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Guides8 October 20264 min read

How to buy your first graded Pokémon card without making mistakes

Choosing the card, reading the label, verifying the certificate, checking the slab, deciding between auction and fixed price. A guide for beginners.

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Guides7 October 20264 min read
How to read a Pokémon card: number, set symbol, rarity and abbreviations
Number and total, set code, rarity symbols, the ex, V, VMAX, Mega ex, IR, SIR and Hyper Rare abbreviations, plus holo, 1st Edition and shadowless.
Guides6 October 20264 min read
How to store Pokémon cards: sleeves, toploaders, binders and slabs
The four levels of protection, the mistakes that ruin a card, how to keep slabs and sealed products, and how to transport a collection.
Guides5 October 20265 min read
Fake Pokémon cards: the ten checks we carry out in our lab
Printing, cut, back, holo, weight, light, fonts, price, seller and slab: our expert's ten checks, and what you can do at home.
Guides4 October 20264 min read
Near Mint, Excellent, Played: what card conditions actually mean
The Mint, Near Mint, Excellent, Good, Light Played, Played and Poor scale used in Europe, what each grade looks at, and why Near Mint does not mean PSA 10.
Guides3 October 20264 min read
The single-bid auction: how it works and how to decide what to bid
24 hours, a single sealed bid, the highest wins. Why we chose this format and how to work out your bid, buyer's premium included.