The Hobby Experience Newsletter WEEK 5 - Powered by The Grading Club

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Hobby Experience! We’re bringing you the latest updates on grading, special offers, product releases, and what’s happening in the UK card market, along with a preview of upcoming shows you won’t want to miss.

This week we look into:

- International Shipping Becoming Tougher
- 3rd Downs’ New UK Trading Card Shop
- Special Pokemon Grading Offer
- 2023 Topps UCC Merlin
- Upcoming card shows in September
- What products are releasing this week
- Card of the Week
- Top 3 sport card sales from last week

UK Hobby
International Shipping Becoming Tougher!

Over the past three months, I've noticed a stricter enforcement of Border Force rules, particularly regarding shipments sent abroad for grading and then re-imported once grading is complete. It’s not surprising, as HMRC has highlighted that they lose hundreds of millions annually due to people under-declaring customs duties and taxes.

It’s not just happening in the UK either; there’s a similar clampdown in the US. The US Customs and Border Protection has confirmed they are tightening controls on “De Minimis” e-commerce shipments. The US has a threshold of $800, allowing goods sold and imported into the country to enter without duties or a formal entry process (compared to £135 for items entering the UK). However, with this increased scrutiny, more packages under the $800 threshold are being stopped, and any undervaluation could result in penalties.

Why does this matter? Well, to be clear, HMRC and the US government aren’t specifically targeting trading cards. But the knock-on effect is that with increased stops, the likelihood of cards being checked rises. Many UK collectors buy, sell, and grade cards from outside the UK. If the declared value is incorrect, there’s a greater chance your package could be flagged, and if a card valued at £100 is actually worth £2,000, that could cause issues.

For example, up until three months ago, I might have received 25 packages from PSA, with only one being stopped and checked by UK Border Force. Now, it’s more like 1 in 4. And when they do stop packages, they’re not always handling them with care, leading to cards returning damaged.

This might not impact you immediately, but it’s worth keeping an eye on any upcoming changes from HMRC!

UK Hobby
3rd Downs’ New UK Trading Card Shop

Arguably one of the most beloved companies in the UK, 3rd Down has become a staple for all your supply needs. If you’ve been involved in the hobby over the past few years, you’ll know how important these guys have been for the UK card scene. Now, they’re taking another big step forward by opening a trading card shop this weekend!

The shop will be open regularly from 10am to 8pm and will offer a wide range of singles, slabs, and sealed products to cater to all types of collectors—from sports to Pokémon and other TCGs. There’s also a dedicated area where you can film content, open your cards, stream, and make trades. Expect flick-through boxes ranging from 10p to over £100, and of course, they’ll have all the supplies you need!

Pcammando Cards will also be based in the shop, providing all the sports card wax you could ask for at affordable prices.

This shop is set to be a real gem of the North. Make sure to pop by and show your love and support!

Here’s the location: 3rd Down Trading Card Shop

See you there!

Submission
Find our latest pricing and special offers below

To submit cards, head to our website www.thegradingclub.co.uk. Here, you can use our pricing calculator to see how much a submission would cost, and it will also tell you when the cards are due to be returned.

Here’s a guide on how to submit cards through the portal if you’ve never done it before.

SPECIAL OFFER

PSA Pokemon Offer - This is the lowest ever offer we've done for Pokemon. £12.50 per card! The offer will be on until 30th September. If you're submitting 30+ cards it will only be £11.50. Max declared value for each card will be £150. Great for the bulk collector. You can place orders through the website. Make sure to use the “PSA POKEMON OFFER” option.

PRODUCT REVIEW
2023/2024 Topps UCC Merlin - Hobby

The 2023-24 Topps UCC Merlin is packed with exciting content for both seasoned collectors and newcomers. Each Hobby Box contains 18 packs, with 4 cards per pack, and guarantees 1 Chrome Autograph per box. This year’s release features a 150-card base set showcasing top rookies and superstars from UEFA Club Competitions. Look out for rare rookie variations, along with highly sought-after inserts like Mystic Nights, Merlin’s Chosen One, Ageless Alchemy, and the ever-popular case hits Renaissance and Merlin’s Match Ball Signatures. The product also includes exciting chases such as Sword Cards and the Merlin’s Match Ball Signatures Jumbo Book Card, adding extra value and thrill to every pack.

In this year’s product, collectors will be chasing some big names. Notable rookies include Viktor Gyökeres and Jake Camarda, both featuring their first autographs, making them a key draw. Another major chase is Lamine Yamal SSP, one of the hottest rookies in the hobby right now, whose cards are expected to generate significant buzz on the market. For collectors of young talent, this release is one to watch closely.

To avoid paying 30-40% more on the secondary market, make sure to sign up for notifications from Topps to be alerted when the product launches. If you’re not quick enough to grab a box directly from Topps, be prepared to pay a premium as demand for this release will be high.

For the full checklist of players included, you can check it out here.

CARD SHOWS
Upcoming Card Shows In September

This is not an exhaustive list of all the card shows that may be happening. These are just the ones we’ve attended and found major value from going.

21st September - THIS WEEKEND!!!

The Midland Card Show - Run by a UK hobby legend, this show is a must if you’re in or around the Midlands. It’s a mixture of TCG and sports, and a great show to take the kids to. To find out more, contact Skcardsuk on Instagram. We’ll be here taking in submissions and offering free pre-grades on site. Tickets can be purchased below. Tickets are £6.00, and kids under 16 go free!

PRODUCT RELEASE
Sport and Non Sport product releasing this week

18th September

CARD OF THE WEEK

HIGH VALUE CARDS

Top 3 Sport Card Sales From Last Week

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Thank you for being a part of our growing community! We’re thrilled to have you with us on this exciting journey through the world of sports cards. Keep an eye out for next week’s edition, packed with more insights, tips, and offers. And as always, we’re here to help you make the most of your collection – happy collecting!