A graded slab can be a great way to own a card in top condition, but each slab is a single item, so it is worth checking the details before you buy. Use this checklist for any graded card.
1. Read the label
The label shows the card name, set, number, year and grade. Check that these match the listing. For example, a card listed as a Japanese card should have a Japanese card in the slab. Our guide to ACE 9 vs ACE 10 explains how a one-grade difference can affect a card.
2. Look at the case
Check the plastic for scratches, scuffs, cracks and dents, especially around the corners and edges. Small marks on the case do not change the grade of the card inside, but they do change how the slab looks on display.
3. Ask for front and back photos of the exact slab
Every slab is unique. Good photos of the front and the back let you judge the case and the label. We show photos of the item you are buying on every listing.
4. Know who graded it
Grading companies use their own scales and standards, and collectors have preferences. Check which company graded the card and what that grade means in that company's scale. Our slabs are graded by ACE.
5. Compare prices for the same card and grade
The same card can sell for very different amounts at different grades. Compare like with like: same card, same set, same language and same grade.
6. Check the returns policy
Make sure you know what happens if the slab is not as described. In the UK you normally have a 14-day right to cancel when you buy online, and you can read ours in our Refund policy.
7. Plan how you will store it
Once it arrives, keep it upright in a slab box or case away from damp and sunlight. Our storage guide has simple tips.
You can browse our current graded cards in the Slabs collection.