Submission Policies & Terms of Service
Last Updated: [05/01/2026]
These Submission Policies and Terms of Service govern all card inspection, preparation, grading submission, shipping, insurance, payment, and related services provided by Card Care Lab.
By creating an account, submitting cards, using the Card Care Lab submission form, approving grading services, remitting payment, or otherwise using Card Care Lab services, the customer acknowledges and agrees to the terms below.
1. Submission Agreement
Card Care Lab provides card inspection, preparation, grading submission assistance, order tracking, and related services for collectible cards.
By submitting cards to Card Care Lab, the customer authorizes Card Care Lab to receive, handle, inspect, prepare, organize, package, ship, and submit cards to third-party grading companies, including but not limited to PSA.
The customer understands that Card Care Lab acts as a submission facilitator and service provider. Card Care Lab does not own customer-submitted cards unless otherwise agreed in writing.
2. Customer Account & Dashboard
Customers are encouraged to create and use a Card Care Lab account when submitting cards.
When submissions are made while logged into a customer account, an order may be created and viewable within the customer’s “My Orders” dashboard.
The dashboard may display order status, submission updates, certification numbers, grading progress, PSA Offers, and related information when available.
Customers are responsible for monitoring their account, email notifications, and communications from Card Care Lab.
3. Inspection Recommendations
Card Care Lab may provide inspection results, preparation recommendations, grading recommendations, or opinions regarding whether cards appear suitable for grading.
All inspection opinions and recommendations are subjective and based on Card Care Lab’s experience and review at the time of inspection.
Inspection recommendations are not guarantees of grading results, authentication, encapsulation, value, or future market performance.
Cards deemed not suitable for grading following inspection and review may be returned with the completed shipment unless alternate arrangements are requested.
Customers may elect to submit cards against Card Care Lab’s recommendation at their own discretion and risk.
4. Card Preparation & Cleaning
Card Care Lab may offer card preparation or cleaning services when appropriate.
Card preparation and cleaning are performed with the goal of improving presentation where possible, but results are not guaranteed.
The customer understands that certain defects, damage, print issues, surface issues, alterations, trimming, creases, dents, stains, or manufacturing flaws may not be correctable.
Card Care Lab is not responsible for pre-existing card defects, hidden damage, manufacturing issues, prior alterations, or conditions not reasonably visible during inspection.
5. Third-Party Grading Disclaimer
Third-party grading is subjective. No specific grade, authentication result, encapsulation result, turnaround time, or value increase is guaranteed.
Card Care Lab is not responsible for grading outcomes, authentication decisions, encapsulation decisions, non-graded results, qualifiers, upcharges, delays, damages, or any decisions made by PSA or any other third-party grading company.
The customer acknowledges that grading results may be lower than expected and that grading may decrease, increase, or have no effect on a card’s market value.
6. PSA Upcharges & Service Levels
PSA or another grading company may determine that a card requires a higher service level or additional fee based on declared value, card type, market value, or grading company policy.
Any grading company upcharges, service level changes, or additional charges remain the responsibility of the card owner.
Card Care Lab may notify the customer of upcharges when applicable, but the customer remains responsible for all grading-related charges associated with their submission.
7. Declared Value Policy
Customers are responsible for providing accurate declared values for all submitted items when requested.
Declared values may affect grading service level, shipping insurance, claim recovery, and risk assessment.
Undervaluing cards may limit available insurance recovery in the event of loss, theft, or damage.
Overvaluing cards may result in additional costs, service changes, or insurance requirements.
Card Care Lab may, at its discretion, request updated declared values, require additional insurance, split shipments, or adjust shipping methods based on risk.
8. Shipping & Insurance
Return shipping rates are based on order size, shipment type, destination, declared value, and requested shipping method.
Card Care Lab may require signature confirmation, insurance, upgraded shipping, shipment splitting, or additional shipping precautions for certain packages.
Standard shipping methods may be included for certain services, but expedited shipping, overnight shipping, additional insurance, or special handling may incur additional costs.
Card Care Lab is not responsible for items lost, stolen, delayed, or damaged during transit beyond applicable carrier and/or insurance coverage.
Insurance coverage, when applicable, is subject to the terms, exclusions, limits, deductibles, claim procedures, and approval of the carrier or insurance provider.
Any applicable deductible, including but not limited to a $500 deductible where applicable, remains the responsibility of the card owner unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Card Care Lab will make reasonable efforts to assist customers with carrier or insurance claims, but cannot guarantee claim approval, claim timing, or payout amount.
If a customer declines recommended signature confirmation, insurance, upgraded shipping, or additional coverage, Card Care Lab assumes no responsibility for loss, theft, or damage beyond applicable carrier coverage.
