third-party carrier, signature required. PSA may alternatively offer you the option to pick up your items. If you do not retrieve your item(s) during the designated pick-up period (e.g., the duration of a show or event), PSA will ship them back to you at your expense. However, PSA will waive such charge(s) if PSA’s delay is the sole reason why you could not personally retrieve your item(s). You agree to promptly report to PSA any issues with (a) your submitted items upon receipt and (b) any anticipated items or packages not received. Except for claims under your statutory warranty rights as referenced below, you agree to waive all claims against PSA (including, but not limited to, claims under Section 11 of these Terms) arising from any issue that is not timely reported as described below. If you elect to have your item transferred to the PSA Vault, the PSA Vault Terms of Service also apply.
(a) Upon receipt of your return shipment(s), we ask that you promptly (within two weeks) and carefully inspect all submitted items, certification labels, associated certificates or letters of authentication, and other applicable submission-related documents, and report any damage, discrepancy, or errors to PSA. Your inspection should extend to documents and images which we deliver to you electronically (including by posting to the PSA website), and items which you elect to transfer to the PSA Vault. You may review card images and verify certifications for paid, processed orders (including those sent to the PSA Vault) directly on your PSA “Orders” page or at https://www.psacard.com/en-DE/cert. For any item with a label discrepancy or error, you agree to immediately notify and submit a Label Correction Request to the Customer Request Center, located here, and return, at PSA’s expense, such incorrectly described item to PSA for correction of the error(s). To the extent an error is not the result of PSA’s gross negligence or intentional misconduct, you further agree to indemnify and hold harmless PSA and its affiliates against all losses and/or claims (including attorney’s fees) caused your knowing or negligent circulation, marketing, and/or sale of a mislabeled item.
(b) If you do not receive your return packages or any items anticipated therein, you must report the missing item(s) to PSA within seventeen (17) calendar days of the original estimated date of delivery or, if no such estimated date was provided, thirty (30) calendar days from the date PSA shipped your return package. If your items are returned to PSA (including because no one was available to sign for the package at your stated mailing address), you must additionally arrange to receive your items, including by confirming your delivery address and authorizing any additional shipping attempts, including payment for the same, unless PSA was responsible for the non-delivery, within 180 days of PSA’s notice to you. If PSA cannot contact you or you refuse to arrange to receive your items after they remain in PSA’s possession more than 180 days, PSA may deem them abandoned and sell or otherwise dispose of them pursuant to Section 18 of these Terms and statutory law. You agree that PSA is not responsible for abandoned items.
9. PSA Services Disclaimer.
PSA Services (including authentication, grading and certification) by nature involve individual judgments that are subjective and require the exercise of professional opinions, which can vary from instance to instance. Therefore, PSA does not warrant to you or any third party for any opinion rendered, grade assigned, or statement made (including Grader Notes as defined in Section 24, below) with respect to an item. If you disagree with the results of the PSA Grading Services for your submitted item, you may resubmit the item for review and you will be responsible for the full grading fees and applicable shipping charges, whereas any existing warranty rights remain unaffected. Any Grader Notes PSA may provide are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not meant as exhaustive documentation of the applicable PSA Services.
10. PSA Item Holders.
If you break open any PSA holder for an item, you shall immediately return to PSA the PSA certification label and PSA holder. PSA certification labels and holders at all times shall remain the property of PSA. If you come into possession of any PSA holder or label which you have reason to believe is not completely sealed, tampered with, mislabeled, or counterfeit, you shall immediately return such PSA holder or label to PSA. You acknowledge and agree that breaking items out of PSA holders involves the risk of personal injury, including without limitation, possible eye damage, and the risk of damaging the item. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 23, PSA SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER TO YOU OR ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY FOR ANY PERSONAL INJURY OR DAMAGE TO ANY ITEM, OR OTHERWISE, RESULTING FROM THE BREAKING OPEN OF A PSA HOLDER. If any item is removed, inadvertently or intentionally, from its PSA holder, it shall be treated by you and PSA as if it were never graded by PSA, and you acknowledge that such item may no longer qualify for PSA Grading Services. Once submitted, PSA shall have no obligation to assign to a graded item the same grade previously assigned to it, and any Guarantee that may have previously applied to the item while it was in the PSA holder shall no longer apply to it.
