How It Works
Happy to help you get started
Everything you need to know about grading with GradeIt, in one place. It looks like a lot — it’s actually very simple.
Your submission in 5 simple steps
Add your items one by one through our wizard. Search the TCGplayer database or upload your own photo, and pick a service level per item. The total updates live as you go.
Standard checkout. Choose "Collect" or "Ship back" — this only affects how your items come home.
Drop them off, or ship via PostNet / Aramex / Courier Guy. We recommend our GradeIT semi-rigid sleeves so we can send your items as you sent them.
Each month goes to a different grading company. Most submissions return in around 90 days (PSA and CGC have been faster lately).
If you chose collection, we'll let you know when they arrive. If you chose shipping, we send them back insured. USA returns add 17% customs and R45/item shipping.
How an item is graded
Items are graded on their overall condition — the more "perfect" an item is, the higher the grade. Companies look at four main points:
Print quality and finish. Scratches, print lines, indents, scuffs — anything visible on the surface under bright light.
All four corners are inspected for whitening, fraying, dings, or rounded edges. Even a tiny ding can drop the grade.
Cleanness of the edges along the long and short sides. Looking for chipping, whitening, or wear from handling.
How perfectly the artwork sits within the borders, front and back. Often the deciding factor between a 9 and a 10.
1. Pick a grading company
Base prices are per item. Faster tiers add onto these. For the return from the USA we add 17% customs and R45 shipping per item.
PSA Grading
Currently Value Submissions closed, only Express options available.
Prices below are added to (or subtracted from) the R600,00 base grading price per item.
Service levels
Optional add-ons
Prices below are added to (or subtracted from) the R800,00 (R600,00 base + R200,00 for Comic Book) base grading price per item.
Service levels
Prices below are added to (or subtracted from) the R1300,00 (R600,00 base + R700,00 for Video Game) base grading price per item.
Service levels
Optional add-ons
Prices below are added to (or subtracted from) the R2600,00 (R600,00 base + R2000,00 for Funko Pop) base grading price per item.
Service levels
Prices below are added to (or subtracted from) the R600,00 base grading price per item.
Service levels
Prices below are added to (or subtracted from) the R1700,00 (R600,00 base + R1100,00 for Sealed Pack) base grading price per item.
Service levels
Prices below are added to (or subtracted from) the R1300,00 (R600,00 base + R700,00 for Media) base grading price per item.
Service levels
Optional add-ons
BGS Grading
Prices below are added to (or subtracted from) the R500,00 base grading price per item.
Service levels
Optional add-ons
TAG Grading
No grading options configured for this company yet.
CGC Grading
Prices below are added to (or subtracted from) the R400,00 base grading price per item.
Service levels
Optional add-ons
Prices below are added to (or subtracted from) the R400,00 base grading price per item.
Service levels
Optional add-ons
Prices below are added to (or subtracted from) the R750,00 (R400,00 base + R350,00 for Video Game) base grading price per item.
Service levels
Optional add-ons
Prices below are added to (or subtracted from) the R750,00 (R400,00 base + R350,00 for Media) base grading price per item.
Service levels
AGS Grading
Prices below are added to (or subtracted from) the R350,00 base grading price per item.
Service levels
Optional add-ons
2. Add your items and check out
You add your items one by one on our website, follow the wizard to help you add them then check out and pay!
Add your first item in under a minute.
Submit 12 or more items
Bulk submissions of 12 or more items in a single order automatically receive 5% off at checkout. Great for clearing out the collection in one go.
3. Get your items to us
Either ship them to us or drop them off. Once they’re back from grading you can collect, or we ship them to you — whichever you chose at checkout.
Once your grading order is paid for, you will receive an email with all the possible Dropoff and Send-In Locations you can select from. Preferably if you are shipping the items we request you send to our JHB Branch, but you are welcome to select what best suites you from the options provided.
❗❗ Very Important Remember to add your order # to your package, We love gifts, but only around christmas!
How to pack your items
For the safest journey, send each card in a penny sleeve inside a semi-rigid card holder. Comics, games and other collectables are welcome in their usual bag/board or protective case. We strongly recommend our own GradeIT semi-rigids — when you use them, we don't repack your items at all and they go directly to the grader.
Don't have any? No problem — we'll re-pack into a fresh penny sleeve + semi-rigid on arrival.
4. Don’t miss the cut-off
We send to a different grading company each month, so check which month your company is going. There’s a cut-off countdown timer at the bottom of every page.
All companies have a rough estimated completion of 120 working days unless you choose a faster tier.
5. Getting your items back
USA returns — customs & shipping
When items come back from a USA-based grading company we add a flat 17% customs charge and R45 shipping per item. Those amounts are calculated at checkout — no surprise bills later.
- +17% customs (calculated on declared value)
- +R45 shipping per item
PSA upcharges — what they are
An upcharge is an extra fee that only PSA may apply after grading. It’s a standard part of PSA’s process and is outside the control of submission partners like us.
You choose a service level based on what you think the item will be worth once graded, and each level covers items up to a maximum insured / declared value. If PSA decides the graded item is worth more than that limit, they move it to the correct higher tier and charge the difference in grading fees.
It’s based on post-grading market value, not the grade alone:
- A modern card can grade PSA 10 and still be worth under $500 — no upcharge.
- A rare or vintage card can grade PSA 7 or 8 and still be worth over $500 — possible upcharge.
The upcharge is the difference between the tier you paid for and the tier PSA moves it to, so starting in a higher tier makes any difference smaller. Rough guide, by after-market value (AMV):
- Upgrade to Value ($300–$500 AMV) — approx. +R600
- Upgrade to Value Max ($501–$1,000 AMV) — approx. +R750
- Upgrade to Regular Express ($1,001–$1,500 AMV) — approx. +R2,300
- Upgrade to Express ($1,501–$4,000 AMV) — approx. +R5,100
There’s more detail on this in our FAQ.
Working out what your items are worth
These are the tools we use ourselves for pricing and centering.
Helpful apps & sites
A few of our favourite tools for figuring out what your items are worth raw vs graded, and whether they're worth submitting.
Raw (ungraded) pricing
The biggest TCG marketplace. Great for instant sold-price checks on most cards.
Beautiful mobile app — scan and track your whole collection with live value tracking.
Best for vintage cards, sports, and any cross-hobby item. Tracks ungraded and graded prices side by side.
Graded pricing
Still stuck?
Have a look at our frequently asked questions — and if your question isn’t there, just ask us. If you get stuck anywhere along the way, let us know and we’ll help.
