It’s always nice to be a part of something. Maybe it’s playing hoops in your local rec league or singing in your choir. Or, perhaps using your keen eye to contribute to your school’s photography club. But something that collectors everywhere can participate in, and gain great satisfaction from, is being a member of the PSA Collectors Club.
For an annual fee, hobbyists can join the PSA Collectors Club and reap many benefits for their collecting habit. And word has spread across the hobby.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in mid-March, PSA has seen an incredible spike in people signing up. When 2019 ended, PSA Collectors Club numbers (Platinum, Gold and Silver ranks combined) showed 8,245 members. As 2020 progressed, those numbers have jumped exponentially. At the end of March, membership had grown to 8,909, but the noticeable surge in memberships over the past months alone cannot be ignored: 1,780 in May and another 2,120 in June.
It can largely be attributed to the fact that more and more people are working from home and staying at home to avoid exposure to the virus. With added time to explore their surroundings, many people are perusing their private collections and kickstarting their hobby pursuits. Of particular interest is that the majority (63 percent) of new PSA Collectors Club memberships purchased over the past 60 days consisted of the Platinum level. At $249, it’s the most expensive option, but also the most rewarding with its tangible benefits that include: 15 free grading vouchers; a one-year subscription to PSA’s monthly magazine and price guide, Sports Market Report (SMR); quarterly grading specials; value pricing on bulk orders of 50 or more cards for grading; and a copy of the recently released 248-page coffee table book, Baseball & Bubble Gum: The 1952 Topps Collection.
If you’d prefer a more affordable option than the Platinum level, you can always sign up for the $149 Gold level opportunity. It includes: six free grading vouchers; a one-year subscription to Sports Market Report (SMR); quarterly grading specials; value pricing on bulk orders of 50 or more cards; and a copy of Baseball & Bubble Gum: The 1952 Topps Collection. Or, for just $59, there’s always the Silver level alternative, which keeps you in the know with a one-year subscription to SMR, quarterly grading specials, and value pricing on bulk orders for grading.
As of July 1, 2020, PSA now has 12,932 active Collectors Club members. That reflects a 36 percent increase in membership since the start of the year, which means thousands of more grading submissions will be heading to PSA headquarters for review. The choice is yours but now seems like the right time to not only get reacquainted with your cards but to learn a whole lot more about your hobby and its exciting new discoveries.
