The Binder Pulls guide
Condition Guide
A good condition guide should answer “What am I buying?” without requiring a magnifying-glass certification.
Condition is a matter of judgment. Binder Pulls assigns raw-card condition using our good-faith assessment of the card's overall appearance and wear. This guide explains the general meaning of our labels; it is not a professional grading standard, an exhaustive inspection checklist, or a guarantee of a future grade. Read the selected copy's description, photos, and notes together.
Your selected copy
If a product offers several copies, check the selected copy before adding it to your cart. Wear, photos, notes, and price can differ. Images identified as that copy show the item offered; reference artwork is an identification aid, not proof of a particular card's condition.
Photos cannot show every faint mark. Lighting, reflections, sleeves, and screens affect appearance. Ask before ordering if centering, a particular edge, or another detail matters to you. A preference for a different appearance does not create a return right when the item matches its listing.
Raw condition categories
Condition reflects the overall impression of a card, considering factors such as its surfaces, edges, corners, and visible wear. Different collectors and sellers may reasonably reach different conclusions, especially on borderline cards. We make the condition call for our listings; another seller's label or a buyer's preferred standard may differ.
| Category | General impression and examples |
|---|---|
| Near Mint — NM | Generally clean with minimal visible wear. Small imperfections, such as light edge whitening or faint surface marks, may be present. Near Mint does not mean flawless. |
| Lightly Played — LP | Generally light wear while retaining a clean overall appearance. Examples may include minor edge or corner wear and surface marks. |
| Moderately Played — MP | More noticeable wear, which may include whitening, softened corners, scratching, scuffing, or impressions. The combination and visibility of wear vary. |
| Heavily Played — HP | Substantial wear affecting the card's overall appearance. This may include heavier edge wear, rounded corners, pronounced surface wear, dents, or creasing. |
| Damaged — DMG | Significant damage or deterioration. Examples may include tears, folds, liquid damage, separation, or severe warping. Review the listing for the particular issues. |
These are illustrative descriptions, not pass/fail rules. There are no fixed flaw counts, measurements, or automatic category changes for a particular mark. Its severity, visibility, and effect on the card as a whole inform our assessment. A label or note is not an inventory of every imperfection or a promise that a card has undergone professional or microscopic examination.
“Played” describes condition, not whether a card was actually used in a game. A pack-fresh card can have manufacturing or handling imperfections. Specific factual descriptions in a listing still apply; the subjective nature of condition does not excuse a significant misdescription.
Common points of confusion
Whitening, scratches, impressions, and creases
Whitening is loss of color along edges or corners. A scratch marks the surface; an impression or dent changes its shape; a crease is a fold line. A small deep mark can matter more than a longer faint scratch. Obvious structural damage cannot be explained away as a preference about condition.
Foils and curl
Foils follow the same general wear scale. Scratches, clouding, missing foil, and bubbling count toward condition, including factory flaws. Smooth foil curvature differs from a sharp bend or crease. Curl can change with humidity and storage; we do not guarantee permanent flatness. The extent of curl and its effect on the card inform our overall assessment; a particular amount of curvature does not automatically determine a category.
Centering and manufacturing flaws
Our condition labels are not numerical centering grades. Off-center printing, print lines, rough cuts, roller marks, and crimping vary in severity and can affect professional grading. We consider manufacturing flaws as part of the overall assessment. Their origin does not make a card flawless, and their presence does not determine a category by itself.
Alterations and special markings
Trimming, recoloring, restoration, added signatures, and other alterations differ from ordinary wear. Known alterations require specific disclosure; a generic DMG label is not enough. Factory stamps and legitimate printing variations belong in the product description. Suspected counterfeit items are an authenticity issue, not a low condition category.
Slabs: grade and holder condition are separate
A slab's grade or designation is the named grading company's assessment. “Authentic” or “Authentic Altered” is not the same as a numerical grade. We do not guarantee a future regrade, crossover, or a collector's agreement with the assigned grade.
The grade does not grade the plastic around the card. Holders can show light handling marks; perfect plastic is not assumed. Significant chips, cracks, or other material holder damage should be disclosed. Review the photos and notes, and ask about appearance before ordering. A materially undisclosed defect or suspected tampering can be submitted under our limited Returns & Refunds process.
If you believe there is a significant error
All card sales are final. Minor subjective condition preferences or a disappointing grade do not qualify for a return. For an objective, significant mismatch, follow Returns & Refunds: report an apparent issue within 48 hours of delivery, preserve the item, and wait for instructions. Suspected counterfeit items or fraud should be reported promptly when discovered; required legal rights are not shortened. A request does not automatically establish eligibility.
Condition FAQ
Does Near Mint mean PSA 10?
No. Near Mint is a retail range, not a grading prediction. “Straight into a sleeve” is also not a grading company.
Can two LP copies look different?
Yes. One may have edge wear and another surface marks. The label reflects our overall judgment, not an identical set of permitted flaws. Review the selected copy's photos and notes.
Who decides the condition category?
Binder Pulls makes the condition assessment for its listings. Reasonable differences of opinion can occur, and this guide is not a defect-by-defect grading formula. Significant factual listing errors are handled separately under Returns & Refunds.
Does a factory defect count?
Yes, according to its type and severity. New does not mean flawless.
Is a raw card's centering guaranteed?
No numerical centering is promised unless expressly stated. Check the images and ask before buying if a detail is important.
Is the holder covered by the card's grade?
No. Holder condition is separate. Minor handling marks can occur; significant holder defects should be disclosed.
Will a curled or damaged card be tournament legal?
We do not guarantee event eligibility. The game's current rules and event officials determine it.
Can I return a card because another grader disagrees?
Not for that reason alone. Evidence of a significant listing error or authenticity problem is reviewed separately under Returns & Refunds.