Trust and Protection
11. Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Items.
PSA will exercise the reasonable care required in the ordinary course of business in handling items submitted for authentication, grading, review, or reholdering. However, if your item submitted to PSA for PSA Services is lost, stolen, or damaged while in the possession or control of PSA, , PSA will, in accordance with applicable statutory provisions, compensate you as provided in this Section 11 based on the degree of damage or loss, up to the fair market value of the item at the time of loss as determined by PSA standard procedures. For the avoidance of doubt, PSA’s “possession or control” does not include the period while an item is in transit to PSA.
Regardless of the fair market value of your item, the actual compensation you are eligible to receive from PSA will not exceed the Maximum Insured Value of the applicable Service Level. IN NO EVENT SHALL PSA’S TOTAL LIABILITY, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE ACTIVE OR PASSIVE NEGLIGENCE OF PSA OR OTHERWISE, EXCEED THE LESSER OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OR THE MAXIMUM INSURED VALUE OF THE ITEM. You may elect to either (a) have the item returned to you at PSA expense and get compensated for the reduction in value due to damage, or (b) have PSA retain the item and pay the maximum liability available under this section.
The fair market value shall be determined as of the moment immediately prior to the damage, loss, or theft occurring, and, in any case, by reference to recognised independent price databases for the relevant type of collectible (such as auction records or specialist market databases).
The customer’s other statutory consumer rights remain unaffected. This Section does not limit PSA's liability in cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence, and for cases where PSA’s liability is unrestricted as set out in Section 23.
You must sign PSA’s standard Release of Claims Agreement as a condition of payment. PSA reserves the right to withhold any claim settlements, credits, or other amounts payable to you if you have outstanding amounts payable to PSA, and PSA may discount such amounts payable to PSA from any amount payable to you.
PSA has and will have no liability to you for any loss or damage of any item occurring while such item is not in the custody or control of PSA, including, without limitation, after such item is transferred to the custody or control of a third party, including another facility, owner, agent, dealer, group submitter, or carrier, as identified by you, or released for return to you. PSA will not be liable or responsible for any consequential, incidental, special, or indirect damages, including, without limitation, for any intrinsic or sentimental value of an item to the extent the liability is limited according to Section 23.
If an item is reported lost or stolen by the owner or transport carrier, PSA may request a police report or carrier claim as proof of loss in order to deactivate the certification numbers displayed on our website (www.psacard.com/en-DE/cert/). If you possess a deactivated cert, please contact our Customer Care team for direction.
12. Your Representations and Authorization
By submitting an item, you warrant that (a) the information stated on the submission form and any pictures or images of the item(s), including, without limitation, the description of each item, the condition of the item, and the estimated fair market value indicated by your Service Level selection are current, truthful and accurate and (b) the item is free and clear of any liens, security interests, or encumbrances of any kind. If you are submitting any items that belong to a third party, you warrant that you are authorized to submit the items on behalf of that third party, subject to these terms. You agree to provide to PSA written confirmation of such authorization at any time upon our request.
13. Doctored and Inauthentic Items; Fraud Prevention and Investigation.
(a) You represent and warrant that any item submitted for any PSA Service is genuine and you have no knowledge and no reasonable basis to believe that the item is a “Doctored” item. You affirm your obligations with respect to Doctored items set forth in these Terms. For purposes of these Terms, “Doctor,” “Doctored” or “Doctoring” means the alteration of the appearance of an item by things such as, but not limited to, trimming, re-coloring, bleaching, power erasing, cleaning, waxing, re-backing or any other form of restoration used to enhance the appearance, condition or content of an item.
