Card Conditions
Grading trading cards can often be a source of conflict between buyers and sellers, as it is inherently subjective. One person might see a card as 'Near Mint', while another might grade it as 'Excellent'. Although such disagreements are somewhat unavoidable, we've created a comprehensive guide to help you grade your cards more accurately and reduce the potential for misunderstandings. This guide aims to provide clear standards to bring consistency to the grading process, making transactions smoother for everyone involved.
Mint
A Mint card is in flawless condition. This means the front is pristine, with no scratches and a perfectly clean surface. The back should look identical to a card from a freshly opened booster pack.
Near Mint
The border of a Near Mint card can have a few small white spots, but they must be minimal and minor. Small allowances can be made, but the card should show no significant wear. When inspected under bright daylight, the surface should generally appear clean, with a few minor spots permissible, but scratches are not allowed on Near Mint cards.
Near Mint usually means Near Mint or better.
Excellent
It is typically evident at first sight that the card is not in perfect condition. However, the visible damage is only minor.
Excellent cards often have a few white spots on the corners or around the border. The surface may exhibit minor scratches visible at closer inspection. Only scratches at surface level and no deep creases are considered minor.
Good
Cards in 'Good' condition typically show significant wear all over. The edges and corners have numerous white spots, the surface has scratches, and there is often some dirt accumulated. However, the damage is only caused by the wear over time due to storage without sleeves or similar covers. No water damage, bends or cloduing shoulr be the case.
It's important to note that 'Good' can be misleading. A 'Good' card usually appears rather worn.-
Slightly Used
A 'Slightly Used' card looks as if it has been used without sleeves for an extended period. The damage is similar to a card in 'Good' condition but slightly worse, with more noticeable scratches or similar wear. It has also not been damaged in other ways (no inked borders, scribblings, bends, creases etc.).
Used
A 'Used' card looks extremely bad and as worn as a card can get from regular use without sleeves. However, the card has still not been damaged with in any other way (no inked borders, scribblings, bends, creases etc.).
Poor
A Poor card has damage that cannot typically result from regular use. A card in Poor condition is essentially destroyed with bends & creases, water damage, deep scratches other other heavy damages.
