PSA introduces new Set Registry Achievement Program

Professional Sports Authenticator (www.PSAcard.com) has unveiled a PSA Set Registry Achievement Program that draws inspiration from fantasy sports. The online program, which launched on Dec. 11, will challenge existing PSA Set Registry members as well as newcomers in the field to test their mettle in all facets of set collecting and earn points and rewards (digital medals) for their efforts.

The program is new to the Set Registry (www.PSAcard.com/SetRegistry) and is based on the concept of gamification. Simply put, it’s a way of turning something that’s not necessarily a game into a game. With that said, the intent is to reward collectors for reaching various milestones on their way toward building collections. 

“We want to challenge our Set Registry members, but also add some fun to the pursuit,” said PSA Set Registry Director B.J. Searls. “Our new Achievement program should satisfy both elements.”

PSA President Steve Sloan added: “I’m a big fan of fantasy sports, so when we devised the outline for this program, we tried to incorporate components of that into our model. Hopefully our members will recognize that.”

To kick things off, PSA is hosting a “12 Days of Collecting” promotion that ends Dec. 22, whereby one action designated for that day will earn one lucky collector a special reward. To enter, a collector needs to share a screenshot of the designated medal they earned that day.

For instance, by adding the first item to their inventory on Dec. 11, they will earn not only a “One Giant Leap” medal but also the chance to be put in the running for a 2011 Topps Update Mike Trout #US175 card (graded PSA Gem Mint 10, valued at $500), which will be awarded the following day. The promotion will follow similar suit every day with both sports and non-sports cards being awarded ranging in value from $85 all the way up to $1,300. Follow @PSAcard on social media to see which action and what prize will be selected each day. The forums at PSAcard.com will also tout the contest daily. For specifics, visit the PSA Blog at https://blog.psacard.com.

Much like diamond collectors gauge stones by the four C’s – cut, color, clarity and carat – the card collecting components that make up this program are also comprised of four C’s: completion, competition, collection and community. Actions related to each of these categories will result in the accumulation of medals and points:

The medals and points will add up over time and be stored digitally on the Set Registry dashboard. Every collectible added to the PSA Set Registry will move a collector toward a series of rewards. With every completion within the Set Registry, a collector will boost your medal count and point total. Before the start of this program, members were only rewarded when they reached the pinnacle of a set via PSA’s annual Set Registry awards. Now members will be incentivized for reaching various milestones as they move through the process.

To start, there will be 28 distinct rewards divided across the previously mentioned four collecting categories. For example, in the completion category, one of the actions is to create a set within the Registry. Once a collector has started a set and added their first item or collectible, they will receive a notification that they have earned the “Starting Line” medal and 20 points. This information will appear on their dashboard as well as on their Achievements page.

For existing PSA Set Registry members, previous collecting activity will be grandfathered into one’s personal dashboard, so online recognition starts immediately. Eventually, PSA plans to add a public leader board so that collectors can see how their achievements stack up against fellow Set Registry members. However, if a collector is a private person, fear not; this upcoming feature will be optional. PSA plans on adding tangible rewards to the program, but not until the program rolls out and is fully embraced by its Set Registry members.