A few things
worth knowing.

Card grading evaluates a trading card’s authenticity and condition. GSM assesses centering, corners, edges, and surface, assigns a grade under its standards, and encapsulates the completed card with a certificate number.

Grading can help you preserve a card and document its condition for your collection. Resale value depends on the specific card, its grade, and buyer demand. Grading does not guarantee an increase in value.

Consider your reason for grading, the card’s condition, service and shipping costs, and its value to your collection. A photo-based AI estimate may help you prepare, but it is not a certified grade or a valuation.

GSM offers Pokémon and sports-card grading. Ask the team before submitting unusually sized cards, specialty cards, or a type not covered in the submission options.

Standard grading is $25 per card. Rush is $45 per card: Standard grading plus a $20 Rush upgrade. One existing grading credit covers one Standard card; Rush upgrades are paid separately. Prepaid packages are optional. Review the current price and amount due before payment.

No membership is required to submit cards. You can pay for your submission without buying a prepaid package.

Create a submission, pack and send your cards, and follow the submission in your GSM account. Card authenticity and condition are evaluated under GSM standards. Completed cards are encapsulated and have certificate records you can look up online.

GSM uses a 10-point grading scale to describe card condition. A final grade of 10 with 10 in all four subgrades—centering, corners, edges, and surface—earns the Pristine label. A Gem Mint 10 with a lower or missing subgrade keeps the standard label. The grading standards page explains the criteria and shows the Pristine design.

GSM evaluates cards against its published grading standards. Physical examination may reveal details that are difficult to see in photos, and another grading company may reach a different assessment. Contact GSM if you have a question about a result.

Subgrades describe individual condition areas such as centering, corners, edges, and surface. Review the information included in your grading record and ask the team about current service options before requesting additional grading details.

Authenticity review is part of GSM grading. If you have concerns about a card’s identity or possible alteration, disclose them before submission and ask the team about how your card can be assessed.

Contact GSM about the assessment and the available next steps for your card. Fees, returns, and any refund eligibility are governed by the applicable service terms; review the Terms of Service before submitting.

Contact GSM with your submission or certificate number and explain the concern. Review the existing Terms of Service for review requests. Confirm the process and any costs with the team before sending a card back.

Payment is processed securely through Stripe. Available payment methods are shown at checkout. Existing grading credits are applied automatically before the remaining amount due is calculated.

Review your cards, service, return address, and the amount due before submitting. Pay only for uncovered Standard gradings and any Rush upgrades. If your Standard submission is fully prepaid, there is nothing due today.

The pricing page shows current optional prepaid packages and their per-card prices. For a larger collection, contact the team about available options before submitting. Do not assume an additional bulk discount will apply at checkout.

Choose one service level—Standard or Rush—for each submission. If some cards need a different service, create a separate submission for those cards.

Review shows the Standard gradings covered by your credits, any uncovered gradings, any Rush upgrades, and the amount due before payment. Credits are grading coverage, not a cash wallet for store purchases.

Contact GSM promptly with your submission number. Available options depend on the order and its stage. Review the applicable Terms of Service and confirm any charges or refund eligibility with the team.

Allow time for shipping to GSM, grading, and return shipping. Ask the team for the current Standard or Rush estimate before sending your cards, especially if you have a deadline. Carrier transit is separate from grading time.

Sign in to your GSM account to review the available submission status and tracking information.

Follow the instructions for your confirmed submission. Use protective sleeves and suitable holders, pad the contents in a sturdy box, and include your submission details. Check the destination address and choose a tracked shipping service.

Review the carrier’s coverage for collectible cards, including limits, exclusions, declared value, and claims requirements. Check the shipping terms for your order and confirm any return-shipping coverage with GSM rather than assuming it is included.

Keep the tracking and shipment records, contact the carrier, and notify GSM with your submission number. The applicable carrier coverage and service terms determine the available claims process.

Completed cards are packaged for return to the address on your submission. Review the shipping method, costs, and any included package benefits applicable to your order, and check the available tracking information.

Contact GSM before submitting from outside the United States to confirm current eligibility, shipping arrangements, and any restrictions.

Use protective sleeves and holders that fit without bending or compressing the cards. Do not clean or alter them. Follow the packing instructions for your submission and include the requested card details.

Do not clean, wipe, or alter your cards before grading. Handling or attempting to remove marks can damage the surface. Submit the card in its existing condition.

Follow the holder guidance in your submission instructions. Ask GSM before sending an unusual holder or one that may be difficult to open safely. Avoid holders that compress or bend the card.

Do not attempt to remove it if doing so could damage the card. Disclose the condition and contact GSM before submission if you need guidance. Do not assume cleaning or restoration is included.

Organize the cards so they can be matched to your submission details, and follow the packing instructions for your order.

Authentication review assesses a card’s identity and signs of alteration. If you have a specific concern, provide the card details to GSM and ask about the assessment before submitting.

GSM slabs carry the card’s grade and certificate number. Use the certificate lookup to review the available grading record, and check that the card and label match it. Ask GSM about any specific slab feature you need to confirm.

A certificate lookup helps you compare the card, label, and grading record, but it should not be the only check when buying a card. Contact GSM with the certificate number and photographs if you suspect a problem.

Enter the certificate number in GSM’s verification tool and compare the returned record with the card and label. A missing record or temporary lookup error does not by itself prove a card is counterfeit. Recheck the number and contact GSM if the issue persists.

Contact GSM with the certificate number, card details, and photographs. The team can review the discrepancy and explain the appropriate next steps.

Sign in to your GSM account to view the available results for your submission. You can also use the certificate number to look up a completed grading record.

Certificate records can include card photographs where available. Review the images attached to the specific record, and contact GSM if you need clarification about what they show.

Review the card’s grade and the information available in its record. Physical condition may differ from what photos or an initial estimate suggested. Contact GSM with your concern and consult the Terms of Service for review requests.

Ask GSM before submitting if you need a particular review or handling arrangement. Confirm whether it can be accommodated rather than assuming a pre-encapsulation approval step is included.

Review the grading information available in your account and certificate record. If you need more explanation of a result, contact GSM with your submission or certificate number.

Use the viewing or download options available for your certificate record. If you need a specific document and cannot find it, contact GSM with the certificate number.

The existing Terms of Service describe review requests and applicable service conditions. Contact GSM about a concern with your card or result. Confirm the available remedy and any costs before returning a card.

Contact GSM with your certificate or submission number and explain the issue. Review the Terms of Service and confirm the process, shipping instructions, and any applicable fees before returning your card.

Opening a slab and handling a card can carry risks. Discuss the process and applicable service terms with GSM before requesting a regrade, and do not open the slab yourself.

Contact GSM with the details of your concern and refer to the applicable Terms of Service for the available review process.

Contact GSM to confirm whether the requested service is currently available and what it would involve. Review any quoted fees and shipping arrangements before returning your card.

Contact GSM before sending a card already graded by another company. Confirm current service availability, handling instructions, and any quoted fees. A grade from another company does not guarantee the same GSM grade.