(b) You agree that you will not Doctor items or participate in any way in Doctoring items or submitting any items to PSA for the performance of any PSA Services which you know or have reason to believe have been Doctored in any way, and acknowledge that the determination as to whether an item should be authenticated or graded shall be made solely by PSA in accordance with its standards. You acknowledge that detecting Doctored items is very difficult. You acknowledge that PSA will not authenticate or grade items which, in the judgment of PSA, bear evidence of Doctoring. However, because the determination by PSA to reject such Doctored items will require a review by PSA’s personnel, you will be required to remit, as set forth herein, the standard fee for any such Doctored items that are submitted to PSA. You acknowledge that Doctoring is wrongful and inappropriate activity which is harmful to PSA, and all of your obligations in this Section 13 shall survive termination of these PSA Terms.
(c) You acknowledge that PSA will not perform any PSA Services for counterfeit or altered items, or forged autographs. However, because the determination by PSA to reject such counterfeit items will require a review by PSA’s personnel, you will be required to remit, as set forth herein, the standard fee for any such items that are submitted to PSA. Such items will not be placed in a PSA holder. Both submitted items and any autographs thereon must be authentic for PSA to perform the PSA Authentication Services or combination item grading and autograph authentication “dual service” under the PSA Grading Services. If an authentic but altered item is submitted under “dual service” with an authentic autograph, PSA may perform the PSA Services as requested but label the item “Authentic Altered” in lieu of assigning the item a grade. The final determination as to whether and how to process and encapsulate a partially inauthentic or altered item is at PSA's sole discretion.
(d) You agree that PSA would suffer substantial damages if you were to engage in Doctoring of any itemand that PSA reserves all rights and remedies available under applicable German law, including claims for damages and injunctive relief for any breach of your obligation not to Doctor items or to submit Doctored items to PSA in violation of your obligations hereunder.
(e) You acknowledge that PSA will not assign a numerical grade to, and may choose not to authenticate, any Doctored Item or item which, in the judgment of PSA, bears evidence of harsh cleaning, artificial toning, damaged surfaces, altered surfaces, foreign substances, or other similar impairments, or appears to be of questionable authenticity. However, because the determination by PSA to reject such impaired items will require a review by PSA’s personnel, PSA will not refund the standard fee for any such items that are submitted to PSA.
(f) You agree that, if PSA determines that an encapsulated item in its possession (whether for PSA Services, corrections, Guarantee claims, or any other circumstance) is inauthentic, incorrectly graded, altered, or damaged in its holder, PSA may remove the item from its holder, change the grade/label as it deems appropriate, and/or issue any applicable supplemental letters that void and clarify any previously issued letters of authenticity. PSA will not in any circumstances return an overgraded item with a label reflecting the originally assigned PSA grade to the extent that PSA has determined that the grade is incorrect. Nor will PSA return any item in a PSA holder to the extent that PSA has determined that the item is inauthentic.
(g) You acknowledge that PSA will not perform PSA Services for certain items. PSA reserves the right to reject any item submitted by you and not to perform any PSA Services for such item (i) the item does not comply with PSA's published eligibility requirements (as set out in Section 6), (ii) PSA reasonably determines that the item is counterfeit, altered, Doctored, or otherwise inauthentic, (iii) PSA reasonably determines that the submission violates the Terms, or (iv) PSA is required to refuse the service by applicable law or official order. If PSA rejects an item, PSA will notify you of the reason for rejection. If the amount paid by you for the rejected item exceeds the inspection costs actually incurred by PSA in making the determination to reject the item, PSA will refund the excess amount to you. Such items will not be placed in a PSA holder.
(h) You agree that PSA may take the following measures regarding any submitted item that (i) is in a PSA holder which has been opened or otherwise tampered with since being sealed, (ii) is in a counterfeit holder or has a tampered or counterfeit label, or (iii) is a counterfeit item. You further agree to immediately notify PSA if you have reason to believe any such item(s) are included with your submission. If such item is in a PSA holder which is counterfeit or has been tampered, PSA may remove such item from the counterfeit or compromised holder, confiscate the holder, and return the item to you (and such item shall not be subject to the Guarantee (as defined above)). If such an item is counterfeit, PSA may (i) remove such item from the PSA holder and (ii) take any action with respect to such item required or authorised by applicable law, including, but not limited to, retaining such item to the extent required by applicable law or official order and, where required by law, turning it over to the appropriate authorities. Where PSA considers that retention or surrender of a counterfeit item may be required by applicable law or official order, PSA will notify you promptly.
