Inspect and document a graded Pokémon card before discarding its shipping materials or peeling away any protective film. A slab is the sealed plastic holder containing the card and its grading label. Open enough wrapping to see the holder clearly, but preserve the box, padding, sleeve, and labels until you accept the order. Photos or an unbroken unboxing video can support a damage, return, or authenticity claim.
Table of Contents
- Document the package as it arrived
- What should you inspect?
- Separate packaging marks from slab damage
- What if you find a problem?
- A grade does not guarantee a perfect holder
Document the package as it arrived
photograph every side of the parcel before opening it. Capture dents, punctures, moisture, crushed corners, resealing tape, and the shipping label without publishing your address.
Record the opening when the card is valuable or the parcel looks damaged. Keep the slab within view as you remove each packaging layer so the recording shows its condition at discovery. Save the following until inspection is complete:.
- The shipping box or mailer
- Bubble wrap, cardboard, and foam
- Any slab sleeve, seal, or protective film
- The invoice and packing slip
- Screenshots of the listing and seller photographs
What should you inspect?
Use bright, indirect light and examine both faces, every edge, and each corner of the slab. Tilt it slowly because cracks and scratches may disappear when viewed straight on.
Check for: If the grading company provides certificate lookup, compare the certification number and listed card details. Matching information is useful, but it does not prove that the physical slab is genuine or unaltered.
- Cracks, chips, deep scratches, or separated seams
- Cloudiness, moisture, residue, or debris inside the holder
- A card that has shifted, rotated, or become trapped against an inner edge
- Label details that differ from the listing
- Visible card damage not shown or described by the seller
Separate packaging marks from slab damage
A removable sleeve can collect scratches, dust, and fingerprints that resemble damage to the holder. Inspect through the sleeve first, then remove it carefully if necessary to determine which surface carries the mark. Protective film may also create haze, bubbles, or edge lines.
Do not peel it merely to improve appearance when you might return the card; removing seller-applied packaging can complicate a condition dispute. Minor molding lines, internal tabs, and variations in seams can occur in legitimate holders. Compare questionable features with confirmed examples from the same grading company and holder generation before alleging tampering.
What if you find a problem?
Stop handling the slab and photograph the issue under several angles. Include wide images showing the complete holder and close-ups showing the damage, label, certification number, and surrounding packaging.
Then: Do not polish the holder, apply solvents, pry at its seams, or attempt a repair. Any alteration can worsen the damage and make it harder to show how the slab arrived.
- Review the listing description, photographs, and stated condition
- Contact the seller or marketplace through its official message system
- Describe observable facts instead of guessing at the cause
- Ask whether the seller wants the packaging preserved
- Follow the applicable return or shipping-damage process promptly
A grade does not guarantee a perfect holder
The grade generally describes the card, not necessarily a scratch-free slab. A high-grade card can arrive in a holder with cosmetic wear, especially when the listing disclosed it. Grading also involves judgment, so a visible flaw does not automatically mean the label is wrong.
Your strongest comparison is the exact item shown and described in the sale. If you decide to keep a damaged holder, check whether its grading company offers reholdering and read the current requirements before submitting it. Until then, store the slab upright in a clean sleeve and avoid pressure on any cracked area.
