When a buyer files a chargeback—a request for their card issuer to reverse a payment—respond with a dated, claim-specific evidence packet. For a Pokémon slab sale, connect the grading certificate, listing, order, shipment, and delivery record to the same card and buyer. A slab is a graded card sealed in a protective holder. Its certificate, or cert, identifies the grading record, but the cert alone does not prove what entered the package or reached the buyer.
Table of Contents
- Match Evidence to the Chargeback Claim
- Tie the Cert to the Sold Slab
- Document the Shipping Chain
- Build a Reviewer-Friendly Packet
- Know What the Evidence Cannot Prove
Match Evidence to the Chargeback Claim
Read the dispute notice before collecting documents. Note the stated reason, disputed amount, submission deadline, accepted file types, and any page or size limits.
The reason determines which evidence matters most: Do not treat delivery as an answer to every claim. A delivery scan can support an item-not-received response, but it does not prove the buyer authorized the payment or received the advertised slab.
- Item not received: address match, tracking history, delivery confirmation, signature, and buyer messages acknowledging receipt.
- Not as described or counterfeit: listing text, clear slab photos, cert details, disclosed defects, and relevant messages.
- Unauthorized payment: order records and any fraud-screening or account information supplied by the marketplace.
- Refund not processed: return terms, refund records, cancellation history, and the transaction timeline.
Tie the Cert to the Sold Slab
Record the grading company, cert number, grade, card name, set, card number, language, and variant exactly as shown on the label. Include sharp photographs of the slab's front and back with the cert readable. Preserve the original listing or sales-page capture.
It should show the same cert and card details, along with the price, condition notes, return terms, and visible defects disclosed before purchase. If available, add pre-shipment images showing distinguishing features such as label alignment, case marks, print registration, or an old holder style. A cert lookup supports the slab's identity, but it does not independently prove that the holder was genuine, packed, or delivered.
Document the Shipping Chain
Build a continuous chain from the paid order to the delivery event. Match the order number, buyer name, delivery address, shipping label, tracking number, carrier acceptance scan, and final delivery record.
Useful delivery exhibits may include: A delivery scan establishes that the carrier recorded a delivery at a location. It usually does not establish the package contents, so pair it with packing photos, shipment weight, marketplace authentication records, or other evidence you actually have.
- The order page showing the destination address.
- The purchased label and matching tracking number.
- The carrier's complete tracking history.
- Signature confirmation or other official proof of delivery, when available.
- Messages in which the buyer discusses receiving, opening, or returning the package.
Build a Reviewer-Friendly Packet
Start with a one-page summary that identifies the transaction, disputed amount, chargeback reason, cert number, tracking number, and requested decision. Follow it with a short timeline and numbered exhibits.
A practical order is: Label each exhibit with a date and a plain description. Preserve original files and metadata, redact unrelated personal information, and submit through the processor's secure dispute channel rather than ordinary email.
- Exhibit 1: order and payment record.
- Exhibit 2: original listing and description.
- Exhibit 3: slab photographs and cert information.
- Exhibit 4: packing or handoff evidence.
- Exhibit 5: carrier tracking and delivery confirmation.
Know What the Evidence Cannot Prove
No single screenshot guarantees a successful response. The outcome depends on the stated claim, the processor's rules, submission timing, and whether the records form a consistent chain.
Avoid accusations that the buyer switched slabs, lied, or committed fraud unless direct evidence supports that statement. Describe mismatches instead: for example, "The returned holder displays cert 123, while the sold and delivered holder displays cert 456." If a slab is returned, photograph the unopened parcel, shipping label, packaging, slab, cert, and any damage or tampering immediately. Save the original carrier record and submission receipt until every dispute or appeal window shown by the processor has closed.