(i) You authorize PSA to disclose your identifying information, records of your activities, and other personal information (“Your Information”) to governmental authorities if this is required by law and only to the extent required for that specific legal purpose. You further acknowledge that PSA may disclose Your Information to third parties only where PSA is expressly permitted or required to do so by a specific and applicable statutory provision or binding official order. Any disclosure of Your Information to third parties is subject to the requirements of applicable data protection law and will be limited to what is strictly necessary for the lawful purpose pursued. Examples of fraud include, but are not limited to, engaging in or supporting counterfeiting, tampering, sheet cutting, card doctoring and mislabeling.
(j) PSA’s performance of the Services and its obligations under these Terms is subject to all applicable legal requirements. You agree that PSA shall not be liable to you for suspending, delaying, or canceling any PSA Service as necessary to comply with all valid legal requirements, including the terms of any judicial or administrative order regarding an item in its possession.
(k) PSA may apply the provisions of this Section 13 whenever it ascertains that you or your item is subject to them, including after your item has been encapsulated and returned to you. Notwithstanding any other remedy under these Terms, PSA may deactivate the certification label on any previously graded or authenticated item or holder it believes to be Doctored, counterfeit, tampered with, cleaned, altered, or otherwise handled in violation of the Terms. Before deactivating a certification number, PSA will: (a) notify the registered holder of the certification (or, if not identifiable, the person identifiable as the current holder from PSA's records) of the intended deactivation and the grounds therefor; (b) give that person a period of no less than 14 days to submit comments; and (c) take those comments into account before making its decision. The right of the affected person to challenge the deactivation decision before the competent courts remains unaffected. In cases of immediate and verifiable risk of fraud (e.g., an active law enforcement hold), PSA may temporarily suspend a certification number without prior notice.
14. PSA Authenticity and Grade Guarantee.
The PSA Authenticity and Grade Guarantee (“Guarantee”) applies to a PSA authenticated and graded card that had an active PSA certification number at the time it was purchased by the person submitting the Guarantee request. The Guarantee does not apply to, and cannot be utilized by, the original submitter (or the original submitter’s agents, employees, affiliates or representatives, including a group submitter or dealer) of the graded card. PSA reserves the right to investigate the relationship between the person making the PSA Guarantee request and the original submitter. The terms and conditions that govern the Guarantee are further set forth in the Terms and Conditions of the PSA Authenticity and Grade Guarantee.
15. PSA Certification Verification Services.
PSA provides access to the PSA Cert Verification Database for the sole purpose of confirming data regarding authenticated and graded items with a particular certification number. You acknowledge and agree that verification of certification numbers via the Database does not eliminate risk. PSA does not view authenticated items listed online and does not warrant or guarantee that any such authenticated item is, in fact, a genuine PSA authenticated item. PSA encourages the purchase of PSA verified collectibles from trustworthy sources.
Payments
16. Payment Terms; Cancellations and Refunds.
You agree upon submission of an item to pay all fees, charges, and taxes due and payable for the requested PSA Services. All amounts due must be paid before PSA finishes processing your order, reveals the grades of items in your order, or returns your items to you. All fees and charges are payable as set out in these Terms. Your statutory right of withdrawal (Widerrufsrecht) as a consumer under distance-selling law is set out in full in Section 22 of these Terms and in the Widerrufsbelehrung provided to you before you place your order. All fees and charges are applicable regardless of outcome. In the event PSA rejects an item you submitted for PSA Services for any reason, PSA has no obligation to cancel any amounts payable at submission (or refund any amounts paid), as the determination to reject an item requires a review by PSA's graders and authenticators and use of their professional opinion. However, if the amount paid exceeds the costs incurred in making the decision to reject the item, the customer will be refunded the excess amount. Occasionally, personnel providing the applicable services for autograph or photograph submissions cannot express an opinion on an item. Such items will be designated as “Inconclusive” and PSA’s will refund to you the full amount of the authentication price less expenses for preparation, release and delivery of the item(s) which are set out in PSA's Fee Schedule at here. You may demonstrate that such expenses were not incurred or were lower than stated.
