Card condition disputes are almost always vocabulary problems. One person's near mint is another person's obviously damaged, and neither is lying. Using consistent, checkable terms and photographing the specific things that matter turns a subjective argument into a factual one.
The flaws that actually matter
In descending order of value impact: creases, corner whitening, surface scratches on glossy stock, print dots or misprints, and edge wear. A single crease can cut value by half or more because it is permanent and visible in any light. Corner whitening on one corner is a modest deduction; on all four it reads as a heavily handled card.
How to photograph condition properly
Shoot under angled light rather than flat overhead light, because scratches and creases are invisible in flat lighting. Include one straight-on shot of the front, one of the back, and one raking-light shot at roughly 30 degrees. Sellers who only post flat-lit scans are either careless or hiding something, and buyers have learned to read it that way.
Factory flaws versus handling damage
Cards come out of albums with occasional print lines, slight off-center cuts and minor edge roughness. These are not damage and should be described as factory condition, not as a defect the seller caused. Buyers who expect perfection from mass-produced inserts end up in disputes; sellers who hide a crease behind the phrase minor factory flaw earn their reputation.
What condition does to price
For a card with a 40,000 KRW mint value, expect roughly 30,000 to 35,000 KRW with light corner wear, 20,000 to 25,000 KRW with visible surface scratching, and 12,000 to 18,000 KRW with a crease. Sealed-from-album cards command the top of the range and are worth stating explicitly. Prices also vary by how quickly you need to sell: a card listed at market rate can take weeks to move, while pricing 15 percent under market usually clears within a day.
Send us the link. We'll buy it and ship it.
No Korean card, no phone verification, no Korean address. Pay once in USD.
Start a buy-for-me order →Frequently asked
Should I grade cards professionally?
For all but a handful of extremely rare cards, the grading fee exceeds the value added. The market runs on photos and reputation rather than slabs.
Does sleeving affect condition over time?
It prevents scratching but traps humidity in a damp room. Sleeved cards in a stable indoor environment hold up for years; sleeved cards in a garage do not.
How do I check a card before it ships from Korea?
Ask for angled-light photos at the inspection step, before consolidation. Once a box is sealed and flying, an inspection request means opening it again and delays the shipment.