I’m in Australia and looking at getting around 10 cards graded and have been recommended Ludkins as a middle man I just have a few questions for anyone who has used the service especially in Australia firstly is having a middle man the best option (if so what is the major benefits), did you use the eu or USA option, what was the turn around time and cost in AUD and would you recommend using Ludkins thanks in advance.
Not in Australia, but I currently have a couple shipments at PSA via Ludkins and I imagine many of the advantages are the same.
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You have access to pregrading, if you choose to take advantage of it (I chose not to, since it slows the turnaround time somewhat IIRC).
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The customer service is impeccable. You have a liaison who is trustworthy, well-known, and maintains an active presence in the community (Charlie) and everyone else I’ve talked with has been great, too. Quick and thorough responses to any questions and concerns.
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Your stuff is fully insured from the moment Ludkins gets it until the moment you get your slabs back. This is the biggest thing for me. Even though I know my stuff is sitting in a PSA warehouse somewhere, the fact that I essentially don’t have to worry about taking a huge financial hit if it were to get lost or damaged at any point in the process is a big weight off my back.
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If I remember correctly, they ensure that your cards are prepared properly for submission. As someone who has never submitted cards independently, I don’t even know if there’s like a specific way you have to package your stuff, but it’s nice to not even worry about it one way or the other.
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They give you access to a live document that is updated at every step of the process, both at their end at PSA, so you can see exactly where your order stands (shipped to PSA, received by PSA, processed by PSA, etc.).
Also, at the end of the day, it’s pretty darn cheap for what you get. I honestly have no idea how they can afford to provide all the convenience and insurance they do at that price point. I’m a little biased here because I consider Charlie a personal friend, but I will never grade through any other middleman.
Finally, in regards to the turnaround times… the turnaround time from Ludkins to PSA is very quick, in my experience. Keep in mind, though, that NO middleman (Ludkins included) can expedite things on PSA’s end. I imagine your overall turnaround time won’t differ much regardless of what middleman service you use.
www.elitefourum.com/t/e4-psa-grading-service-ludkins-usa-grading/21654/1
Reach out to Charlie!