Card Authenticity, Sourcing & Grading at CardStrike
Every card we sell comes out of our own collection, our own box breaks, and lots we buy directly - nothing is drop-shipped and nothing is reprinted or custom-made. What you see pictured is what ships.
Where our cards come from
We source inventory three ways: opening sealed wax and boxes ourselves, buying bulk lots and collections from other collectors and dealers, and picking up singles through trusted marketplaces. Every card is physically pulled, sorted, and photographed by us before it's ever listed - we don't sell from a catalog or stock photos.
Condition & grading
Raw (ungraded) singles are described using standard trading-card condition terms. Most of our bulk and "pick your card" inventory is listed at a batch-level condition - meaning every card in that batch has been checked against the standard below before it's listed. We grade conservatively: if a card falls short of the stated condition, it's pulled and listed separately rather than lumped in. Graded cards are sold exactly as slabbed and certified by the grading company (PSA, BGS, SGC, etc.) - we don't regrade or alter certified cards.
| Grade | What it means |
|---|---|
| Near Mint or Better (NM+) | Sharp corners, no creases, centering roughly 65/35 or better. May have minor surface wear invisible without close inspection. |
| Excellent (EX) | Light corner wear or minor surface wear visible on close inspection. No creases. |
| Very Good / Lightly Played (VG/LP) | Visible corner or edge wear, light scratching, or minor centering issues. Still a clean display card. |
| Good / Played (G) | Noticeable wear - rounded corners, surface scuffing, or a light crease. Priced accordingly. |
Our default listing condition is Near Mint or Better unless a listing states otherwise.
Photos
Sealed products (boxes, ETBs) use manufacturer product photography so buyers can identify what they're ordering. Individual singles are either photographed by us directly or, for "pick your card" group listings, shown with the actual card photos for every card in the pool - never stock images standing in for a real card.