Card Collector’s $100,000 Collection Faces Setback After PSA Update

The surge in card collecting, from Pokémon to sports cards, has driven many enthusiasts to seek official grading from third-party services. Typically, the worst news a collector might receive is that their cherished card isn’t in the pristine condition they believed. However, for Sky-B, a recent communication from a grading service brought far more distressing news.

Sky-B received an email informing him that a FedEx truck leaving the grading facility in Southern California had been robbed, and his order was among those affected. The message expressed understanding of the situation’s upsetting nature, stating, “While your items were not in our possession at the time of the burglary, we take our role in helping secure your items seriously and will work with you to resolve this situation as best we can.”

The email continued, “We will compensate you for the items from your order that were involved, based on fair market value up to the Maximum Insured Value (MIV) you selected for each item.” Sky-B took to social media to express his hope that the situation would be handled professionally.

Sky-B’s collection submitted for grading was valued at $100,000. He shared a YouTube video detailing the incident and highlighting some of the high-value cards, including a Tyrese Maxey projected to be worth $1,911 and a Caleb Williams valued at around $1,500. He mentioned spending $8,000 on grading fees and insuring the collection for up to $156,000.

The grading service reiterated its commitment to compensating affected customers according to their terms, while also coordinating with local law enforcement to attempt recovery of the stolen items.

Other collectors have begun to come forward, claiming their rare cards were also part of the theft. One Reddit user reported that their Smaug The Magnificent card was stolen, while a PSA 10 Zoro One Piece card was also mentioned, leading to speculation that the total value of the stolen items could exceed $1 million.

The heist appears to be more significant than initially thought. One card alone, a c07 Roronoa Zoro PSA 10 with a valuation of $500,000, was being transported in that truck, suggesting the total value of the haul could be in the millions.

A representative from the grading service confirmed awareness of the theft and stated they are collaborating with law enforcement and the shipping company as the investigation unfolds. They have deactivated certificates for the stolen items and alerted marketplace partners to be vigilant for rare and serialized cards. The customer service team has reached out to those affected to arrange compensation based on fair market value.

The representative acknowledged the emotional toll on collectors, many of whom view these cards as more than just financial assets. They emphasized their commitment to supporting affected individuals and taking the incident seriously.

Sky-B expressed concern that the grading service might undervalue his cards, especially since they didn’t charge him the full commission for grading some of them. The total value of the stolen cards remains uncertain, but for collectors, the nightmare scenario of losing a prized collection during transit has become a harsh reality.

“Honestly, that’s what hurts the most, outside of obviously being absolutely financially destroyed here,” Sky-B lamented. “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.”