Do not throw away a damaged package that contained a Pokémon slab until you have inspected and documented every layer. A slab—a graded card sealed in a rigid plastic holder—can have cracks, moisture, or missing fragments that affect a return or shipping claim. Photograph the unopened package if possible, then open it carefully and keep all packing materials. Even when the card looks unharmed, damage to the holder can reduce value or leave the card vulnerable.
Table of Contents
- Document the package before opening
- Open the parcel without causing more damage
- Check the slab and card separately
- Handle water exposure carefully
- Report the damage before altering the evidence
Document the package before opening
Photograph every side of the parcel, including crushed corners, punctures, wet areas, tape, and the shipping label. Take close-ups and wider photos that show the damage in context. If practical, record one continuous opening video.
A video does not guarantee that a seller, marketplace, or carrier will approve a claim, but it can show how the item was packed and where damage appeared. Write down anything unusual, such as loose plastic sounds, a strong damp odor, or tape that appears separated. Do not conceal or repair the shipping damage before documenting it.
Open the parcel without causing more damage
Place the package on a clean, dry surface with good lighting. Use scissors cautiously along an empty edge rather than pushing a knife deep into the box or mailer.
Remove each layer slowly and inspect it before setting it aside. Look for slab fragments, broken case corners, detached labels, card sleeves, invoices, or small accessories that could remain inside the packaging. Keep these materials together: Do not discard anything until the seller, marketplace, insurer, or carrier confirms that it is no longer needed.
- The outer box, mailer, and shipping label
- Tape, seals, and damaged inner packaging
- Bubble wrap, cardboard inserts, and sleeves
- Broken plastic pieces from the slab
- The order confirmation, receipt, or packing slip
Check the slab and card separately
First inspect the holder under angled light. Surface scuffs may be cosmetic, but cracks, open seams, deep chips, sharp edges, or a loose label can indicate structural damage. Then examine the card without opening the slab. Check whether it shifted, developed a bent corner, or shows new dents, scratches, staining, or moisture.
Compare it with the seller's listing photos when available. A visible line near a slab's edge does not automatically prove tampering because holder designs and sealing patterns differ. Treat any separation, unusual gap, or internal debris as a reason to pause and ask the grading company or seller for guidance. Do not squeeze, flex, polish, glue, or pry open the holder. Those actions can worsen the damage and make it harder to establish what happened during shipping.
Handle water exposure carefully
Move the slab away from wet cardboard using clean, dry hands. Place it on a dry, stable surface, but do not use a hair dryer, heater, direct sunlight, or chemical cleaner. Moisture outside the holder may be removable with gentle blotting, provided the case has no openings.
Condensation, droplets, staining, or fogging inside the slab requires more caution because the card may be exposed. Photograph internal moisture immediately. Do not seal a damp slab and wet packaging together in a plastic bag, since trapped humidity can prolong exposure; store the evidence separately while awaiting instructions.
Report the damage before altering the evidence
Contact the seller or marketplace promptly and follow the transaction's stated damage-reporting process. Provide clear photos of the parcel, packing materials, slab, card, and shipping label, plus a short description of what you found. Ask whether the item should be returned and who will arrange shipping.
Do not mail it back, submit it for reholdering, or open the case until the responsible party confirms the next step, because altering the slab may complicate a refund or claim. Deadlines, evidence requirements, and responsibility vary by seller, marketplace, carrier, and shipping service. Keep the package accessible until the matter is resolved, including any tiny plastic fragments that match a chipped or cracked holder.
