PokeVerse

Buying

Condition guide

One standard, written in plain English and applied to every raw card we sell. It's shown on every listing, and you'll always see the actual card, front and back, so you can judge for yourself.

  1. Near Mint

    NMPriced at market
    NM
    Condition Near Mint. Looks unplayed. At most a tiny speck of edge wear visible on close inspection. No scratches, creases or whitening.

    Looks unplayed. At most a tiny speck of edge wear visible on close inspection. No scratches, creases or whitening.

    corners
    Sharp, with no rounding.
    edges
    Clean. A tiny speck of whitening on the back at most.
    surface
    No scratches, creases or print lines you'd notice at arm's length.

  2. Lightly Played

    LPAround 85% of Near Mint
    LP
    Condition Lightly Played. Minor edge or corner wear and light whitening on the back. A few faint surface scratches under light. No creases or bends.

    Minor edge or corner wear and light whitening on the back. A few faint surface scratches under light. No creases or bends.

    corners
    Slight wear on one or two corners.
    edges
    Light whitening, mostly on the back.
    surface
    A few faint scratches when you tilt it under a lamp. No creases or bends.

  3. Moderately Played

    MPAround 70% of Near Mint
    MP
    Condition Moderately Played. Noticeable whitening, corner wear or scuffing on either side. Still clean with no heavy creases or water damage.

    Noticeable whitening, corner wear or scuffing on either side. Still clean with no heavy creases or water damage.

    corners
    Visible wear or rounding.
    edges
    Noticeable whitening on either side.
    surface
    Scuffing or scratches you can see straight on. No heavy creases or water damage.

  4. Heavily Played

    HPAround 50% of Near Mint
    HP
    Condition Heavily Played. Heavy wear: significant whitening, a minor crease or bend, or surface marks. Card is intact and fully legible.

    Heavy wear: significant whitening, a minor crease or bend, or surface marks. Card is intact and fully legible.

    corners
    Heavy wear, possibly soft or bent.
    edges
    Significant whitening all round.
    surface
    Marks, and possibly a minor crease. Still intact and fully readable.

  5. Damaged

    DMGAround 30% of Near Mint
    DMG
    Condition Damaged. Tears, heavy creases, water damage, ink or writing. Sold for the art or for play, not for display.

    Tears, heavy creases, water damage, ink or writing. Sold for the art or for play, not for display.

    corners
    Anything goes.
    edges
    May be torn or split.
    surface
    Heavy creases, water damage, ink or writing. Bought for the art or for play.

How prices follow condition

Market prices are for Near Mint copies. Lower grades are priced down from there, so a Lightly Played card sits at roughly 85% of the Near Mint price and a Heavily Played one at about half. Every listing shows the market reference next to our price.

Graded cards

For slabs, the grade and certificate number come from the grading company, and you can check the certificate on their website. We photograph the slab front and back, including the label.

If you think we got it wrong

Tell us within 14 days of delivery with a photo or two. If the card is one grade below what we listed, you can choose a 15% partial refund and keep it, or send it back for a full refund. If it's further off than that, or it's the wrong card, we'll refund you in full including postage both ways. The details are on our returns page.