Terms of Service

Black Label Grading Ltd ("BLG") acts as a third-party submission agent and custodian for trading cards submitted by customers for grading by PSA, Beckett Grading Services (BGS), and CGC (each a "Grading Company"). All trading cards and collectibles submitted to BLG remain the property of the customer at all times. BLG does not acquire ownership of any submitted items and holds all submitted items as bailee and custodian solely for the purpose of providing grading, handling, storage, and return services. By submitting items to BLG, you confirm and warrant that: you are the lawful owner of the items or are authorised by the lawful owner to submit them; the items are not stolen, counterfeit, subject to dispute, or otherwise unlawful to possess or submit for grading; and the information you provide, including declared values, ownership, and contact details, is accurate and complete. BLG reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to refuse, cancel, suspend, or terminate any order or service at any time, including where fraud, misrepresentation, non-payment, valuation concerns, compliance issues, or ownership disputes are suspected. Where service is refused or suspended, BLG may retain submitted items pending resolution, return them at the customer's expense, or take other reasonable steps to protect BLG and affected parties. BLG retains a contractual lien over all submitted items for any unpaid balances, charges, fees, or costs owed to BLG, and may retain possession of any submitted items until all outstanding amounts are paid in full. This lien applies regardless of where the items are located within BLG's custody or supply chain. You agree not to reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, resell, or exploit any part of the BLG website, services, systems, or processes without express written permission. The website and its original content, features, and functionality are owned by Black Label Grading Ltd and protected by United Kingdom and international copyright laws. Any personal data, submission details, and images of cards provided to BLG are used solely for fulfilling your order, operating the service, and marketing where you have given consent, in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Prices, service levels, turnaround estimates, and available grading options are subject to change without notice to reflect changes imposed by grading companies, shipping providers, insurers, exchange rates, and operating costs. BLG may modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Service at any time. Changes to prices or service terms will not apply retrospectively to orders already accepted and paid for, except where required by a grading company or third-party provider outside BLG's control. Where a grading company introduces new fees, upcharges, service level changes, or requirements after an order is placed, BLG reserves the right to pass those changes on to the customer. BLG will notify the customer, and the submitted items may be held until additional charges are paid or alternative instructions are received. BLG shall not be liable for any loss, delay, or disruption caused by changes, suspensions, or discontinuation of services by grading companies, shipping providers, or other third-party partners.

It is the responsibility of the customer to package and ship their cards safely to BLG. BLG is not responsible for loss, theft, or damage occurring during transit from the customer to BLG. Delivery to BLG is only deemed to have occurred when the submitted items have been Checked In by BLG (see 3.2). Courier tracking statuses, including "delivered", do not constitute proof of receipt by BLG. All submissions must include a valid order number clearly linked to the sender. Where cards are received without an order number or sufficient identifying information, BLG will make reasonable efforts to locate the owner. If ownership cannot be established within 12 months of receipt, BLG may treat the items as unclaimed property and dispose of, sell, or otherwise handle them to recover reasonable storage, handling, and administrative costs. All submitted items are treated as the property of the person placing the order. BLG does not knowingly accept submissions from persons under 18; a minor's cards must be submitted by a parent or legal guardian who assumes full responsibility. All submissions must belong to a single customer; group or pooled submissions owned by multiple parties are not accepted. By default, BLG may photograph, display, or reference submitted cards for marketing, promotional, or social media purposes. If you do not wish your submissions to be used in this way, notify BLG when your order is placed. While BLG will make reasonable efforts to honour opt-out requests, no guarantee is made that any specific submission will or will not be featured. BLG acts as an intermediary only and does not influence grading outcomes, condition assessments, or final grades. BLG is not responsible for errors, omissions, mislabels, authentication decisions, or grading outcomes made by grading companies, and any disputes relating to grades, labels, or authenticity must be directed to the relevant grading company. Where a submission cannot be processed due to incorrect service selection, ineligible items, or grading company requirements, BLG may return the items at the customer's expense.

