For collectors, professional grading is meant to protect a valuable card’s condition and establish its market value. Sky-B instead received devastating news after sending a collection estimated at $100,000 to PSA.
PSA reportedly messaged him recently, explaining that a FedEx truck leaving its Southern California facility had been burglarised. His shipment was among the orders affected. The company said the cards were no longer in its possession when the theft occurred, but promised to help resolve the matter.
PSA reportedly messaged him recently, with the grading company stating: “We understand how upsetting this news must be.”
A six-figure collection was in the shipment
Sky-B said the cards submitted for grading were worth approximately $100,000. In a YouTube video, he discussed several of the collection’s most valuable pieces and his expectations for their graded prices.
- A Tyrese Maxey card could be worth $1,911 with a PSA 10 grade.
- A Caleb Williams card was estimated at about $1,500 in PSA 10 condition.
He also said the grading process cost him $8,000. The collection had been insured for up to $156,000, although the eventual compensation will depend on each card’s fair market value and the Maximum Insured Value, or MIV, selected for it.
PSA said it would contact him again to begin the compensation process. The company is also working with local law enforcement and the carrier in the hope that the stolen items can be recovered.
Other collectors report missing cards
Sky-B may not be the only collector affected. Other people have claimed that rare cards from their submissions were also on the truck. One collector wrote that a Smaug the Magnificent card had been stolen.
A PSA 10 Roronoa Zoro One Piece card was also reportedly involved. Its alleged value led some observers to speculate that the stolen cards could be worth more than $1 million altogether. That figure has not been confirmed.
PSA said it had deactivated the certificates attached to the stolen items and alerted marketplace partners to watch for rare and serialised cards. The company also said its customer service team had contacted affected customers and was arranging compensation based on fair market value.
“We are aware of a theft involving a third-party shipping vehicle carrying PSA-graded items. We are working closely with law enforcement and the carrier as the investigation continues.”
PSA said it understood that the cards represented more than financial assets for many collectors and that it would continue supporting those affected while investigators worked to hold those responsible accountable.
Concerns about valuation remain
Sky-B said he was concerned that PSA might undervalue the cards, particularly because the company had not charged the full grading commission for some items. He also said other collectors appeared to have been caught up in the theft.
The final value of the missing cards remains unclear. For collectors, the incident highlights the risk involved in sending irreplaceable items away for grading: a prized collection can disappear before its owner sees the finished slabs.
“Honestly, that’s what hurts the most, outside of obviously being absolutely financially destroyed here,” Sky-B said. “I am currently out all of the money that it cost to acquire these cards, I’m out all the PSA grading fees, and I don’t have and I probably will never see any of these cards in person.”
Collectors protecting valuable hobbies can find more practical advice in RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide, while our arcade blog covers news from the wider collecting and gaming world. For those building a dedicated games room, browse arcade machines or explore useful arcade parts.
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