Question 1

Can I ask about my card before I order?

Accepted Answer

Yes — send us photos first, free. Message @the_card_doc with the front, back, and close-ups of any damage, and we'll give you an honest read on what's possible before you spend anything.

Question 2

I'm thinking about buying a card — can you tell me if it's fixable before I buy it?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this is common. Send us the listing photos (or a link) before you purchase, and we'll tell you honestly whether it's something we can work on.

Question 3

What photos should I send?

Accepted Answer

Send photos of the front, back, and close-ups of the damage in good light. If Instagram won't let you attach photos, let us know in the chat, and we'll help you get them through.

Question 4

Where are you located?

Accepted Answer

Ridgewood, New Jersey. We're a mail-in service for the whole US, with local drop-off available. Contact @the_card_doc on Instagram for drop-off.

Question 5

Do you have before-and-after examples?

Accepted Answer

Yes — check the highlights on our Instagram story.

Question 6

What kinds of cards do you work on?

Accepted Answer

Trading cards of all kinds — Pokémon, baseball, basketball, football, hockey, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and others. Vintage and modern, including chrome cards (Topps Chrome, Panini) and metal cards (Metal Universe).

Question 7

Do you work on vintage cards?

Accepted Answer

Yes — vintage and modern are both welcome, including wax-residue cleanup on vintage cards.

Question 8

Do you work on slabbed (already graded) cards?

Accepted Answer

Yes — add slab cracking at checkout ($7/card) and we'll remove the card before work. You'll sign a separate Slab-Removal Authorization at checkout.

Question 9

Which tier should I pick?

Accepted Answer

If timing doesn't matter, pick the lowest tier your card's value fits into — the work is identical. Pick a higher tier only when you want it back faster.

Question 10

What does "declared value" mean? Raw or graded?

Accepted Answer

It's what your card is worth right now, in its current condition — raw or graded, whichever it is today. Not the PSA 10 price, and not what it might be worth after grading. You declare it when you book, and it sets your tier and price.

Question 11

Does the price depend on how damaged the card is?

Accepted Answer

No. Pricing is based on the card's declared value and the tier's turnaround — never on the severity of the damage.

Question 12

Do you charge extra to crack a slab?

Accepted Answer

Slab cracking is a $7 per-card add-on, selected at checkout. You'll sign a separate Slab-Removal Authorization for it at checkout.

Question 13

Do you take cards worth more than $5,000?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every card declared above $5,000 needs its own High-Value Card Agreement, signed at checkout, and we strongly recommend insured, tracked shipping with signature confirmation for it.

Question 14

What's the difference between prep and restoration?

Accepted Answer

Prep is a surface clean and full inspection that gets your card submission-ready for grading — nothing restorative. Restoration is hands-on work on the card's condition (dents, creases, lifts, dirt, and more). Prep is about grading; restoration is about improving the card itself.

Question 15

Is prep included with restoration?

Accepted Answer

Yes — restoration includes prep. Every restoration order is prepped as part of the service, so you never need to add prep separately to a restoration order. Prep is also available as its own standalone service.

Question 16

What if you find damage while prepping my card?

Accepted Answer

We'll let you know, and you decide whether you'd like to add restoration. We never do extra work without asking you first.

Question 17

I'm not sure if I need restoration — what should I book?

Accepted Answer

Book prep, and add a note on the order (or a Post-it in the package) saying "review all for restoration." We'll evaluate every card when it arrives and contact you about any good restoration candidates. For slabbed cards, a "review" note means we assess grade-bump potential without cracking the slab.

Question 18

Do you submit my card to PSA for me?

Accepted Answer

No. We ship your card back to you in a fresh penny sleeve and Card Saver, and you submit to PSA, BGS, CGC, or any grader yourself. Repeatedly submitting from our address could tip graders off, so this protects you too.

Question 19

Will PSA detect the restoration? Will it come back "altered"?

Accepted Answer

There is always an inherent risk — low, but not zero. We stay within grading limits, add no material, and only manipulate what's already there.

Question 20

Can you guarantee a grade — or a PSA 10?

Accepted Answer

No, and nobody honestly can. We never guarantee grading outcomes — we restore to the best of our ability and give your card its best shot.

Question 21

What if my card does come back altered?

Accepted Answer

It's a risk every restoration customer accepts going in. Worst case, crack it and sell it raw — it's still in better condition than when you sent it.

Question 22

Do you accept orders from outside the US?

Accepted Answer

No — we accept orders from within the US only. Puerto Rico is fine; it's treated as domestic US for shipping and ordering. We can't accept cards from other countries.

Question 23

How will my cards be shipped back?

Accepted Answer

In a fresh penny sleeve and Card Saver, wrapped in a bubble mailer between two protective "ding defender" plates. Your return tracking number appears on your order when it ships.

Question 24

What if you can't fix my card?

Accepted Answer

Then we refund the service cost and send it back — you just cover shipping both ways. We inspect every card on arrival specifically to make that call before work begins.

Question 25

Can I cancel my order?

Accepted Answer

Cancellations are handled by a person — contact us directly @the_card_doc and we'll take care of you.

Question 26

Do you take drop-offs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Book on the site, select "I'll ship them myself" at checkout, then message @the_card_doc on Instagram to schedule your drop-off. We're in Ridgewood, NJ.

Common questions.

Before You Order

Cards We Work On

Pricing & Tiers

Prep vs Restoration

Grading & PSA

Shipping & Returns

Drop-off & Local

What we can (and can't) fix

We CAN help with

We CANNOT fix