Collectable Sports Cards such as baseball cards and football cards are
often sent to Professional Grading Services such as PSA or SGC.
Websites for those companies are www.psacard.com  and www.sgccard.com 
I am interested in locating at least one website company that sells
the supplies used to create the graded cards so I can grade and place
my own cards in my own holders and possibly grade cards for other
collectors. Supplies I would need are the same as used in PSA or SGC
services including the tamperproof card holders and software and
labels to create the labels for my own graded cards.

Hi, 

Like you I have these and know exactly what you are talking about (or
at least I thought I did until I started looking around for the
supplies). I did a internet project for a sports shop a couple years
back and learned all about the grading industry and who the players
were, and got to meet some of the ?non-players? as well. So I went at
this question from a ?it must be out there some where? point of view
and, found out it isn?t really, not in the places I was looking. So,
after talking on the phone with several very kind folks, I finally got
re-educated in the right direction.

First of all, what we call cases, or slabs in the collector circles,
are called clamshells, to those who actually sell or work with them.
Clamshells can be just about any thickness or design you want. You
work that out with the people you are buying them from. They are kind
of like Internet programmers in this fashion, if you ask them if they
can do it, they will say ?yes?, but they don?t keep things like this
in stock, since ?packaging? is generally an important thing to clients
such as Beckett, they don?t have the Beckett clamshells available for
you, but they can make yours.

The sealing process is called Heat Sealing, or RF Welding, or Ultra
Sonic Welding. Branson is a big name in this area, and if you get a
hold of them, they will probably know exactly what you are talking
about, and just what you need.

There are several types of plastic, PVC, non-PVC, Acrylics.. etc. You
will need to figure out what you wish to work with, and what
thickness, size, how big your label is going to be, and all of that,
and from what I hear, starting with the type of welding you are going
to use, is the best place to begin.

Branson Ultrasonics Plastic Joining 
http://www.bransonultrasonics.com/index.html

As far as label printing goes there are several programs out there for
this, including MS Word. From my experience in the past I would start
with something that is working off a database and has barcode
functionality to it. If you are going to sell these, it would be good
to be able to look the cards up on your website. Having the barcode
functionality will help you get a unique number in the database, and
allow folks to check your cards in various ways across the Internet.
This will also add some credibility to your service. But before we can
go into that, you need to figure out the design of your label,
thickness of the paper, type of finish and all of that happy stuff.
For instance, if your label is going to have a gold foil finish, then
you aren?t going to be using a laser or an ink jet printer to make
these; Laser will burn that gold right off there after the 3 sheet,
and ink jet will smear. So, you would have these printed another way,
and your software?s real concern now is exporting in the right format.

After talking with another person, Brian over at packaging.com, his
suggestion was to go to :
http://www.packexpo.com

At the bottom of the page is a 1, 2, 3 system, where you put in
exactly what you are looking for, (Hard, inflexible, clear plastic
halves, which will fit a sports or trading card, and a label with
description roughly 4 inches by 1 inch in size at the top. Label and
card to but put in before Ultra Sonic or RF Welding closes the two
halves ) or something of that nature. Brain says that this message
then goes out to 100?s of companies in the industry, and the ones, who
know what you are talking about, and can do this for you, will reply
to this message.

The site requires a login (looks like this is free, but just between
you and me, and who ever else is reading this, I would use a email
address you don?t mind being hit with a lot of spam ? just a thought).
But this looks like the fastest and easiest way to reach those that
really know what you need and have the resources to help you out.

Since the language between collector/trading industry, and the people
who make these is so different, I don?t really have search parameters
for you, and had to break down and talk to people on the phone for a
while. But if you think you need something else with this question,
don?t hesitate to use the clarification button and let me know.

Thanks, 

webadept-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by webadept-ga on 28 Jan 2004 16:15 PST

Oh.. one other thing, I have a few more phone calls out there, that
I'm waiting to hear from, and if I get anything from them which can
add to this, I'll post it for you.

thanks again, 

webadept-ga

This might interest you...
  
"With our extensive inventory of game used players equipment, we are
now offering you the customer the create your own Graded Game Used
Memorabilia Card.
If you have a card that you have always wanted graded or a card you
want regraded, why not let us add an authentic piece of game-used
memorabilia to it. We will take care of the grading with our strategic
Business Associate Beckett Grading Services."
http://ggumcard.com/create.cfm

Thanks for the info, however, this is realy not what I want. Beckett
Grading Services is another professional grading service like PSA or
SGC. There are at least a dozen profissional grading services and
numerous lesser known companies that provide these services. These
companies must get their supplies from somewhere.

Hi zymo,
  
I gave it another shot, and I discovered that there is one company
that can provide the tools for a slabbing operation. A $5000 deposit
is required, (plus additional costs and fees). I cannot give you more
specifics, but I can give you their contact details.
  
I also came across another firm that supplies a "kit" - this kit lets
you examine card defects and centering, thereby allowing you to grade
your own cards. If you feel any of this information is suitable, let
me know and I'll post an answer.
  
jackburton

Hello Jack

Thanks for your efforts but that is not really what I need. All I need
are the supplies used to place the cards in. Of primary need are the
plastic cases that baseball cards can be put in for protection and
also the card cases must contain room for the printed description and
grade of the card. A picture of a sample of what I need can be seen at
 http://www.prograding.com/productinfo.htm

I am not looking for a franchise or other business opportunity. There
are numerous companies that offer to grade cards and enclose them in
these tamper proof card protectors, there must be a supplier of these
supplies somewhere.