BLG arranges shipping to and from PSA, Beckett Grading Services (BGS), and CGC using third-party courier services. BLG selects the carrier, service level, and routing based on operational, insurance, and security requirements. Shipments from BLG to the grading companies are currently sent with Malca-Amit secure logistics and are fully insured in transit. Graded items are returned from the grading companies to BLG by fully insured courier, up to the maximum declared value of the selected service level. "Checked In" means BLG has physically received the parcel, opened it, and logged the contents against the relevant order. Courier tracking statuses, including those marked as "delivered", do not constitute proof that items have been received or Checked In by BLG. BLG may photograph submitted items upon arrival for identification and condition-record purposes. Customer to BLG: risk of loss or damage remains with the customer until items are Checked In, except for items handed in at an approved drop-off store (see below). Approved drop-off stores: where the customer hands items, together with a valid order number, to a partner store listed as an approved BLG drop-off store on the BLG website at the time of drop-off, BLG accepts the risk of loss or damage from the moment the store accepts the items. From that point the items are covered on the same basis and within the same limits as items held by BLG under this section, including Enhanced Cover where it has been purchased. Items left at any other business, or handed in without a valid order number, remain at the customer's risk until Checked In by BLG. Standard cover: from Check-In until return to the customer, all insurance and liability cover provided by or arranged through BLG is limited to the maximum declared value of the selected service level per card. This applies while items are held by BLG, in transit to or from a grading company, held or processed by a grading company, and in transit back to BLG. BLG is not liable for any amount exceeding these limits, even if actual market value is higher. Enhanced Cover: the customer may increase the cover on any card by selecting Enhanced Cover when placing the order and declaring the value to be covered for that card. Enhanced Cover costs 2.5% of the declared cover value per card and must be selected and paid for before Check-In. Enhanced Cover applies only while the item is held by BLG, in transit from BLG to the grading company, in transit from the grading company back to BLG, and in transit from BLG back to the customer only where the customer has selected Malca-Amit secure courier as the return delivery option. It does not apply while the item is held or processed by a grading company; during that period cover remains limited to the maximum declared value of the selected service level. Compensation under Enhanced Cover is based on market value at the time of loss or damage, up to the declared cover value. Maximum aggregate coverage: under standard cover, total combined compensation payable by BLG for any single submission, order, or parcel shall not exceed £25,000 in aggregate, regardless of the number of cards or their values. This aggregate limit does not apply to cards with Enhanced Cover during the periods in which Enhanced Cover applies. Customers with submissions valued above £25,000 should select Enhanced Cover or contact BLG in advance to discuss bespoke handling. Grading company receipt and non-admission of loss: where courier tracking confirms that a parcel has been delivered to a grading company, but the grading company does not log, acknowledge, or otherwise confirm receipt of the items, or denies having received them, BLG's ability to compensate the customer is conditional upon the grading company accepting responsibility and making a corresponding payment, settlement, or credit to BLG in respect of those items. Confirmed courier delivery to a grading company establishes only that the parcel reached the grading company's premises or designated receiving point. It does not constitute acceptance of liability by the grading company, nor does it create any obligation on BLG to compensate the customer where the grading company refuses to acknowledge receipt or declines to accept responsibility for the items. Where a grading company refuses to admit, acknowledge, or accept responsibility for items that courier tracking shows were delivered, and consequently refuses or fails to compensate BLG, BLG shall have no obligation to compensate the customer for those items beyond the amount (if any) actually recovered by BLG from the grading company. BLG will use reasonable efforts to pursue the matter with the grading company on the customer's behalf, but does not guarantee any outcome. Any unresolved dispute regarding receipt or loss of items at a grading company must ultimately be pursued against that grading company in accordance with sections 4 and 10. Business customers: where the customer is acting in the course of a business, trade, or profession, the customer acknowledges and agrees that the limitations in this section 3.2, including the conditions relating to grading company acknowledgement of receipt and loss, are reasonable, have been specifically brought to the customer's attention, and form a fundamental basis on which BLG provides its services and sets its pricing. BLG to customer: the customer selects a return delivery option when placing the order. For UK deliveries the options are Royal Mail Special Delivery (covered up to £1,000 per parcel), Royal Mail Special Delivery with ID check (covered up to £2,500 per parcel), and Malca-Amit secure courier (covered up to the full declared value of the items, to a maximum of £40,000 per parcel unless agreed otherwise in writing). EU deliveries are sent using PostNL, DPD, or an equivalent carrier (covered up to €500 per parcel) or Malca-Amit secure courier (covered up to the full declared value, within the limit shown when the option is selected). While items are in transit from BLG to the customer, cover is limited to the cover of the return delivery option selected, regardless of the value of the items, the service level, or any Enhanced Cover purchased, except that Enhanced Cover applies where Malca-Amit secure courier is selected. Any value above that limit is uninsured and remains at the customer's risk. It is the customer's responsibility to select a return delivery option whose cover is at least the total value of the items being returned. If a parcel is confirmed lost or damaged after leaving BLG, compensation is based on market value at the time of shipment, up to the cover of the selected option, and is only payable once the carrier formally confirms the loss or damage. Declared value: the customer is solely responsible for accurate declared values. BLG accepts no liability where an item's actual market value exceeds the declared value or the maximum cover available under the selected service, including any Enhanced Cover purchased. Incorrect or undervalued declarations may result in reduced or no compensation. Transitional policy: these limits apply to orders submitted on or after 30 October 2026. Earlier orders are governed by the insurance and liability terms in force when the order was placed.

