Terms and Conditions
Effective Date: 9/11/26
By submitting a trading card or other collectible to Blue Star Grading (“Blue Star Grading,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), purchasing a grading service, or otherwise using our services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to the following Terms & Conditions.
1. Grading Services
Blue Star Grading provides professional card grading services based solely on the observable condition and characteristics of the submitted card.
Our grading process evaluates factors such as, but not limited to, centering, corners, edges, surface condition, printing characteristics, and other visible attributes of the card.
Blue Star Grading will make every reasonable effort to provide the fairest and most accurate grade possible based upon our established grading standards and the condition of the card at the time it is evaluated.
The same grading standards are applied consistently to all customers. No customer, card, submission, or order will receive preferential treatment based on the card's value, ownership, customer status, or any other factor.
2. Blue Star Grading Does Not Authenticate Cards
Blue Star Grading is not an authentication service and does not authenticate trading cards.
A grade issued by Blue Star Grading represents our opinion regarding the condition of the card only. A Blue Star Grading holder, label, certificate, or grade should not be interpreted as a representation or guarantee that a card, autograph, memorabilia, patch, printing, or any other component of the card is genuine or authentic.
Customers are solely responsible for determining the authenticity and provenance of cards submitted to Blue Star Grading.
Blue Star Grading provides grading services only and does not authenticate cards.
3. Grading Is an Opinion
All grades issued by Blue Star Grading represent our professional opinion of the card's condition according to our established grading standards.
Grades are subjective and may differ from grades assigned by other grading companies, dealers, collectors, or individuals. Blue Star Grading does not guarantee that another grading company, marketplace, dealer, collector, or buyer will agree with or assign the same grade to a card.
The grade assigned by Blue Star Grading is final once the grading process has been completed, except where Blue Star Grading determines, at its sole discretion, that an administrative or grading error has occurred.
4. Condition of Submitted Cards
Customers are responsible for ensuring that cards are properly prepared, packaged, and protected before shipment to Blue Star Grading.
Customers should use appropriate protective materials and adequate packaging to minimize the possibility of damage during transportation.
Blue Star Grading is not responsible for damage to a card that occurs during shipment or transit to Blue Star Grading, including damage resulting from inadequate packaging, mishandling by a carrier, or other circumstances outside of Blue Star Grading's control.
Likewise, Blue Star Grading is not responsible for damage to a card that occurs during shipment or transit from Blue Star Grading back to the customer.
Customers are encouraged to use appropriate shipping services, tracking, insurance, and protective packaging when sending valuable cards.
5. Lost or Missing Shipments
Blue Star Grading is not responsible for cards, packages, or shipments that are lost, stolen, misdirected, delayed, or otherwise missing while in transit, whether traveling to or from Blue Star Grading.
Responsibility for the shipment while it is in the possession of the shipping carrier rests with the applicable carrier and/or the party responsible for shipping the package.
Customers are responsible for retaining tracking information and, when appropriate, purchasing shipping insurance for valuable submissions.
6. Pre-Existing Damage
Blue Star Grading is not responsible for damage, defects, alterations, or other conditions that existed on a card prior to its arrival at our facility.
Customers acknowledge that cards may contain defects that are not immediately apparent and that the final grade will reflect the condition observed during our grading process.
7. Submission Information
Customers are responsible for providing accurate and complete information regarding submitted cards.
Providing as much information as possible—including the player or character, year, card set, card number, insert, parallel, variation, and other identifying information—helps Blue Star Grading process submissions efficiently and accurately.
Blue Star Grading is not responsible for delays or errors resulting from incomplete, inaccurate, or misleading information provided by the customer.
8. Refusal of Service
Blue Star Grading reserves the right to refuse to grade a card or accept a submission for any reason, including but not limited to:
Cards that cannot reasonably be evaluated.
Cards that exceed our current holder or equipment specifications.
Cards that are excessively damaged or fragile.
Cards that present unusual grading circumstances.
Items outside the scope of our grading services.
Submissions containing incomplete or inaccurate information.
If Blue Star Grading determines that a card cannot be graded, the customer will be notified and the card will be returned according to our applicable return procedures.
9. No Guarantee of Grade
Payment for a grading service does not guarantee any particular grade.
Blue Star Grading does not guarantee a minimum grade, numerical grade, or specific result. Customers acknowledge that grading fees are paid for the grading service and evaluation, not for receiving a particular grade.
10. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Blue Star Grading shall not be responsible for indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages arising from the submission, grading, handling, storage, shipment, or return of a card.
This includes, but is not limited to, losses arising from shipping delays, carrier errors, lost packages, theft, transit damage, changes in market value, differences in grading opinions, or the customer's disagreement with a grade.
Nothing in these Terms & Conditions is intended to exclude or limit any liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited under applicable law.
11. Acceptance of These Terms
By submitting a card to Blue Star Grading, purchasing a grading service, or otherwise using our services, the customer acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.
If you do not agree to these Terms & Conditions, please do not submit cards to Blue Star Grading or purchase our grading services.