Card Condition Guide
Condition drives value. We use the same standards whether we're buying your cards or selling ours, so you always know where an offer comes from.
📷 Photos coming soon (draft placeholder)
Example photos for each grade (NM, LP, MP, HP, DMG) will go here: front and back scans or close-ups of real cards showing the wear for each grade.
Raw card grades
NM, Near Mint. Looks almost fresh from the pack. Edges and corners are sharp, and the surface is clean, with at most a tiny speck or very faint scratch under a light.
LP, Lightly Played. Light wear you notice up close, such as small edge or corner whitening or a few light scratches. No creases, bends or water damage.
MP, Moderately Played. Wear you can see at arm's length, such as clear whitening, scuffing, light dirt or a small crease, but the card is still in one solid piece.
HP, Heavily Played. Heavy wear all over, such as big creases, lots of whitening and worn borders. It should still be playable in a sleeve.
DMG, Damaged. Tears, folds, bends, water damage, ink or writing, or anything else that affects the card's structure.
Sealed product condition
- Mint sealed: factory shrink is intact, with no dents and sharp corners.
- Minor shelf wear: small scuffs or a soft corner, with the shrink still intact.
- Damaged packaging: shrink tears, crushed corners or dents. These get a lower offer.
- Not accepted: opened, resealed or tampered product.
Graded slabs
We buy PSA, CGC and BGS slabs. Cracked or heavily scratched cases and label problems can lower an offer. Every slab gets checked against the grading company's certification lookup.
Is it worth grading?
A card is worth a closer look for PSA if it's clean under a light, has sharp corners and even centering, and has a raw value high enough to cover the grading fee. Not sure? Email a photo to colin@thepokeoffice.com or bring it to a meetup, and Colin will give you an honest opinion.
Tip before you sell
Most people rate their own cards a little high, and that's normal. If you're stuck between two grades, go with the lower one. The final grade is set in person, and we'll always explain why.