All orders must be paid in full at the time the order is submitted through the BLG website, unless a written exception has been agreed in advance. No items will be processed, submitted, or shipped to any grading company until full payment has been received and cleared. It is the customer's responsibility to ensure that all billing, contact, and order details provided at checkout are accurate and up to date. Slab cracking fees are the exception and are handled under section 3.7. All prices are based on exchange rates and costs applicable when the order is placed. Where BLG's costs increase due to exchange rate movements, grading company pricing changes, courier fees, insurance, or customs charges, BLG reserves the right to pass such increases on, with notice before proceeding. Additional charges may arise after an order is placed, including grading company upcharges, service level changes required by the grading company, customs, taxes, handling fees, and additional shipping or insurance costs. Where additional charges arise, BLG will notify you. All additional charges must be paid within 10 days of notification; items may be held under BLG's contractual lien until paid. If additional charges remain unpaid for 90 days after notification, BLG may, after written notice, treat the items as unclaimed and sell, dispose of, or otherwise realise them to recover outstanding amounts and costs. Any surplus will be returned to the customer where reasonably possible. Payment plans offered via third-party providers (such as Klarna) are governed by the provider's terms; failure to meet plan obligations is treated as non-payment.

All turnaround times, service levels, and delivery estimates are estimates only and are not guaranteed. Quoted grading turnarounds refer only to the time taken by the grading company once items are in their system, and exclude shipping to or from BLG, customs clearance, BLG internal processing, and delays caused by graders, couriers, or customs authorities. Delays, including extended grading backlogs, service suspensions, customs holds, or operational disruptions, do not entitle the customer to cancel an order or receive a refund once items have been submitted to a grading company. BLG is not liable for any loss, missed opportunities, or changes in market value resulting from delays, nor for loss, delay, damage, or seizure resulting from customs inspections, border controls, or government or regulatory action.

All orders are final once items have been submitted to a grading company. If cancellation is requested before items are submitted to a grading company, BLG may agree at its discretion, deducting reasonable handling, processing, packaging, and shipping costs before issuing any refund. Once items are with a grading company, no refunds are given for grading fees, service charges, shipping costs, or delays and backlogs. If a parcel is confirmed lost before items reach the grading company, BLG will refund the portion of BLG fees relating to the lost items. If a parcel is confirmed lost after grading or during return, compensation follows the limits in section 3.2; grading and service fees are not refundable. BLG is not responsible for changes in market value, grading outcomes, or loss of potential profit, and no refunds are given on that basis.

For PSA and CGC services, an upcharge may be applied by the grading company where a card's final graded value exceeds the maximum declared value of the selected service level. Customers are responsible for selecting the appropriate service level; limits are displayed on the BLG website and form part of the contract. Where an upcharge is applied, BLG will notify the customer and the affected items will be held under BLG's contractual lien until the upcharge is paid in full. Payment must be made within 10 days of notification. Failure to pay may result in the items being treated as unpaid under section 3.3, including BLG's right to retain, sell, or dispose of the items to recover outstanding amounts.

