CardRats Grading Service Guide

CardRats Grading Service Guide

In this service guide, “we” “us” and “our” refers to CardRats. Your access to and use of all information on this website including the grading services is provided subject to the following service guide

We reserve the right to amend this guide at any time and your use of the website following any amendments will represent your agreement to be bound by this guide as amended.  We therefore recommend that each time you access our website you read this service guide

General:

  • CardRats Grading leverages grading via TRA Collective, and thus operates underneath similar guidelines TRA Collective adheres to.
  • CardRats only accepts orders or communications through our website. Attempts to organise grading submissions or enquiries through other means of communication such as Facebook and personal emails will be redirected to our website and/or email address.
  • Great care is taken to ensure the security of our customers cards once they enter our service.
  • The safety of our customers cards is our highest priority and therefore they are stored securely in a safe in our Melbourne offices.
  • All communication with customers will take place through our official grading email address or via public announcements. Attempts to discuss future or current grading submissions with CardRats Admin via other means of communications will instead be redirected to our grading email address.
  • CardRats is not liable for damage to any cards during the processing phase.
  • CardRats Grading does not offer pre-screening.
  • CardRats Grading reserves the right to refuse any potential customer at our own discretion.

Card Submission Process

  1. All grading submissions must be organised through our website or official grading email address only.
  2. All PSA submission spots must be bought via our online store.
  3. Once grading orders are received by CardRats, you will receive an email confirming your order.
  4. You must follow the instructions given by CardRats for the card submission process.
  5. CardRats takes no responsibility for cards damaged or lost during transit.
  6. CardRats is only liable for cards once they have entered the processing phase.
  7. The opening of all packages will be done live.
  8. During processing all cards will be entered into a TRA Grading invoice system.
  9. The determined value of the card by TRA Grading is for insurance purposes only and cannot be changed by the customer. 

Insurance:

  1. TRA Grading insurance is only in effect once we’ve processed and entered the submission into our systems at our offices
  2. Insurance is covered for packages being sent between TRA Collective and Prestige Grading Services USA and while they are in our possession at our offices
  3. TRA Grading insurance cover ceases once your items are lodged at the nominated courier service and out of our control.
  4. All cards will be packed securely and forwarded onto our grading partner (Prestige Grading Services USA) through a tracked international parcel service.
  5. All outgoing packages to Prestige Grading Services USA from TRA Collective will be insured for up to $50,000 (AUD), cumulative of all items in the package.
  6. All incoming packages from Prestige Grading Services from TRA Collective will be insured for up to $200,000 (AUD), cumulative of all items in the package.

Payment:

  1. CardRats only accepts PayPal / After Pay / Credit Card as our primary forms of payment.
  2. All submissions must be paid for in full prior to your cards being sent off to Prestige Grading Services USA.
  3. Cards valued above the maximum card value as seen in our Grading Infographic may incur upcharge fees.
  4. PSA and CGC reserve the right to levy additional fees to customers based on the assessed value of the item. In the event that additional fees are levied, The customer is responsible for paying all additional fees assessed
  5. Example of levy fees taken from PSA website:

For cards over $199 (USD), PSA reserves the right to levy additional fees based on the post-grading value of the card for the difference between the service level you submitted at and the service level the value dictates. If your final value is between $200 (USD) and $499 (USD), PSA may charge an additional $10 (USD). If your final value is between $500 (USD) and $999 (USD), PSA may charge an additional $30 (USD). If your final value is between $1000 (USD) and $2499 (USD), PSA may charge an additional $62 (USD). For higher values, please contact PSA to discuss on a case by case basis. PSA uses a combination of eBay completed sales, auction house completed sales, and their own in-house expert opinions to determine the graded value of the cards and upcharges accordingly.

  1. Notice of additional fees will be presented by CardRats to the customer as soon as CardRats is made aware of them. Seven days after the initial notice, a secondary notice will be issued. 21 days after the initial notice to pay additional fees, TRA Grading reserves the right to issue a 5% fee, compounding monthly, on the total outstanding bill.
  2. Failure to pay a balance due of any sort for 6 months is a voluntary forfeiture of the submission to CardRats. The submission will then be sold, with the card value being refunded to the customer. Any additional funds will then be donated directly to one of our charity partners.

Return of Packages to Australia

  1. All submissions will be returned insured to TRA Grading via tracked international parcel service.
  2. All return packages from Prestige Grading Services USA are insured for up to $200,000 (AUD) total, cumulative of all items in the package, during transit back to TRA Grading.
  3. Once the return package has been received at our Melbourne processing centre, all customers will be notified via email that their submission has returned and begun post-processing. At this time their return postal address will be requested.
  4. All items will be matched up with the initial CardRats orders made.
  5. All customers will be notified and shipped with the next paid shipment.
  6. CardRats is not liable for insurance coverage on any packages being sent to their customers. As such, the purchase of insurance coverage for return packages is the responsibility of customers.
  7. In the event of loss in transit between TRA Collective and Prestige Grading Services USA, all customers may be reimbursed the current market value of their item, up to a cumulative total of $200,000 (AUD) for all items in the package. Should the total market value exceed $200,000 (AUD), it will be broken down on a percentage basis and distributed respectively
  8. The current market value is determined by the average of the last 3 cards sold on eBay. Should there not be 3 recent sales then an independent valuation by an official third-party dealer / trader who is recognised as an expert in the marketplace for this type of product will value said product(s). If no valuation is available, the customer is insured for the purchase price with proof of receipt.
  9. CardRats is not responsible for damages to the cards during transit back to the customer

CardRat's Grading Terms & Conditions supersedes any conflicting information provided in this guide