Common Mistakes That Lower Your Pokémon Card Grade

You've pulled a brilliant card from a pack. It looks perfect. You submit it for grading and it comes back as a 7. What happened? Usually, it's one of these mistakes.

Touching the Surface

This is the number one killer. Fingerprints leave oils on the card surface that can cause micro-scratches when wiped off. Even clean, dry hands leave some residue. Every time you handle a card without gloves or without holding it by the edges, you're risking surface damage.

If you pull a card you think might grade well, sleeve it immediately. Don't pass it around. Don't lay it on the table. Penny sleeve it, put it in a top loader, and leave it alone.

Using Dirty or Worn Sleeves

Old penny sleeves accumulate dust and grit inside them. Sliding a card into a dirty sleeve is like running it through fine sandpaper. Always use fresh sleeves for cards you plan to grade. Buy a new pack of penny sleeves. They cost next to nothing.

Poor Storage Between Pulls and Submission

Cards stored loose in a tin, rubber-banded together, or stacked without sleeves will develop edge wear and surface scratches. Even cards sitting in a binder can get damaged if the binder pages are low quality or overstuffed.

The safest storage for cards awaiting grading: penny sleeve, into a card saver or top loader, stored upright in a box. Keep them away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and humidity.

Cleaning Cards Incorrectly

Some collectors try to "clean" cards before submission. This almost always makes things worse. Water damages cards. Solvents strip coatings. Rubbing with cloth creates micro-scratches. Compressed air can bend cards.

If a card has a bit of dust, a single gentle pass with a clean microfibre cloth is the absolute most you should do. If it has actual grime or residue, accept it and submit as-is. The graders have seen everything.

Bending Cards During Packaging

Shoving a top loader into an envelope that's too small, or packing cards too tightly, can create bends or pressure marks. These show up during grading even if the card looks flat when you take it out. Use appropriately sized packaging and don't over-tighten anything.

Ignoring Factory Defects

Not all damage happens after a card leaves the pack. Print lines, ink spots, off-centre cuts, and roller marks are factory defects that came with the card. Graders don't care whether damage happened at the factory or in your collection. A flaw is a flaw. Check your cards carefully before paying to grade them.

Exposing Cards to Sunlight

UV light fades card colours over time. Even a few weeks of sitting near a window can cause noticeable fading on certain cards. Store your grading candidates in a dark, cool place. This is especially relevant for Japanese cards, which seem to fade slightly faster than English prints.