SERVICES

Middle Man grading services through Plymouth Pokestop

Grading service

PSA Grading

Let us handle your submission for you. We send cards to PSA once a month. We check over all of the cards that we send with our grading check procedure. We handle all the logistics so that you dont have the stress of it all, and better yet we are cheaper than going directly to PSA for a single card. We offer this service for £20 + return postage.

Grading Service

Ace Grading

The UK's Biggest Grading Service. We here at Plymouth Pokestop love Ace. The Ace labels add the perfect touch to showing off your most precious cards. Being in the UK, we send cards to Ace a lot more regularly and the turnaround times are much quicker. We check over all of the cards that we send with our grading check procedure. We handle all the logistics so that you don't have the stress of it all. We offer this service for £15 + return postage. (ACE Labels cost an additional £3)

What to look for when considering grading?

CENTERING

To receive a Mint 9 grade, PSA requires a centering of 65/35
or better, while BGS has stricter standards. Both vertical and horizontal
centering play a crucial role. You can estimate centering using a measuring
tool. When assessing a digital card scan, tools like PixelZoomer can help
measure centering accurately. Remember, if the scan is skewed, your
measurements will be too. Additionally, backside centering is important, with
only a 75/25 or worse misalignment being significant.

Corners

They should appear neat and crisp. Corners that appear
bumped or creased are a serious violation. A slight hint of white showing is
considered a minor offense.

Sharp corners with a bit of extra cardboard fuzz hanging off
are acceptable. PSA tends to be very stringent on corners, while BGS is
slightly more lenient.

Edges

Inspect all four edges of the cardboard for any
inconsistencies. White flecks where they shouldn't be are a cause for concern.
Watch out for chips, wavering, or any irregularities. Cards with white/yellow/silver
edges generally hold up better than those with black edges.

Surfaces

This is a common challenge for many new collectors. To spot
defects, hold the card up to the light at an angle and tilt it slightly. Check
for scratches, indentations, bumps, and print lines. Use a microfiber cloth to
gently clean any imperfections, including fingerprints.

A typical modern card taken straight from a pack may have
one or two very minor flaws and is classified as NM/MT – Mint condition. This
is the standard quality for an ungraded card.

If the card is flawless, it could be a Gem Mint specimen
worth sending to PSA or another third-party grader for assessment. If there are
more than two minor defects, make sure to disclose them when selling or trading
the card.