Card grading guide
Every single we list is graded by hand, one card at a time, under a desk lamp on the bench where we pack orders. We grade conservatively on purpose: we would rather you open the envelope and find a better card than you expected.
The five grades
| Grade | What it means |
|---|---|
| NM Near Mint | Looks like it was just pulled from a pack. No scratches you can see at arm's length, sharp corners, clean edges, no whitening on the back. A card that has only ever lived in a sleeve. |
| LP Lightly Played | Very minor wear you have to look for — a touch of edge wear, light surface scuffing, or the faintest corner softening. Still perfectly tournament legal in a sleeve. |
| MP Moderately Played | Obvious but even wear. Border whitening, minor scratching, slightly rounded corners, maybe a small surface scuff. No creases through the card face. |
| HP Heavily Played | Heavy whitening, noticeable scratching or clouding, possibly a light crease or bend. Plays fine sleeved, but it looks played. |
| DMG Damaged | Creases, tears, water damage, writing, or heavy bends. Sold as a placeholder or a budget slot — never as a collectible. |
What we never do quietly
- Signed, stamped or inked cards are listed as such, never as plain NM.
- Anything with a crease is at least HP, no matter how clean the rest of it looks.
- Foils are graded on curl and clouding as well as edges — a curled foil is not Near Mint.
- If a card sits between two grades, it goes in the lower one.
How it ships
Every single goes into a fresh penny sleeve, then a top loader or a team bag depending on value, then into a rigid mailer. Orders over a few cards are bundled so nothing slides around. Sealed product ships double-boxed.
All sales are final
Because we grade by hand and price against live market data, we do not accept returns or exchanges for change of mind. That is exactly why we grade low and describe honestly — you should never be surprised by what arrives.
If we shipped you the wrong card, or the package arrived damaged in transit, message us and we will sort it out with you.