Card Condition & Authenticity Guide

At QB's Games & Collectibles, we know that condition and authenticity are everything when it comes to trading card singles. Whether you're building a competitive deck or chasing that grail card for your collection, we want you to shop with complete confidence. This guide explains exactly how we grade our cards, how we source them, and what protections you have as a buyer.

Our condition scale aligns with the standards used by major platforms like TCGplayer and eBay as well as professional grading companies like PSA.

Our Card Condition Scale

Near Mint (NM) / Mint

Cards in Near Mint (NM) condition show minimal wear from shuffling, play, or handling and can have a nearly unmarked surface, crisp corners, and unblemished edges outside of a few slight flaws. A Near Mint card may have slight edge wear or a couple minor scratches, but overall look nearly unplayed with no major defects.

Lightly Played (LP) / Excellent

Cards in Lightly Played (LP) condition may have minor edge wear, scuffs, or scratches. There are no significant imperfections or issues with the structural integrity of the card. This matches TCGplayer's "Lightly Played".

Moderately Played (MP) / Good

Cards in Moderately Played (MP) condition can have edge wear, surface wear, scratching or scuffing, bends with creases, or a combination of moderate examples of these imperfections. Some imperfections, such as bends, peels, or liquid exposure may be acceptable at Moderately Played as long as they do not impact the structural integrity of the card. This aligns with TCGplayer's "Moderately Played".

Heavily Played (HP) / Poor

Cards in Heavily Played (HP) condition show a major amount of wear. Cards can show a variety of moderate imperfections along with creasing, whitening and other faults. Heavily Played cards can also have defects or severe imperfections that do not impact the integrity of the card. While Heavily Played cards can have many imperfections, they must still be able to be authenticated and cannot be structurally damaged. This corresponds to TCGplayer's "Heavily Played".

Damaged (DMG)

Damaged cards show wear or imperfections beyond the standards for other conditions. Cards in Damaged condition may have major border wear, scratching or scuffing, as well as bends, tears, splitting, foreign substances such as food or liquid, or other damage that impacts the integrity of the card. This matches TCGplayer's "Damaged" grade. Cards in this condition are generally not tournament-legal.

Notes:

Foil, holo, and etched cards can show light surface scuffing even when pack-fresh due to the printing process. We account for this when grading and adjust the condition of the card accordingly.
The Centering of a card does not change the condition of a card. Cards that are off centered enough that can be graded as miscuts and errors are sold with those defects noted.

How We Ensure Authenticity

Every card we sell is inspected for authenticity before it's listed. We do not sell proxies, counterfeits, or altered cards — ever. Here's how we keep our inventory trustworthy:

Hands-on inspection: We physically examine each card for the telltale signs of a genuine print — correct font, rosette pattern, card stock feel, and light test results.
Trusted sourcing: We source cards from reputable distributors, established collectors, and verified trade-ins. We do not purchase from unknown or unverified sources.
Sealed product integrity: All sealed products (booster boxes, packs, ETBs) are sourced directly from authorized distributors and verified trade-ins. All products are stored in a climate-controlled environment to preserve pack integrity.
Suspicious cards are not listed: If a card raises any doubt during inspection, it does not go into our inventory — period.

How We Package & Protect Your Cards

We take packaging seriously because a card that arrives damaged is a card that wasn't protected properly. Here's what you can expect when your order ships:

Singles: All singles are shipped in a penny sleeve and a rigid top loader or card saver, then secured in an envelope or bubble mailer if over $50 in total value.
High-value singles ($50+): Cards valued over a certain threshold are double-sleeved and shipped in a rigid top loader inside a bubble mailer with additional padding.
Sealed products: Booster boxes and larger sealed items are packed in appropriately sized boxes with bubble wrap or foam padding to prevent damage in transit.

Our Condition Guarantee

We stand behind every card we grade. If your card arrives in a condition that is significantly worse than what was listed, we want to make it right. Here's what we offer:

Condition discrepancy: If a card arrives in a noticeably lower condition than listed (e.g., you received an MP card listed as NM), contact us within 14 days of delivery and we'll work with you on a return, exchange, or store credit.
Shipping damage: If your card is damaged in transit, please photograph the packaging and card upon arrival and reach out to us. We'll do everything we can to resolve it quickly.
Authenticity concern: If you ever have a genuine concern about a card's authenticity, contact us immediately. We take these concerns seriously and will investigate every claim.

Please review our full Return & Refund Policy for complete details.

Questions? We're Here to Help.

If you have any questions about a specific card's condition before you buy, don't hesitate to reach out. We're happy to provide additional photos or details on any listing.