🇬🇧 Confirmed: PSA Landing in London (Late 2026) – The Facts

We’ve had the rumours, we’ve had the whispers at the card shows, but we’ve finally got some concrete facts on the table regarding PSA’s expansion into the UK.

As of December 2025, it is officially confirmed that PSA is planning to open a dedicated Receiving and Logistics Centre in London, with a target operational date of late 2026.

This isn't just a pop-up shop; this is a permanent infrastructure change for the UK hobby. Here is the breakdown of what is actually happening, what it means for your submissions, and how it impacts the middlemen we all rely on.

📅 The Timeline & Location

• What: A dedicated PSA logistics facility (Receiving Centre).

• Where: London.

• When: The target for full domestic postal submissions is the second half of 2026.
  
  📦 What This Actually Changes

The headline benefit is Customs and Logistics. Currently, sending cards to the US involves a fair bit of admin—commercial invoices, customs codes, and the fear of import VAT on return.

Once this centre is live in 2026, the process becomes domestic. You (or your middleman) ship to London. PSA handles the freight to California (or potentially their EU facility) and back. The friction of crossing the Atlantic is effectively removed from the user's side.

⚙️ How the "Receiving Centre" Model Works

Unlike the current system where you are practically importing/exporting goods yourself, this new facility changes the logistics entirely. Based on how PSA operates their Tokyo and Canada hubs, here is the new process:

• Step 1: Domestic Shipping: You won't be shipping to California. You will ship your cards to a London address using standard UK domestic post (Royal Mail/Special Delivery).

• Step 2: The "Conduit": The London team receives, verifies, and consolidates the submissions. They then handle the secure freight shipping to the grading facility (likely the US or the upcoming Frankfurt facility).

• Step 3: No "Surprise" Customs Bills: This is the big one. PSA typically uses a "Landed Cost" model for these centres. That means no scary FedEx invoices showing up at your door weeks later. The import/export paperwork is handled internally by them.

• Step 4: The Return: Your slabs are shipped back to London, cleared in bulk, and then posted back to you via a UK courier.

🤝 The Middleman Factor

Now, the big question we’re seeing in the DMs: "Does this mean I stop using a middleman?"

In a word: No.

While PSA is making the logistics easier, they aren’t changing the grading game. In fact, this new centre is likely going to strengthen the services offered by the UK’s major authorised dealers.

We work closely with the UK’s biggest PSA middleman, and here is why that relationship remains key even after 2026:

1. Bulk Rates: Middlemen still access pricing tiers that individual submitters can’t touch.

2. Pre-Screening & Prep: Sending a card to PSA London doesn’t guarantee a 10. You still need the expert eye for cleaning, reviewing, and pre-grading to ensure you aren't wasting fees on a 7.

3. Speed: Authorised dealers often have priority processing. With a domestic centre, dealers can likely turn submissions around even faster since the international leg is streamlined.

🏁 The Bottom Line

This is a massive win for the UK scene. It validates our market and removes the "fear factor" of international shipping.

Whether you plan to sub direct or stick with the pros to get those bulk rates, the infrastructure is finally catching up to the passion of UK collectors.