In addition to your statutory right of withdrawal, items are eligible for cancellation subject to the following procedure. You may request cancellation of PSA Services by contacting PSA in writing and requesting the return of your submitted item(s). Upon receipt of your request for cancellation of eligible items, and subject to PSA’s then-current operating procedures, we will (a) cancel the applicable PSA Services and prepare to (i) release your item(s) to you or your designated agent or representative or (ii) arrange for delivery of the item(s) via insured delivery to a physical delivery address you specify at your expense, and (b) cancel any amounts payable (or refund any amounts paid) for the PSA Services. IMPORTANT: Return of the items you submitted with a canceled order is conditioned on your payment to PSA for expenses incurred for preparation, release, and delivery (including any processing, shipping and handling charges). Unless a statutory right applies, PSA Services for a particular item cannot be cancelled once a PSA grader or authenticator has commenced review of that item.
If you cause payment for PSA Services to be rescinded after PSA has processed your items and returned them to you, PSA will consider such items unpaid and may at its discretion deactivate their certifications until you remit payment.
17. Payment Authorization.
You represent and warrant that you are the cardholder or authorized user of the payment method(s) you provide, and you authorize PSA to (a) charge the payment method for the Final Amount Due (defined below) in connection with your order and (b) store and use the payment method and certain related information solely for the purpose of processing the current order and any charges directly arising from it. You further authorize PSA to charge the payment method for any additional service you may select during the PSA Online Submission process or otherwise via the PSA website or applicable paper forms, including, without limitation, PSA Vault services. You understand that the Final Amount Due may be collected via multiple charges, and you authorize PSA to charge the payment method one or more times to collect the full Final Amount Due. You further acknowledge and agree that PSA may validate any payment method you provide to PSA in connection with the Services to ensure that the payment method is valid and that you have sufficient funds to complete the transaction. You understand that your card issuer may hold the authorized amount for a period of time determined by your card issuer.
The “Final Amount Due” is equal to the price of the Service Level you select multiplied by the number of items properly submitted under such Service Level (subject to adjustments as indicated in this paragraph), plus any shipping fees, taxes, customs, duties, related processing fees, and other applicable fees disclosed under these Terms or during order submission. If at any time PSA determines that the value of any submitted item exceeds the Maximum Insured Value for the Service Level you selected, PSA may adjust the Final Amount Due to reflect the higher price of the Service Level appropriate for each such item (see also Section 4, above). YOU AUTHORIZE PSA TO CHARGE THE FINAL AMOUNT DUE TO YOUR PAYMENT METHOD UPON PRIOR NOTICE OF PSA OR A LESSER AMOUNT DISCLOSED TO YOU DURING ORDER SUBMISSION. You further authorize PSA to apply one or more separate charge(s) to your payment method for taxes, duties, and similar fees incurred by PSA in relation to your order. If these separate charges were not included in the Final Amount Due, PSA will notify you of the exact amount prior to charging you. All charges will be made in Euro (€).
You agree that the authorization provided by you for PSA to store and use the payment method and related information you provide for future orders and charges will remain in effect until canceled by you. You may cancel such authorization by any of the following means, each of which is equally effective: (a) in the payment methods screen in the PSA Online Submission process, for PSA Grading Services in particular, or by contacting PSA via phone or (c) written message using the contact information provided in Section 30 below, for all types of PSA Services at any time. No particular form, channel, or portal is required for a cancellation to take effect. These contact methods are also suitable for any other payment- or transaction-related questions you may have.
