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Condition grading
Two grades. No mint upcharge.
Every new item we sell is either Case Fresh or Damaged Box. Here’s exactly what each one means, how we decide, and what happens if we ever get it wrong.
2Grades, that’s itCase Fresh or Damaged Box. Nothing in between to decode.
$0Extra for mintCase Fresh is our standard grade. There is no premium tier above it.
2×Checked by handOnce when it lands on our dock, again before it’s packed.
1Email before it shipsIf the pre-ship check doesn’t match the grade you bought, you hear from us first.
The two grades.
Same scale, same bar, every person on the receiving team. Here’s where the line is.
Our standard grade
Case Fresh
Near mint or better. Every time.
What it means
Straight from the sealed case to our shelf, handled by our crew and nobody else.
Box, seals, corners and window checked against the same scale by every person on the receiving team.
Near mint or better. It may show the faintest sign of the trip from the factory, but never a ding, a scuff or a clouded window.
What it isn’t
A promise of 100% flawless. Cases ride trucks. A whisper of wear on the outer packaging can happen and still be Case Fresh.
A premium tier. This is the grade every new item gets by default, at the regular price.
If it doesn’t clear this bar, it doesn’t get listed as Case Fresh. Full stop.
Priced lower for the box
Damaged Box
The figure is untouched. The packaging isn’t.
What lands it here
A corner ding, crease or crushed edge.
Window scuffing, scratches or clouding.
Any other imperfection you’d notice holding it in your hands.
What you can count on
The figure inside is the same one you’d get in a Case Fresh box. Only the packaging is graded down.
We grade hard. Anything that would make you frown gets pulled to Damaged Box immediately, not argued over.
Listed with the flaw disclosed and priced below Case Fresh. It can’t be returned for that disclosed flaw.
Opening it anyway? This is the grade to buy.
How every item gets its grade.
Two looks by hand, and a rule for what happens when they disagree.
01When it lands
Graded at the receiving table.
Cases get opened at our dock and every piece gets looked over: box, seals, corners, window. Anything with a noticeable imperfection is graded Damaged Box on the spot and kept apart from the Case Fresh stock.
02Before it’s listed
Listed under its grade. Not before.
Nothing goes on the site until it’s been through that check. If a product page offers a Damaged Box option, that’s a real item we graded and priced lower for a specific flaw.
03When you order
Checked again before it’s packed.
Your item gets a second look at the packing bench before it’s wrapped. Anything that changed while it sat on the shelf gets caught here, not at your door.
04If it doesn’t match
You hear from us before it ships.
If the pre-ship check finds a condition that doesn’t match the grade you bought, we email you before it goes out, with what we found and a partial refund for the difference. It ships once you approve.
If we get it wrong
You bought a grade, not a gamble.
If what’s on the packing bench doesn’t match what’s on the listing, you get an email before anything is boxed: what we found, and a partial refund for the difference. Approve it and it ships. Rather not? Nothing has left the building, so you can cancel for a full refund.
It’s near mint or better, every time. We don’t use the word mint because we won’t promise that a box which rode a truck from the factory is perfect. What we will promise: no dings, no scuffs, no clouded windows. If it has any of those, it’s Damaged Box.
Why don’t you sell a mint grade for more money?
Because our standard grade already is the grade you’d pay extra for elsewhere. Every new item is graded to the same bar and priced the same way. If we wouldn’t be happy with it in our own collection, it isn’t Case Fresh.
What exactly counts as Damaged Box?
Corner dings, creases or crushed edges. Window scuffing, scratches or clouding. Any other imperfection you’d notice holding it in your hands.
We grade rigorously on purpose. A borderline box gets graded down, not talked up.
Is the figure inside a Damaged Box item damaged?
No. The grade is about the packaging. The figure is the same one that ships in a Case Fresh box. If a figure itself has a problem, it doesn’t get listed at all.
Can I return a Damaged Box item because of the box?
No. The flaw is disclosed on the listing and the price reflects it, so it isn’t grounds for a return. Everything else in our 30-day policy still applies, and shipping damage is always covered: tell us within 7 days of delivery with photos of the item and the box.
Sealed TCG isn’t sold under the two grades. It’s checked for intact seals and shipping damage, then ships factory sealed. Minor wear to shrink wrap or a tin corner can happen in transit and isn’t a defect. Real shipping damage is covered like anything else, within 7 days with photos.
How are vintage and Carded Classics™ graded?
On their own numbered scale, CC-10 down to CC-4, with photos of the actual piece on every listing. This page covers new product only.
Ask about a specific item.
Deciding between the two options on a product page? Ask before you buy. A real collector reads every message.
Ask about a specific item
Send us the listing and what you’re wondering about. A collector on the team answers within one business day.
