Do we offer grading as a service?
We currently do not offer any kind of grading as a service. There are a number of reasons for this, such as insurance, GDPR, and minimum order commitments from the major graders. While we could undoubtedly partner with a smaller grading company, these are often not worth your time. Keep reading to find out why. We do however have a recommended middle-man service for PSA and BGS, and ACE can be dealt with directly. The Sub Center is the UK's leading middle-man service, and we've had tremendous experiences with them in the past, particularly during a situation that occurred a few years ago with the previous major middle-man service, 'Ludkins'. No, we're not on commission, we just think they're the best.
What is a slab?
Simply put, you pay a fee to a company to evaluate and assess the condition of your card(s), assign it a numerical score out of 10, then put it in a tamper-resistant case (a slab).
Why grade your cards?
It's not for everyone. Some people prefer raw cards, and that's perfectly fine. A lot of people choose to grade their cards for a number of reasons. Usually the primary reason is that they send it off hoping to get a high grade which will typically increase the value of the card. This is almost guaranteed if the card receives a 10 grade from one of the major graders. Older cards from the 1990s typically increase in value from a 7 and above.
Which grading company to use?
This is where opinions differ. From our many years experience, we'd suggest you stick to one of the larger grading companies, and make your decision based on how quickly you want the slab back, and the reason for grading. We will cover the major grading companies later. As a rule though, try to stick to PSA, Beckett or ACE. TAG are another one to watch for the future. Try to avoid sending it to one of the lesser known grading companies unless you're literally just wanting the card encased in plastic, as the value of the card is likely to remain the same as if it were raw.
What do grading companies look for?
Cards are usually assessed on 4 major criteria. Surface, Corners, Centering, and Edges. Some compaines are more lenient when it comes to centering, but again, this will be covered below. They're looking for any damage to the surface of the card, whether it be print lines, micro-scratches, etc. They'll check how the corners are cut (round or squared off), and they'll assess how well the card is centered. They're also inspecting the edges of the card, front and back, for any wear. Even a couple of white dots can make the difference.
PSA
PSA is the industry standard when it comes to Pokemon card grading. They've been around for decades, and while their consistency is often questioned, they're the ones to go for if you consider its future cash value to be the most important aspect of grading. PSA cards have held their value for an extremely long time which means higher, faster re-sale.
- Long turnaround time (4+ months)
- Best bet for holding a card's value, long term
- Strict centering rules (55-45% maximum for a 10)
- Possible up-charges for high-value cards
Beckett (BGS)
While PSA is the industry standard, Beckett is widely respect as having the most stringent grading standards. A PSA 10 is significantly easier to obtain than the coveted 'Beckett 'Black Label 10'. The black label is reserved for only perfect cards. Their populations are low, meaning high resale potential.
- Long turnaround time (2+ months)
- Best for valuing cards you believe could be considered 'perfect'
- Strict rules for all aspects of grading
ACE Grading
Started in the UK by well known Youtuber, Rand, ACE has risen quickly in popularity. This is in part due to Rand being well known in the community, but also the turnaround times and impressive, art-matched labels. ACE are a little more lenient with centering, which results in more grade 10s than other grading companies, affecting re-sale value.
- Fast turnaround time and UK based
- ACE 10 currently around 35% lower value than PSA 10
- Less strict centering rules (60-40% maximum for a 10)
- Colour-matched labels look superb
TAG
TAG are relatively new to the grading scene, but they're doing things differently. While ACE, PSA and Beckett all use digital imaging to closely inspect cards, there's room for human error. TAG, on the other hand, use extremely complex AI-powered and automated grading machines. This results in much harsher grades for the most part.
- Reasonable turnaround time (1+ months)
- Speculation that TAG could become the gold standard
- Extremely strict rules for all aspects of grading
- Brittle and easily breakable slabs
And finally...
If you choose to go with one of the options provided above, you'll need to send off your cards via Royal Mail.
Make sure you purchase SEMI-RIGID card holders, as some grading companies require cards to be sent in these, and will not accept toploaders.
Another piece of advice, is send your cards extremely well packed (in a box, wrapped in bubble wrap), via SPECIAL DELIVERY, insuring the parcel for its full value.