18. Delinquent Payments and PSA’s Security Interest.
You agree (a) to pay to PSA all pricing and other charges when due; (b) that any delinquent balances shall accrue interest at the rate of 5 percentage points above the applicable base interest rate per year until paid (or, if less, the maximum interest rate permitted by applicable law); and (c) that PSA shall have a security interest in the items submitted (the “Property”), to secure your payment obligations hereunder. PSA's security interest secures only the fees and charges due and payable for the PSA Services rendered with respect to the submitted items. Any realisation of the security interest shall be carried out in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions on the enforcement of pledges, including the required prior notice and waiting periods.
Related Services
19. Supplemental Services on Submitted Items.
PSA may from time to time offer, directly or indirectly, additional services to be performed on your submitted item(s) while in PSA’s possession, which may include, without limitation, comic or magazine pressing (each, a “Supplemental Service”). Such Supplemental Services are not guaranteed to enhance the condition or value of a submitted item, and may result in a lower grade than the item would have otherwise received. By selecting any such Supplemental Service, you assume the specific risks of the service as described below and in the relevant service description.
(a) Pressing Services Disclaimer and Release. PSA may offer you the option to have your submitted comic book, magazine, or other printed item cleaned and pressed (“Pressing Services”). Due to the fragile nature or condition of paper collectibles, physical manipulation through pressing can sometimes be unpredictable, which in rare cases may result in new defects, including but not limited to spine splits, popped staples, paper chipping, and inadvertent crease(s).
(b) Autograph Series Disclaimer. PSA may from time to time offer you the option of having your submitted item autographed while in PSA’s possession (“Autograph Series Services”). PSA will endeavor to obtain signatures and/or encapsulate items within a reasonable time frame, estimated as the number of business days indicated for the Autograph Series Service Level from the date the autographs are signed. However, PSA cannot ensure to obtain a signature and/or encapsulate an item within any time frame. By selecting an Autograph Series Service Level, you agree that PSA will perform the requested authentication and/or grading service(s) only if your item is signed while submitted. If the signor that is listed on the applicable Service Level is unable to attend their signing session, or for any other reason does not sign any item you submit, PSA will cancel the requested services and, subject to the provisions of these Terms, return your items to you.
20. PSA Vault Services.
If you elect at any time to have your item transferred to the PSA Vault, you acknowledge and agree that the PSA Vault Services are subject to the PSA Vault Terms of Service.
21. PSA Memberships.
PSA may offer one or more membership program(s) subject to additional terms. (E.g., PSA Collectors Club is offered subject to the PSA Collectors Club Membership Terms and Conditions). PSA may for future orders amend or cancel any special offers, discounts, and/or benefits (“Membership Benefits”) relating to the PSA Services available to membership subscribers, or make Membership Benefits available to non-members, at any time, without prior notice to you. If you violate the terms of a PSA membership program, PSA may withdraw Membership Benefits applicable to your submission and, at its discretion, return your submission without cancellation of grading fees due.
Legal
22. Right of withdrawal for consumers
If you are a consumer, you have a right of withdrawal. Further information on the right of withdrawal can be found in the following withdrawal policy.
Withdrawal policy- Right of withdrawal
- You have the right to withdraw from this contract within fourteen days without giving any reason.
- The withdrawal period is fourteen days
- (1) in the case of a purchase contract, from the day on which you or a third party named by you, who is not the carrier, took possession of the goods;
- (2) in the case of a contract for several goods that you have ordered as part of a single order and that are delivered separately, from the day on which you or a third party designated by you, who is not the carrier, took possession of the last goods;
- To exercise your right of withdrawal, you must inform us (Collectors Universe (Germany) GmbH, Insterburger Straße 16, 60487 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, e-mail: via https://www.psacard.com/en-DE/support) of your decision to withdraw from this contract by means of a clear statement (e.g., a letter sent by post or e-mail). You can use the sample withdrawal form at the end of these PSA Terms for this purpose, but this is not mandatory.
- To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your notification of exercising your right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period expires.
