Got Questions?

Card grading is a professional service that authenticates and evaluates the condition of trading cards. We assess factors like centering, corners, edges, and surface quality, then seal the card in a tamper-evident case with a grade label. This protects your card and establishes its condition for collectors and buyers.

Grading protects your valuable cards from damage, authenticates them to prevent counterfeits, and establishes their condition with an objective grade. Graded cards typically sell for 2-10x more than raw cards, depending on the grade. Plus, graded cards are easier to sell and more attractive to serious collectors.

Generally, grade cards worth $20+ in raw condition, or cards you believe could grade 8 or higher. Consider grading rookie cards, vintage cards, rare inserts, autographed cards, or cards with sentimental value. Our AI Grade Estimator can help you assess whether grading makes financial sense.

Yes! We grade sports cards (baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer), TCG cards (Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, etc.), and other collectible cards. If it fits in a standard card slab, we can grade it.

Our Standard service is $20 per card (30-45 days), Express is $40 per card (10-15 days), and Rush is $75 per card (3-5 days). We offer bulk discounts: 10% off 25+ cards, 15% off 50+ cards, and 20% off 100+ cards. No membership fees—ever.

Absolutely not. Unlike other grading companies, we don't charge annual membership fees. Pay only for the cards you submit—nothing more.

Every card is examined by two independent graders who assess centering, corners, edges, and surface quality. If grades differ by more than 0.5 points, a third grader reviews it. We document any defects, photograph the card, and seal it in a tamper-evident slab with a unique certificate number.

We use the industry-standard 10-point scale: 1 (Poor) to 10 (Gem Mint). Grades are assigned in whole numbers (e.g., 8, 9, 10). For an additional fee, we offer subgrades that break down centering, corners, edges, and surface scores.

Our two-grader system ensures consistency. Every card is graded independently, and discrepancies trigger a third review. Our graders have 10+ years of experience and undergo continuous training to maintain accuracy.

Subgrades provide detailed scores (1-10) for centering, corners, edges, and surface. This helps collectors understand exactly why a card received its overall grade. Subgrades cost an additional $10 per card.

Yes! Authentication is included in every grading service. We check for counterfeits, reprints, alterations, and trimming. If we detect authenticity issues, we'll contact you before proceeding.

If we determine a card is counterfeit, altered, or trimmed, we'll notify you immediately and not slab it. You'll receive a full refund minus a $5 authentication fee. We take card authenticity very seriously.

Yes. If you believe a card was graded incorrectly, you can request a regrade within 30 days of receiving it. We'll crack the slab and have two different graders review it. If the new grade is 0.5+ points higher, the regrade is free. Otherwise, standard grading fees apply.

We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover), debit cards, and PayPal. Payment is processed securely through Stripe when you submit your order.

Payment is due when you submit your order online. This reserves your spot in our grading queue and covers the grading, authentication, encapsulation, and return shipping.

Yes! 10% off orders of 25-49 cards, 15% off 50-99 cards, and 20% off 100+ cards. Discounts apply automatically at checkout.

Absolutely. You can mix Standard, Express, and Rush cards in a single submission. Each service level will be processed according to its turnaround time.

No. The price you see is the price you pay. Return shipping and insurance are included. Optional add-ons (subgrades, crossovers, autograph verification) are clearly listed.

You can cancel before we receive your cards for a full refund. Once we've received your cards, cancellations are subject to a 10% processing fee. After grading has started, orders cannot be canceled.

Standard: 30-45 days, Express: 10-15 days, Rush: 3-5 days. Turnaround time starts when we receive your cards, not when you ship them. We provide tracking updates throughout the process.

Yes! You'll receive email updates at every stage: received, in grading, graded, shipped back. You can also log in to your account to see real-time status updates.

Pack cards in penny sleeves, top loaders, and secure packaging. Ship via USPS, UPS, or FedEx with tracking and insurance. We provide a detailed packing guide and shipping label generator in your submission dashboard.