9. Inbound Shipments
Customers are responsible for properly packaging and shipping cards to Card Care Lab.
Card Care Lab is not responsible for inbound packages lost, stolen, damaged, delayed, misdelivered, or improperly addressed before being received and checked in by Card Care Lab.
Customers are encouraged to use tracking, insurance, and secure packaging when shipping cards to Card Care Lab.
10. Order Statuses & Timelines
Card Care Lab order statuses are intended to help customers track submission progress.
Possible order statuses may include, but are not limited to:
Arrived – Awaiting Inspection
Proccesing
Research + ID
Grading
Assembly
Grades Ready
Completed
Shipped
Turnaround times may vary based on order volume, grading company processing times, shipping delays, holidays, workload, service level, or other factors outside of Card Care Lab’s control.
Inspections are typically performed Thursday through Sunday, though timing may vary.
Card Care Lab does not guarantee completion dates unless expressly agreed in writing.
11. Grades Ready & PSA Offers
When an order reaches Grades Ready status, grades may be available for customer review through the customer dashboard.
PSA Offers, buyout offers, or similar third-party offers may be displayed when available.
Offers may be time-sensitive, may expire quickly, and may change without notice.
Card Care Lab is not responsible for missed, expired, reduced, withdrawn, or unavailable offers.
Customers are responsible for reviewing their dashboard and communications promptly.
12. Payment Terms
Invoices are due according to the payment terms stated by Card Care Lab.
Unless otherwise stated, invoices not settled within 7 days of the agreed billing date may incur a 20% late fee.
Orders may be held until payment is completed.
Card Care Lab reserves the right to delay return shipping, withhold release of items, suspend future services, or require upfront payment from customers with overdue balances.
13. Late Fees, Storage, and Abandoned Property
Orders remaining unpaid may be subject to late fees, storage fees, administrative fees, and/or additional handling fees.
If an invoice remains unpaid after repeated attempts to contact the customer, Card Care Lab may consider the items abandoned property.
Card Care Lab reserves the right to liquidate, sell, or otherwise dispose of unpaid or abandoned items in order to recover outstanding balances, late fees, storage fees, grading fees, shipping costs, insurance costs, administrative costs, and associated expenses.
Any remaining proceeds, if any, after recovery of outstanding amounts and costs may be handled at Card Care Lab’s discretion and in accordance with applicable law.
14. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Card Care Lab’s liability for any claim related to customer-submitted items shall be limited to the lesser of:
the customer-provided declared value, the amount actually recovered through applicable insurance or carrier coverage, or the amount paid by the customer to Card Care Lab for the specific service giving rise to the claim.
Card Care Lab shall not be liable for speculative value, lost profits, emotional distress, market fluctuations, lost opportunity, expected grading results, expected sale prices, future value, or consequential damages.
15. Market Value Disclaimer
Collectible card values fluctuate frequently.
Card Care Lab is not responsible for changes in market value before, during, or after inspection, grading, shipping, PSA Offers, or return shipment.
No statement by Card Care Lab should be interpreted as a guaranteed appraisal, guaranteed sale price, investment advice, or financial advice.
16. Customer Communication
Card Care Lab may communicate with customers through email, website dashboard notifications, text message, social media messaging, or other methods.
Customers are responsible for providing accurate contact information and monitoring communications.
Failure to respond to communications may delay inspection, submission, invoicing, shipping, insurance decisions, or return shipment.
17. Accuracy of Customer Information
Customers are responsible for ensuring that names, email addresses, phone numbers, shipping addresses, declared values, card information, and submission instructions are accurate.
Card Care Lab is not responsible for delays, miscommunication, shipment issues, or losses caused by inaccurate or outdated customer information.
18. Right to Refuse Service
Card Care Lab reserves the right to refuse service, cancel submissions, require upfront payment, modify service terms, or discontinue working with any customer at its discretion.
Reasons may include but are not limited to abusive behavior, nonpayment, excessive risk, inaccurate information, suspected fraud, repeated disputes, or failure to comply with Card Care Lab policies.
19. Policy Updates
Card Care Lab may update these Submission Policies and Terms of Service from time to time.
Updated policies will be posted on the Card Care Lab website.
Continued use of Card Care Lab services after policy updates constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.
20. Acceptance of Terms
By submitting cards, creating an account, using the submission form, approving grading services, remitting payment, or continuing to use Card Care Lab services, the customer acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to these Submission Policies and Terms of Service.
For questions regarding these policies, please contact:
Card Care Lab
CoreyEiferle
info@cardcarelab.com