- If you withdraw from this contract, we shall reimburse you for all payments we have received from you, including delivery costs (with the exception of additional costs resulting from your choice of a type of delivery other than the cheapest standard delivery offered by us), without delay and at the latest within fourteen days of the day on which we receive notification of your withdrawal from this contract. We will use the same means of payment for this refund as you used for the original transaction, unless expressly agreed otherwise with you; in no event will you be charged for this refund. We may refuse to refund until we have received the goods back or until you have provided proof that you have returned the goods, whichever is earlier.
- If you have requested that PSA Services begin during the cancellation period, you must pay us a reasonable amount corresponding to the proportion of services already provided up to the time you notify us of your exercise of the right of cancellation with respect to this contract, compared to the total scope of services provided for in the contract. This claim for compensation applies only if you expressly agreed, prior to the start of service provision, that we may begin providing the PSA Services before the expiration of the cancellation period, and if you were previously duly informed of this legal consequence.
23. Limitation of Liability
PSA shall be liable without limitation for any damage caused by intent or gross negligence.
In the event of a slightly negligent breach of a primary obligation or a secondary obligation, the breach of which jeopardizes the achievement of the purpose of the contract or the fulfillment of which is essential for the proper execution of the contract and on the observance of which you could rely (hereinafter "essential secondary obligation"), PSA‘s liability shall be limited to damages that were foreseeable at the time of conclusion of the contract and are typical for this type of contract. The foreseeable damage is the Maximum Insured Value applicable to your submitted item(s).
PSA shall not be liable for slightly negligent breaches of a contractual secondary obligation that is not an essential secondary obligation.
The aforementioned exclusions and limitations of liability do not apply in the case of fraudulent concealment of defects, the assumption of a quality and/or durability guarantee, liability for product defects based on statutory product liability law, data protection violations, or injury to life, limb, or health.
This does not imply a change in the burden of proof to your disadvantage.
Insofar as PSA‘s liability is excluded or limited, this also applies to the personal liability of PSA‘S representatives, employees, and vicarious agents.
PSA shall have no liability whatsoever to you, or any third party for whom you may be acting, for any damage to any item, or otherwise, resulting from the breaking open of a PSA holder, or for any damage to any item that occurred while the item was not in the custody or control of PSA.
24. Data and Image Usage
In the ordinary course of its operations, PSA (a) compiles data regarding each item submitted for authentication and/or grading, including, but not limited to, data relating to the identity, production, condition and grade of the item (the “Data”); (b) may take, have taken, or otherwise collect one or more digital or other types of photographs, images, videos of each such item (collectively, the “Images”); and/or (c) may provide you access to notes that describe the grade or condition of such item(s), which may include, without limitation, text and modified versions of the Images (collectively, the “Grader Notes” and together with the Data and Images, the “Submission Content”). In consideration for the PSA Services being provided by PSA, you, on your own behalf and that of any third party for whom you may be acting, hereby authorize PSA (a) to compile and maintain such Data with respect to each item submitted hereunder for authentication and/or grading; and (b) to take, cause to be taken, or otherwise collect one or more Images of each such item.
Where any element of the Submission Content constitutes a work protected by copyright or related rights under applicable law (including, without limitation, photographs taken by you or on your behalf of your submitted items), you hereby grant to PSA, to the extent of your rights therein, an non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide licence (with the right to sub-license solely within the scope of the purposes set out below) to use such Submission Content exclusively for the following specifically designated purposes: (i) performance of the PSA Services; (ii) operation and maintenance of the certification database; and (iii) PSA's own advertising and product documentation (including, but not limited to, publication and republication in or on any media in connection with the promotion of the PSA Services). No use of the Submission Content outside these purposes is authorised by this licence. The licence does not extend to any use that is unrelated to the PSA Services or to purposes other than those listed in (i) to (iii) above.
