Card & Repair Information
Card Repair, Clearly Explained
Cleaning, restoring, and preparing cards for grading. We aim to improve presentation while preserving original material and print. Results vary, and no grading outcome is guaranteed.
Pricing
Choose what your card needs.
The listed options have fixed prices. Repair work is quoted before it begins.
Review and cleaning
- Restoration Evaluation$5
- Condition and repairability review. The fee is credited toward approved repair work.
- Card Cleaning$5
- Removal of appropriate surface dirt and residue when the card can be cleaned safely.
- Grading Evaluation$10
- Cleaning and review for grading potential, including a centering check.
Removal and priority
- Slab Crack+$10
- Removal from an existing holder before inspection or repair work.
- Express Lane+$50
- Priority queue placement when one of the limited spots is available. A completion date is not guaranteed.
Rates by card value.
Damage complexity, risk, and the work required determine the final quote.
| Current raw card value | Repair rate |
|---|---|
| Under $200 | Starting at $50 |
| $200 to $499 | Starting at $80 |
| $500 to $999 | Starting at $150 |
| $1,000 to $1,499 | Starting at $200 |
| $1,500 to $2,500 | Starting at $275 |
| Over $2,500 | Custom Quote |
Repairability
What improvement can look like.
Use these categories as a starting point. A card's material, condition, and previous damage still determine what is safe.
Usually responds well
- Surface dirt or removable residue
- Mild curling or warping
- Shallow dents or bends
Improvement focused
- Creases
- Deeper dents or bends
- Minor edge or layer lifting
Usually not repairable
- Whitening or missing ink, foil, or paper
- Tears, burns, or severe delamination
- Deep scratches, broken crease scars, or trimmed edges
Marks, whitening, texture changes, weakness, or other evidence may remain even after meaningful improvement.
Process
From first photos to final return.
- 01
Share the card
Send clear photos, your goal, and anything you know about the damage or previous work.
- 02
Review the recommendation
We review whether the card is a reasonable candidate and recommend only the work it needs.
- 03
Approve the quote
We confirm the work, price, scope, and main risks before work begins.
- 04
Repair and return
We complete the approved work, review the result, and prepare the card for return or the separately approved next step.
Before You Approve
Timing, risk, and your responsibilities.
How long it may take
Straightforward work may take days, while complex restoration may take several weeks. Timing depends on the queue, the damage, and how the card responds.
Express Lane has limited availability and provides priority placement, but it does not guarantee a completion date or shorten any step needed to work safely.
Results and grading
Restoration results vary. Damage may remain visible, become more noticeable, or, in rare cases, worsen. We cannot guarantee complete damage removal, a grade increase, authentication, resale value, or acceptance by a grading company.
Grading and authentication companies use their own standards and may classify a treated card as restored or altered regardless of its visual improvement.
What we will do
- Use the least invasive approach that reasonably fits the damage
- Stop when additional work would create more risk than likely benefit
What we will not do
- Add ink, trim, reshape, rebuild, or reback a card
- Perform hidden reconstruction intended to misrepresent a card
Next Step
Ready for a card review?
Send photos, describe the visible damage and your goal, and wait for a recommendation before shipping or dropping off the card.