What we check
The standard behind
every card.
What we check. What we won't source. What the condition tiers mean. Written down and consistent - so you know exactly what you're getting before the card leaves our hands.
Condition tiers
Four tiers.
Consistently applied.
We use these tiers in every brief, statement, and Box Report. When we say Near Mint, we mean the same thing every time.
Mint / Near Mint
Pack-fresh or near. No visible wear under any light. Our default condition floor for all orders unless specified otherwise.
Moderate Play (MP)
Visible wear that affects presentation. Only sourced if explicitly agreed in the brief.
Light Play (LP)
Minor edge or corner wear visible under direct light. Fully presentable for display. Available on opt-in at brief stage.
We do not source
HP, damaged, or any card showing alteration, trimming, or restoration. If identified during QC, we do not purchase - regardless of price.
QC checklist
Applied to every card before purchase. In this order, every time.
£100+
Photos taken Front and back, timestamped, before dispatch.
£300+
Video recorded
Short pan under direct light. Retained as dispute reference.
Raw cards
✓ Corners - no whitening, no bends Checked at angle under direct light
✓ Top and bottom edges - no chips, no peeling Under direct light, not overhead
✓ Surface front - no scratches, print lines, or surface scratching
✓ Surface back — no haze from face-down storage damage
✓ Centering - within range for stated condition
✓ Authenticity - weight, texture, light test where appropriate
✓ Correct card - set, language, variant confirmed against brief
Slabs
✓ Case integrity - no cracks, splits, or signs of tampering along the seam
✓ Label - grade, card name, set, and language confirmed against brief
✓ Cert number - cross-referenced against the grading company's online database before purchase
✓ Label consistency - font, alignment, and holographic elements consistent with authentic labels for that grading company
✓ Population report checked for high-value pieces - PSA, BGS, CGC databases
✓ Correct card - set, language, and variant confirmed against brief, not just the label
For high-value slabs, the cert check is non-negotiable. A slab with a mismatched cert or an unregistered number doesn't move.
Documentation
What we record
before it ships.
The paper trail that makes every dispute resolvable. If we photographed it, we can prove it.
✓ All cards — itemised statement with condition and price paid
✓ Over £75 — photographed front and back, timestamped, before dispatch
✓ Over £250 — short video pan under direct light - Retained as dispute reference
✓ All vendor receipts retained for minimum of 90 days post-dispatch
✓ Condition disputes must be raised within 48 hours of confirmed delivery
Dispute resolution
If you believe a card arrived in worse condition than documented, contact us within 48 hours of confirmed delivery. We share the dispatch photos and video — if the evidence supports your claim, we offer a resolution. If dispatch evidence supports our documented condition, we'll share it and close the dispute.