These Terms & Conditions govern the submission of cards and graded holders ("items") to Apex Grading Company for authentication, grading, reholder and review services. By submitting an item, you ("the submitter") confirm that you have read, understood and agree to these terms.
1. Submission & ownership
You confirm that you are the lawful owner of each item submitted, or that you are authorised by the owner to submit it. You are responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide about each item, including its identification and declared value.
2. No alterations
You agree not to knowingly submit any item that has been trimmed, recoloured, restored, cleaned, re-glossed or otherwise altered, nor any item that has been fraudulently encapsulated. Where our examination finds evidence of such alteration, we will not authenticate or grade the item, and it may be returned ungraded.
3. Tampered or damaged holders
Items sent for reholder or review services must arrive in a sealed, undamaged holder. Any holder that arrives open, cracked, unsealed or otherwise tampered with will be treated as a new submission and re-examined from the beginning. We cannot guarantee the authenticity or grade of an item removed from, or supplied outside of, its original sealed holder, and such items may be rejected.
4. Right to refuse
We reserve the absolute right to decline to authenticate, grade or encapsulate any item — including, without limitation, items we reasonably believe to be counterfeit, altered, structurally compromised or too fragile to process safely. Where we decline an item, we will notify you and return it in the condition received, subject to our Shipping Policy.
5. Fraudulent, altered & counterfeit items
We strictly prohibit the submission of fraudulent, altered or counterfeit items. If an item is determined during examination to be counterfeit or to have been tampered with, we will not authenticate or grade it. The submitter remains fully liable for any item knowingly submitted in breach of these terms, and we may withhold such an item where required to do so by law or by the rights holder.
6. Authenticity & grade claims
If you believe an item we have graded is not authentic, or has been graded incorrectly, you may submit it to us for review under our Return & Corrections Policy. Where a claim is upheld, we will contact you regarding the appropriate next steps. Where a claim is not upheld — that is, the item is confirmed genuine and correctly graded — the item will be returned to you, and any applicable review fee and return postage will be payable by you. Review fees, where they apply, are set out at the point of submission.
7. Liability
Return postage and insurance are charged in accordance with the shipping options selected at submission. Our liability for any item is limited to the extent set out in these terms and in any separate service agreement. Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.
8. Changes to these terms
We may update these terms from time to time. The version in force at the time of your submission applies to that submission.
Shipping Policy
You are responsible for packaging your items securely and for the cost and risk of delivering them to us. We strongly recommend a fully tracked and insured service. Items remain at your risk in transit until they are received and checked in at our facility.
Once your order is complete, we return your items using Royal Mail Special Delivery, which is tracked and insured. Return postage and insurance are charged according to the shipping option selected at submission and shown on your order. We ship to the delivery address on your account or order — it's your responsibility to make sure this is correct and complete before dispatch.
Items are dispatched after grading is complete and your order has been finalised. Delivery times then depend on the courier and are outside our control. Where we ship outside the United Kingdom, any customs duties, import taxes or handling fees are the responsibility of the recipient.
If a returned item is lost or damaged in transit, contact us promptly so we can help pursue a claim with the courier under the insured value.
Return & Corrections Policy
Grading is an expert opinion based on our published standards. Once a grade has been assigned it is final, save for the correction and review routes set out below.
If a label contains a clerical error we have made — for example a misspelled name, an incorrect card number or a wrong set — we will correct it at no charge. Contact us with your certificate number and we will arrange the correction.
If you believe an item has been graded incorrectly or is not authentic, you may return it to us for review. We will re-examine the item against our standards. If the review is upheld we will advise on next steps; if the item is confirmed genuine and correctly graded, it is returned to you and any applicable review fee and return postage are payable by you.
If a holder arrives damaged, or is damaged in return transit, contact us so we can arrange a reholder. Grading fees pay for the expert work carried out on your submission and are generally non-refundable once that work has begun. Where we decline an item before grading has taken place, we will discuss the appropriate options with you.
To request a correction or review, contact us with your certificate number and a description of the issue.
Questions about these terms can be sent to info@apexgradingcompany.com.
