Condition Guide

Dizzy Dugout’s Conditioning Guide for reference and trade.

All listed prices are for Near Mint versions of cards. We will still buy Slightly Played, Moderately Played, and some Heavily Played versions of cards at the following rates:

Game Card Condition Guide lines

Near-Mint Condition, definition
In order for a card to be graded NM/Mint condition; it will show minimal to no wear from shuffling or general play.  Examining the front and back of a NM/Mint will display an unmarked surface, crisp corners, unblemished edges and very good centering.  The edges should be free from almost all flaws.  The card may have up to two or three small dings on its edges that are visible only on very close inspection or have a small scratches or other nick.   Generally it will be indistinguishable in an unsleeved deck from other Near Mint cards
 (Foils in this category have little or no scuffing or clouding on the front.)
Trade in/sale value = 100%

Light Played Condition, definition
"Light Played" cards overall, will look Near Mint except for a small number of minor flaws from handling.  Cards in Light Played condition can have small dings, scratches, and minor chips, and printing blemishes. Cards that have the ProTour Stamp will also fall into this category.  You will start to see the appearance of mild border wear, minor corner wear, or scuffing/loss of sheen on the front/back and some whitening along the edges due to play (Foils in this condition will generally have some clouding or wear on the front of the card. Sleeves may or may not be needed to play these cards in a tournament.)
Trade in/sale value = -30% of mint

Moderate Played Condition, definition
Cards considered to be in Moderately Played condition show moderate wear, but are still legal for tournament play if sleeved. Examples of cards in this grade include cards with shuffle creasing, moderate corner wear, moderate border wear, moderate whitening on the back or front face of the card, slight-to-moderate inking along the back borders, major scratching, minor water damage, slight hairline creasing, or binder creases.)
Trade in/sale value = -50% of mint

Heavy Played / Damaged Condition, definition

Heavily Played and Damaged condition Cards show extreme wear, and may not be legal for tournament play, even in a sleeve. This card will display heavy border discoloration on the front and back of the card.  As well, the card will have some surface wear that is usually considered to be a catastrophic defect.  These conditions include cards that have writing on the back, major creasing, folding, major water damage, major whitening, major border wear, major inking (white-bordered cards that are marketed on front to look black-bordered), tearing, chunks missing out of the card, cards that have been run over by a car, cards that have been run through a washing machine, etc. We do occasionally sell card in these conditions at the shop or at an event, where the buyer can see the exact condition of the card they are getting.  
Cards appearing in this condition on our website are mainly for inventory purposes.  You may purchase them but they are sold “as-is” and non refundable!

Trade in/sale value: we do not accept cards in this condition. (Unless it’s a much desired card)

Autographed Condition, definition.

Uncertified Autographed Game Card Cards are a tricky situation with game cards.  The card has a catastrophic defect. In some cases such as Pokémon the card becomes unplayable in tournaments.  However, it is now collectable because it has been defaced by the cards artist, game designer Voice Actor, or Creator ECT.   Without a certificate, the autograph adds no weight to its value.  In most cases, these cards trade equal to their condition value and the autograph is ignored as having damaged the card. 

In the case of Pokémon where the card is now considered damaged and unplayable it trades in less -75% of its final grade.