Absolutely. Always insure your shipment for the total declared value of your cards. This protects you if the package is lost or damaged in transit to us. Return shipping from us is automatically insured.

If your insured shipment to us is lost, file a claim with the carrier. We'll help with any documentation needed. If your return shipment from us is lost (rare), we'll work with the carrier to resolve it—return shipping is insured by us.

We ship graded cards via USPS Priority Mail with full insurance and tracking. Cards are carefully packaged in bubble mailers or boxes depending on quantity. Return shipping is included in your grading fee.

Currently, we only accept submissions from within the United States. International grading services are planned for 2025.

Keep cards in penny sleeves and top loaders. Do not remove them—we'll handle that in our controlled environment. Do not clean or alter cards in any way. Include a submission form with each card's details.

No! Do not clean, wipe, or touch the surface of your cards. Even gentle cleaning can cause micro-scratches. Send cards as-is—our graders will assess them in their current condition.

Yes, but we prefer penny sleeves and top loaders. If you use one-touches or screwdowns, ensure cards aren't too tight (which can cause indentations). We'll carefully remove cards for grading.

Do not attempt to remove it yourself. Our graders will assess whether it can be safely removed during authentication. Forced removal can damage the card and hurt its grade.

No, but organizing your submission by player, set, or value helps you review results later. Include clear card details on your submission form.

Every card undergoes a multi-point authentication check including paper quality, printing techniques, edge wear patterns, and comparison to known authentic examples. Suspicious cards are flagged and not graded.

Our slabs include tamper-evident seals, holographic labels, unique serial numbers, QR codes for instant verification, and ultrasonic welding. Any attempt to open a slab will leave visible damage.

Extremely difficult. Our slabs use proprietary security features and every certificate is verifiable via our online database. If you ever suspect a fake slab, contact us immediately with the certificate number.

Use our online certificate verification tool at /verify. Enter the certificate number or scan the QR code. You'll see the card details, grade, photos, and certification date. Unverifiable certificates are fakes.

Contact us immediately. We take this very seriously and will investigate. If confirmed, we'll issue a corrected certificate and may take legal action if fraud is suspected.

You'll receive an email when grading is complete with links to view your results online. Your account dashboard will show photos, grades, and detailed notes for each card.

Yes! Every card is photographed front and back after grading. These high-resolution images are included in your online certificate and useful for selling or insurance purposes.

Grading can be subjective, but our two-grader system ensures consistency. If you disagree, you can request a regrade within 30 days. We'll also provide detailed notes explaining the grade.

We don't offer pre-encapsulation review because it delays the process and risks card damage from handling. However, if a card grades lower than 5 or has authenticity concerns, we'll contact you before slabbing.

Yes. Each card includes brief notes describing any defects or factors affecting the grade. Subgrade orders include detailed breakdowns of centering, corners, edges, and surface.

Yes. Every graded card has a downloadable PDF certificate with card details, grade, photos, and QR code. Perfect for insurance or resale documentation.

If you believe a card was graded incorrectly, request a free regrade within 30 days. If the new grade is 0.5+ points higher, we'll regrade it for free and refund the difference. Otherwise, standard fees apply.

Log in to your account, find the card, and click "Request Regrade." Ship the card back to us (you cover shipping). We'll crack the slab and have two different graders review it.

Cracking a slab always carries minimal risk, but our team has cracked thousands of slabs safely. If a card is damaged during regrade (extremely rare), we'll compensate you based on the original grade's market value.

Regrade decisions are final. However, if you believe there was a significant error, contact our support team. We'll review your case on an individual basis.

Yes. This counts as a regrade service. You'll pay the subgrade fee ($10) plus a regrade fee ($10). The card will be cracked and regraded with subgrades.

Yes! Send your PSA, BGS, or other graded card, and we'll crack it and grade it under GSM standards. Crossover service is $25 per card and includes authentication. If the card doesn't meet minimum grade, we'll return it ungraded.