My First CGC Submission
My First CGC Submission: Four Months of Waiting, Frustration, and Finally Getting My Cards Back
When I submitted my first cards to CGC, I was excited. Like many collectors and sellers, I carefully inspected each card under magnification, selected only the cards I believed had the highest chance of grading well, packaged everything up, and sent them off. I had no idea I was beginning a four-month journey.
## The Submission
**Submission Number:** CAR5201035460
**Invoice:** 6156391
**Service Level:** Economy
**Cards Submitted:** 3
* Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex 231/182 (Destined Rivals Special Illustration Rare)
* Mimikyu VMAX TG17/TG30
* Charizard V 153/172
At the time I submitted my cards, the estimated turnaround for my service level was approximately **20 business days**. That timeline played a major role in my decision to grade these cards.
## The Waiting Begins
After mailing the package, the submission entered the **Received** stage. Then... Nothing.
Days became weeks. Weeks became months. During that time, the estimated turnaround on CGC's website continued to increase. What started as approximately 20 business days eventually became around 45 business days. Then it increased again. Eventually, the estimate reached roughly **90 business days**.
As a customer, this was the most frustrating part of the entire experience. Not because grading takes time. I completely understand that grading thousands of cards is a massive operation. My frustration came from the lack of transparency.
## The Biggest Issue: Communication
If there is one thing I believe CGC could improve, it is communication. The status page remained unchanged for long periods of time. From a customer's perspective, it feels like your submission simply stops moving. Personally, I would love to see estimated windows for each stage.
For example:
* Estimated grading date
* Estimated encapsulation date
* Estimated quality control date
* Estimated shipping date
Even if those dates changed occasionally, they would provide customers with a realistic expectation instead of leaving them wondering whether their submission was progressing at all.
## Daily Refreshes
I'll admit it. I checked the submission almost every day. Sometimes multiple times. Every morning became the same routine: "Any update today?" Usually the answer was: "No." As someone who enjoys numbers, information, and understanding where things stand, the lack of visible progress made the wait feel even longer.
## Finally... Progress
After months of waiting, the submission finally began moving.
The status changed from:
* Received
* Scheduled for Grading
* Grading / Encapsulation / Imaging
* Quality Control / Finalized
* Shipped
Once grading was complete, everything moved much more quickly.
## The Results
Here were my final grades:
🏆 Mimikyu VMAX TG17/TG30 — **Gem Mint 10**
🏆 Charizard V 153/172 — **Gem Mint 10**
⭐ Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex 231/182 — **Mint+ 9.5**
I was extremely happy with the results. Two Gem Mint 10s and one Mint+ 9.5 confirmed that my own card screening process is working well. I've spent a lot of time inspecting cards with magnification before deciding what to submit, and these grades gave me confidence that I'm looking at the right things.
## What Happens Next?
The Mewtwo will be sold to replenish business inventory. The two Gem Mint 10 slabs will become featured chase cards in future mystery products offered through Rips & Pulls TCG. Rather than sitting in my personal collection, these cards will continue helping grow the business.
## Would I Grade Again?
Yes. But differently. The biggest lesson I learned was not about grading. It was about capital. Sending valuable cards away for several months ties up inventory that could otherwise be generating sales. Going forward, I'll be much more selective about what I submit and I'll only grade cards where the potential increase in value justifies both the grading fee and the time spent waiting.
## Final Thoughts
Despite the long wait, I'm happy with the quality of the grading itself. My biggest criticism remains the customer experience during the waiting period. Better communication and more transparency would have made the process far less stressful. Would I submit cards again? Absolutely. But now I understand what to expect, and that knowledge alone makes future submissions much easier to plan for.
Sometimes the biggest lesson isn't the grade on the label. It's everything you learn while waiting for it.
When I submitted my first cards to CGC, I was excited. Like many collectors and sellers, I carefully inspected each card under magnification, selected only the cards I believed had the highest chance of grading well, packaged everything up, and sent them off. I had no idea I was beginning a four-month journey.
## The Submission
**Submission Number:** CAR5201035460
**Invoice:** 6156391
**Service Level:** Economy
**Cards Submitted:** 3
* Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex 231/182 (Destined Rivals Special Illustration Rare)
* Mimikyu VMAX TG17/TG30
* Charizard V 153/172
At the time I submitted my cards, the estimated turnaround for my service level was approximately **20 business days**. That timeline played a major role in my decision to grade these cards.
## The Waiting Begins
After mailing the package, the submission entered the **Received** stage. Then... Nothing.
Days became weeks. Weeks became months. During that time, the estimated turnaround on CGC's website continued to increase. What started as approximately 20 business days eventually became around 45 business days. Then it increased again. Eventually, the estimate reached roughly **90 business days**.
As a customer, this was the most frustrating part of the entire experience. Not because grading takes time. I completely understand that grading thousands of cards is a massive operation. My frustration came from the lack of transparency.
## The Biggest Issue: Communication
If there is one thing I believe CGC could improve, it is communication. The status page remained unchanged for long periods of time. From a customer's perspective, it feels like your submission simply stops moving. Personally, I would love to see estimated windows for each stage.
For example:
* Estimated grading date
* Estimated encapsulation date
* Estimated quality control date
* Estimated shipping date
Even if those dates changed occasionally, they would provide customers with a realistic expectation instead of leaving them wondering whether their submission was progressing at all.
## Daily Refreshes
I'll admit it. I checked the submission almost every day. Sometimes multiple times. Every morning became the same routine: "Any update today?" Usually the answer was: "No." As someone who enjoys numbers, information, and understanding where things stand, the lack of visible progress made the wait feel even longer.
## Finally... Progress
After months of waiting, the submission finally began moving.
The status changed from:
* Received
* Scheduled for Grading
* Grading / Encapsulation / Imaging
* Quality Control / Finalized
* Shipped
Once grading was complete, everything moved much more quickly.
## The Results
Here were my final grades:
🏆 Mimikyu VMAX TG17/TG30 — **Gem Mint 10**
🏆 Charizard V 153/172 — **Gem Mint 10**
⭐ Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex 231/182 — **Mint+ 9.5**
I was extremely happy with the results. Two Gem Mint 10s and one Mint+ 9.5 confirmed that my own card screening process is working well. I've spent a lot of time inspecting cards with magnification before deciding what to submit, and these grades gave me confidence that I'm looking at the right things.
## What Happens Next?
The Mewtwo will be sold to replenish business inventory. The two Gem Mint 10 slabs will become featured chase cards in future mystery products offered through Rips & Pulls TCG. Rather than sitting in my personal collection, these cards will continue helping grow the business.
## Would I Grade Again?
Yes. But differently. The biggest lesson I learned was not about grading. It was about capital. Sending valuable cards away for several months ties up inventory that could otherwise be generating sales. Going forward, I'll be much more selective about what I submit and I'll only grade cards where the potential increase in value justifies both the grading fee and the time spent waiting.
## Final Thoughts
Despite the long wait, I'm happy with the quality of the grading itself. My biggest criticism remains the customer experience during the waiting period. Better communication and more transparency would have made the process far less stressful. Would I submit cards again? Absolutely. But now I understand what to expect, and that knowledge alone makes future submissions much easier to plan for.
Sometimes the biggest lesson isn't the grade on the label. It's everything you learn while waiting for it.
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