The moral rights of any author in the Submission Content (including, without limitation, the right to be identified as author and the right of integrity pursuant to §§ 12 ff. of the Urheberrechtsgesetz (UrhG)) remain fully with the author and are not affected by this licence. Nothing in this Section 24 constitutes a transfer of copyright or any other intellectual property right; German law does not permit the transfer of copyright (§ 29 Abs. 1 UrhG) and this Section is to be construed accordingly. Notwithstanding the foregoing, PSA grants Customer a limited, revocable license to use the Grader Notes for personal use, and to display, publish, or restate the Grader Notes (including an image thereof) for an item alongside a statement of the grade or image of the PSA certification label for that item, so long as Customer (x) represents the content of the Grader Notes in a complete and accurate manner and (y) clearly identifies the specific item to which such Grader Notes apply. Otherwise, Customer may not, whether or not through a third party, directly or indirectly publish, publicly display, recreate, sublicense, or create derivative works from any of the Grader Notes in any manner whatsoever without the prior written consent of PSA.
25. Indemnification.
In the event of a breach of a contractual obligation by the customer, the customer shall be liable to PSA in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions.
26. Governing Law
The PSA Services are delivered and the Terms are subject to German law, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. If you have placed the order as a consumer and at the time of placing the order you habitual residence is in another EU member state, the application of the mandatory legal provisions of that country will remain unaffected by the choice of law in sentence 1.
27. Complaints handling, Place of Jurisdiction, Alternative Dispute Resolution under the Consumer Dispute Resolution Act
If you have a complaint about our services, please contact us at https://www.psacard.com/en-DE/support or at the postal address in Section 30. We will confirm receipt without undue delay and inform you of the outcome, as a rule within two weeks.
Please note that we are neither willing nor obligated to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board.
If you are a merchant (Kaufmann) as defined in the German Commercial Code (HGB), a legal entity under public law or a special fund under public law, the exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from and in connection with the contractual relationship, and the place of performance for payment, delivery and performance will be at the registered office of PSA in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. This also applies if you have no general place of jurisdiction in Germany or if you move your place of residence or habitual abode to a place outside Germany after conclusion of the contract, or if your domicile or general place of residence is not known at the time the action is brought. However, PSA can also sue at your registered office.
If you are a consumer within the meaning of Section 13 of the German Civil Code (BGB) or another applicable law, the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts at PSA's registered office in Frankfurt am Main, Germany is additionally agreed for actions brought by you against PSA. If you are a consumers with habitual residence in the EU you may choose to assert claims in connection with these Terms both in Frankfurt am Main and in the EU member state in which you as consumer resides. PSA may bring actions against you only before the courts of the EU member state in whose territory you are domiciled.
28. Force Majeure.
PSA shall not be considered liable or responsible to you or deemed to have defaulted or breach the Terms and PSA shall be entitled to an extension of the date of any performance required of PSA under the Terms if the failure of PSA to perform was because of a Force Majeure Event. “Force Majeure Event” shall be an act of God, riot, war, civil unrest, hostile fire, flood, earthquake, interruption of services (including without limitation transportation and utility services) or other cause beyond PSA’s reasonable control, fault and anticipation (including without limitation, any mechanical, electronic, or communications failure), or any inability due to the aforementioned causes to obtain necessary labor, materials, facilities or products.
29. Miscellaneous.
The confirmed order, the terms and provisions in the Terms and the User Agreement (and other terms referenced herein, as applicable), constitute the agreement of PSA and you regarding the PSA Services identified herein. If it is determined that there are any inconsistencies between the Terms and the User Agreement, then the documents will control in this order of precedence: the User Agreement and then these Terms.
30. Contact Us.
If you have any questions about the Terms, the User Agreement, or the PSA Services, contact us at https://www.psacard.com/en-DE/support for written support.
Germany
Collectors Universe (Germany) GmbH
Insterburger Straße 16
60487 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
Annex 1: Sample withdrawal form
(If you wish to withdraw from the contract, please fill out this form and return it.)
To
Collectors Universe (Germany) GmbH,
Insterburger Straße 16,
60487 Frankfurt am Main,
Germany
Email: Submit a ticket at https://www.psacard.com/en-DE/support.
I/we (*) hereby withdraw from the contract concluded by me/us (*) for the purchase of the following goods (*) /the provision of the following service (*):
Ordered on (*): Received on (*):
Name of consumer(s):
Address of the consumer(s):
Date:
(*) Delete as applicable