When submitting through a shop, you usually drop off the card locally and the shop handles some or all of the shipment to the grading company. Do not assume the details. Ask whether the shop packs cards, batches orders, uses its own grader account, buys insurance, tracks individual cards, and contacts you when the order returns. Start with grading submission shops and choose a desk that can describe the workflow clearly before you hand over anything valuable.
Your paperwork should list each card, service level, declared value, fees, insurance terms, and pickup process. Photograph the card before drop-off and keep your receipt until the card returns. The PSA submission through a local shop guide and card shipping insurance guide explain why custody records matter. A shop submission can be convenient because it combines expertise and logistics, but convenience should never replace traceability. If the answer to “where is my card right now?” would be vague, choose a different submission path.