Grading giant PSA issued a survey to customers Wednesday, providing a glimpse into a company roadmap that could include a number of new features.
The most notable of the survey questions covered a variety of potential add-ons to PSA’s card grading service, including card cleaning for an additional $2.99 per card, grader notes for $7.99 per card, PSA-branded sleeves for $1.99 per card and premium image scans for an additional $4.99 per card.
Of those add-ons, the card cleaning service and grader notes are likely of the most interest to many collectors.
Card cleaning in particular has been a controversial topic within the card community, with many collectors disagreeing on what is considered basic cleaning and what is considered a major alteration. The potential card cleaning add-on from PSA describes “cleaning and light buffing service to remove fingerprints, smudges, dust, and reduce minor surface scratches prior to grading.”
1. Huge customer survey was sent out by @PSAcard today with a ton of insight into potential features.
— Ben Burrows (@BenMBurrows) May 29, 2025
Most notable was an attempt to gauge interest in add-ons such as card cleaning (+$2.99), grader notes (+$7.99), PSA-branded sleeves (+$1.99) and premium images (+$4.99). pic.twitter.com/qOaVjbUeJQ
PSA president Ryan Hoge later clarified in a statement on social media and in comments to cllct that any cleaning by PSA would only involve "wiping" the card and not applying any foreign substance.
The removal of elements such as fingerprints, smudges and dust is largely considered acceptable, while attempts to conceal or remove scratches is often considered closer to the restoration or an alteration of the card.
In March 2024, Hoge announced the company would consider cards altered if it detected any “chemicals or foreign substances” have been added to the card’s surface to improve its appearance or condition.
That announcement came amid controversy over the rising popularity of products such as Kurt’s Card Care, which is billed as a kit of products that collectors can use to improve the condition of their cards and receive better grades.
A month later, PSA deactivated a submission that included a Jackie Robinson card that had been soaked in Kurt’s Card Care spray.
The description of PSA’s service alludes to a process that likely includes the use of a basic microfiber cloth to clean the surface of the card rather than the use of any foreign substance.
In June 2024, PSA added grader notes to select submissions in an attempt to provide greater transparency during the grading process.
In an interview with cllct, Hoge said the addition of grader notes was “the right thing to do.”
Currently included for cards submitted at the Express service level and above, a potential add-on for grader notes would be a long-awaited expansion of the program.
Elsewhere in the survey, the company attempted to gauge interest in a PSA Submission Kit, which would be mailed to the customer and include all the materials needed to submit cards for grading for $24.99. The submission and shipping process has long been one of the biggest hurdles for new submitters, with many intimidated by the process in some capacity.
PSA has recently attempted to reach those collectors specifically by holding submission events at shows and local card shops where collectors can bring cards to submit directly to a PSA employee in person.
Another survey question hinted at the expansion of submission centers through local retail stores such as Lids or Dick’s Sporting Goods. PSA announced a partnership with GameStop in October 2024 that allows customers to submit cards for grading through the video game retailer — in May, GameStop announced that 1 millions cards had been graded through the partnership.
A partnership with Dick’s Sporting Goods could be a fit for PSA after the retailer purchased the Paul Skenes Rookie Debut Patch Autograph 1/1 for $1.11 million in March. The company placed the card on display at a Pittsburgh-area store as part of a push into the collectibles space.
PSA announced last week it would be opening its first retail location Friday inside the new Burbank Sportscards location in California.
PSA also requested feedback on a number of new potential features, including Custom Wish Lists and a Card Portfolio. A potential PSA Alerts feature would allow customers to flag specific cards to receive a notification if they are submitted to be graded or vaulted with the company in the future — Hoge told cllct in December that the company could play “matchmaker” with customers and incoming card submissions following the introduction of its new “Offers” program.
Other potential features include PSA Scan and Sell, which could allow customers to scan graded cards at home to see if live offers exist across the PSA network of dealers and buyers. The PSA Shop feature could allow collectors to “browse and make offers on cards currently being graded by PSA or in the PSA Vault.”
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture. He was previously the Collectibles Editor at Sports Illustrated. You can follow him on X and Instagram @benmburrows.