Slab cracking means removing a previously graded card from its existing holder so it can be submitted for grading. The fee is £5 per slab. It is not charged through the order portal; BLG will send the customer a separate payment request once the slabs have been received and cracked. To avoid delays, BLG will submit cracked cards to the grading company as normal while the payment request is outstanding. BLG will not return the graded cards to the customer until the slab cracking fee has been paid in full. If the fee remains unpaid, section 3.3 applies to any outstanding amounts. BLG accepts the risk of loss or damage to a card caused during slab cracking. Any such loss or damage is covered on the same basis as cards held by BLG under section 3.2, including Enhanced Cover where it has been purchased for that card. The original holder and label are disposed of once the card has been cracked and are not returned to the customer.

Certain content, products, or services available through the BLG website may include materials or links provided by third parties, including grading companies, payment providers, and shipping partners. BLG is not responsible for the content, accuracy, or policies of third-party websites and accepts no liability for third-party materials, products, or services. Any interactions, transactions, or disputes with third parties are solely between you and that third party. This includes, without limitation, grading companies, couriers, insurers, and payment processors. Complaints, claims, concerns, or questions regarding third-party products or services should be directed to the relevant third party.

Your submission of personal information through the BLG website is governed by our Privacy Policy. BLG processes personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. By using the BLG website and services, you consent to the collection, use, and processing of your personal data as described in our Privacy Policy.

Occasionally information on the BLG website may contain typographical errors, inaccuracies, or omissions relating to descriptions, pricing, promotions, shipping costs, service levels, turnaround times, and availability. BLG reserves the right to correct errors and to change or update information or cancel orders if information is inaccurate, including after an order has been submitted. Where a correction results in a material change to the price or service selected, BLG will notify the customer and provide the option to proceed under the corrected terms or cancel for a refund of amounts paid for services not yet provided.

You are prohibited from using the BLG website or its content: for any unlawful purpose; to solicit unlawful acts; to violate any laws or regulations; to infringe intellectual property rights; to submit stolen, counterfeit, altered, or unlawfully obtained items for grading; to submit items you do not own or lack authority to submit; to submit false, misleading, or fraudulent information, including incorrect ownership or declared values; to upload viruses or malicious code; to collect or misuse personal data of others; to interfere with or circumvent security features; to abuse, harass, threaten, or defame BLG, its staff, or other users; or to attempt to manipulate or disrupt BLG's operations, submissions, or payment systems. BLG reserves the right to suspend or terminate access, refuse submissions, and take appropriate action where prohibited use is suspected.

The most current version of the Terms is always available on this page. BLG reserves the right to update, change, or replace any part of these Terms by posting updates to the website. Changes apply to all new orders submitted after the updated Terms are published. For existing orders, the version in force at the time the order was submitted continues to apply, unless the change is required by law or relates to security, fraud prevention, or operational necessity. Continued use of the website or submission of new orders after changes are posted constitutes acceptance.

BLG shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential losses, including loss of profit, business, opportunity, goodwill, or any speculative or future value of any item. BLG's total liability in connection with any order, whether arising in contract, tort, negligence, breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, shall not exceed the lower of the total fees paid to BLG for that order and the applicable insurance and compensation limits in section 3.2. Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes liability where such limitation is not permitted by law.

All grading, authentication, labelling, and condition guarantees are provided solely by the relevant grading company. BLG does not provide, underwrite, or guarantee any grading outcomes, authenticity determinations, or label accuracy. Claims relating to grading errors, mislabels, or authenticity disputes must be pursued directly with the grading company.

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales, and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute or claim arising from them or from BLG's services. These Terms may be provided in other languages for convenience. If there is any conflict or difference between a translated version and the English version, the English version prevails. If any provision is held unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, it shall be severed and the remaining provisions continue in full force. BLG may transfer, assign, or novate its rights and obligations under these Terms as part of a business sale, merger, restructuring, or reorganisation without affecting your rights. You may not transfer or assign your rights or obligations without BLG's prior written consent.

Questions about these Terms of Service or any BLG services should be sent to: Black Label Grading Ltd Email: info@blacklabelgrading.com BLG will use reasonable efforts to respond to enquiries within normal business hours.