If a Pokémon slab arrives cracked, photograph the package, slab, label, and card before cleaning, opening, or discarding anything. Preserve all shipping materials, then compare the damage with the listing photos and description.
A slab is the sealed plastic holder used by a grading company to protect and identify a graded card. These steps help separate disclosed wear from possible shipping damage. They also give the seller, marketplace, carrier, or grading company evidence to evaluate your request.
Table of Contents
- Build a complete damage record
- Preserve the slab and packaging
- Check what the listing actually promised
- Decide whether the card is at risk
- Request the appropriate remedy
Build a complete damage record
Photograph the parcel before removing more packaging. Capture the shipping label, dents, punctures, crushed corners, wet areas, and the slab's position inside the box or mailer. Next, photograph the slab under bright, indirect light.
Take clear images of: Keep the original files because they retain useful timing and device information. Do not crop, annotate, or compress your only copies; make edited duplicates if you need close-ups. A cracked parcel and a matching impact point can support a shipping-damage explanation. However, photographs alone may not prove exactly when a crack occurred.
- The full front and back
- The crack from several angles
- The grading label and certification number
- The card inside the holder
- Broken plastic, loose pieces, or a separated seam
Preserve the slab and packaging
Do not open the slab, apply glue, tape over the crack, or try to snap separated plastic back into place. Those actions can alter the evidence, damage the card, and complicate a return or reholder request. Place the slab in a clean resealable bag or protective sleeve without pressing on the damaged area.
Keep any loose plastic fragments in a separate small bag. Store everything inside a rigid box away from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. Save the mailer or box, padding, invoice, and shipping label until the matter is resolved. A carrier or marketplace may request packaging photographs or an inspection, although procedures and deadlines vary.
Check what the listing actually promised
Save the complete listing before contacting the seller. Record the description, condition notes, photographs, seller disclosures, certification number, price, and any messages about the slab's condition. Compare the crack's location and shape with every listing image. Zoom in on edges, corners, seams, and reflections.
A visible matching line may indicate pre-existing damage, while an undisclosed crack absent from clear photographs may support a not-as-described claim. Look for wording such as "case damage," "cracked holder," "sold as shown," or "slab has scratches." A general warning about scratches does not necessarily describe a structural crack, but the marketplace decides how its policy applies. Lighting can hide fine cracks, and listing photographs may not show every angle. Treat the comparison as evidence rather than absolute proof.
Decide whether the card is at risk
A surface scuff affects appearance but does not open the holder. A crack cuts into the plastic, while a split seam or missing piece may expose the card chamber to movement, dust, or moisture. Do not assume the card is damaged merely because the outer holder cracked.
Warning signs include a card that has shifted, loose debris near the card, a crack entering the card chamber, or a holder that flexes or separates. Avoid testing the seal by squeezing or bending the slab. If the card appears exposed, keep the holder dry and motionless while you arrange a return or ask the grading company about reholder eligibility.
Request the appropriate remedy
Contact the seller or marketplace through its recorded messaging system. State that the slab arrived cracked, identify where the damage appears, and attach representative photographs without making claims you cannot prove. Possible remedies include: A reholder service replaces a damaged case, but acceptance, fees, shipping rules, and grade treatment depend on the grading company.
If the card or seal may be compromised, the company could require additional evaluation rather than a simple case replacement. Check the marketplace's current reporting deadline immediately. Do not ship the slab back, surrender original packaging, or close a dispute until you receive written instructions and understand whether tracking, insurance, or a specific return label is required.
- A full return and refund for material undisclosed damage
- A replacement, if the seller has an equivalent card
- A partial refund that reasonably covers an accepted reholder service
- A seller-funded reholder arrangement with written terms
