Terms of service

Last updated: 7/28/26

These Terms of Service govern all card inspection, cleaning, pressing, flattening, crease reduction, restoration, pre-grading, consultation, shipping, and related services provided by The Card Care, referred to in these Terms as we.

By submitting a card, placing an order, paying an invoice, completing our submission form, or accepting the restoration disclaimer, you agree to these Terms.

1. Customer eligibility and authorization

You confirm that:

  • You are at least 18 years old or have permission from a parent or legal guardian.
  • You own the submitted card or have full authority from the owner to authorize the requested services.
  • The card is not stolen, unlawfully obtained, or involved in an ownership dispute.
  • The information and photographs you provide are accurate and complete.

We may refuse or cancel a submission when ownership, authenticity, legality, safety, or payment is reasonably in question.

2. Nature of our services 

Our services may include:

  • Surface cleaning
  • Dirt and residue removal
  • Pressing or flattening
  • Dent or indentation reduction
  • Crease reduction
  • Moisture or humidity treatment
  • Tool-assisted surface work
  • Waxing or polishing
  • Pre-grading inspection
  • Condition reports
  • Preparation for protective storage or grading submission

The exact service performed will depend on the card’s condition, construction, age, finish, damage, and the selected service.

We may recommend a different treatment or decline work when we believe a requested treatment presents an unreasonable risk.

3. No guaranteed result

Card restoration is not guaranteed to improve a card’s appearance, condition, market value, or grade.

You understand that:

  • Some damage cannot be completely removed.
  • Damage may become more visible during treatment.
  • A card may remain unchanged or may look different after treatment.
  • Pressing or flattening may not permanently correct warping, dents, bends, or creases.
  • Cleaning may reveal staining, print defects, scratches, discoloration, or other pre-existing issues.
  • Results may differ from photographs, videos, examples, or previous customer results.

Before-and-after examples are provided only to demonstrate previous work. They are not a promise that your card will receive the same result.

4. Inherent restoration risks

You understand and accept that card cleaning and restoration involve unavoidable risks.

These risks may include:

  • Surface scratches or increased visibility of existing scratches
  • Color loss, fading, staining, or discoloration
  • Ink, foil, gloss, coating, texture, or print damage
  • Whitening, chipping, lifting, peeling, cracking, or separation
  • Warping, curling, bending, denting, creasing, or flattening marks
  • Moisture damage
  • Adhesive failure or layer separation
  • Changes to card thickness, texture, gloss, or surface appearance
  • Permanent alteration
  • Reduced market value
  • Rejection or an altered designation from a grading company
  • Additional damage caused by hidden weaknesses, previous repairs, age, manufacturing defects, or unstable materials

By authorizing our service, you accept that accidental damage may occur even when reasonable care is used.

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded under applicable consumer law.

5. Pre-existing damage

We are not responsible for damage, defects, alterations, contamination, repairs, or weaknesses that existed before we received the card.

This includes damage that was:

  • Not visible in the customer’s photographs
  • Hidden underneath dirt, residue, sleeves, cases, coatings, or previous repair work
  • Caused by previous cleaning, pressing, moisture, chemicals, adhesives, heat, or restoration attempts
  • Caused by manufacturing defects, age, storage, humidity, or handling
  • Discovered only after the service began

We may photograph or record the card before, during, and after treatment to document its condition.

6. Grading company decisions

We are independent from PSA, CGC, Beckett, SGC, TAG, and all other grading companies.

We do not guarantee:

  • A specific numerical grade
  • A grade increase
  • That a card will receive a grade
  • That a card will not be designated as altered
  • That a grading company will accept the card
  • That different graders will reach the same decision

Grading standards and decisions are controlled entirely by the grading company.

Cleaning, pressing, polishing, crease reduction, or restoration may be considered an alteration by a grading company. You accept this risk before authorizing service.

7. Pre-grading opinions

Any pre-grading estimate, condition assessment, or grade prediction is an opinion only.

A pre-grading opinion is not a warranty or guarantee. Actual grades may be higher or lower because grading is subjective and may vary between companies, graders, locations, and submission dates.

We are not responsible for grading fees, shipping costs, lost value, rejected submissions, or other expenses resulting from a grade that differs from our opinion.

8. Estimates and final pricing

If additional work is recommended, we will request approval before charging for services outside the agreed scope.

Taxes, payment-processing fees, return shipping, insurance, grading fees, customs charges, and import duties may be charged separately.

9. Customer instructions and service authorization

You authorize us to perform the services selected in your submission form, order, invoice, email, or written communication.

We may stop work when:

  • Continuing could cause unreasonable damage
  • Previously hidden damage is discovered
  • The card appears counterfeit, altered, contaminated, or unsafe
  • Additional customer approval is needed
  • Payment remains outstanding

When work is stopped after service has started, charges may still apply for inspection, preparation, materials, and completed labor.

10. Turnaround times

All turnaround times are estimates and are not guaranteed.

Delays may occur because of:

  • Card condition
  • Additional treatment or pressing time
  • Drying or stabilization requirements
  • Customer response delays
  • Shipping-carrier delays
  • High submission volume
  • Equipment issues
  • Events outside our reasonable control

We are not responsible for losses caused by an estimated completion date being missed.

11. Payment

Payment must be made according to the invoice or checkout instructions.

We may require:

  • Full payment before work begins
  • A non-refundable assessment fee
  • A deposit before service
  • Payment of the remaining balance before return shipping

Cards may be held until all outstanding charges, shipping fees, taxes, and approved service costs are paid.

Chargebacks or payment disputes do not automatically cancel an authorized service already performed.

12. Cancellations and refunds

A customer may request cancellation before work begins.

Once inspection, cleaning, pressing, restoration, preparation, or treatment has started, completed labor and used materials are non-refundable.

Shipping charges, payment-processing fees, assessment fees, custom work, and completed services are non-refundable except where required by law.

A refund will not be provided solely because:

  • The customer is dissatisfied with a subjective result
  • The card receives a lower grade than expected
  • The card is designated altered
  • The card’s market value changes
  • Damage cannot be fully removed
  • The customer changes their mind after work begins

13. Shipping and risk of loss

The customer is responsible for securely packaging cards before shipping them to us.

We recommend:

  • Using rigid card protection
  • Using tracking
  • Using signature confirmation
  • Purchasing insurance based on the card’s declared value
  • Photographing the card and packaging before shipment

We are not responsible for loss or damage that occurs before we receive the package or after the package is transferred to the return carrier, except where applicable law provides otherwise.

Shipping carriers are independent third parties. Delays, loss, theft, mishandling, customs issues, weather events, and carrier damage must generally be addressed through the carrier’s claim process.

14. Declared value and insurance

You must provide an accurate declared value for each card before service.

The declared value is used for risk assessment, handling requirements, shipping, and insurance. It does not guarantee that the card is worth the declared amount.

We may:

  • Request evidence supporting the declared value
  • Require additional insurance
  • Charge an additional handling fee
  • Decline cards above a certain value
  • Require a separate written agreement for high-value cards

Unless agreed otherwise in writing, return insurance will be limited to the amount selected and paid for by the customer.

15. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, we are not liable for:

  • Expected or potential grading outcomes
  • Loss of market value
  • Market-price changes
  • Sentimental value
  • Lost profits or business opportunities
  • Consequential, indirect, special, or punitive damages
  • Damage caused by pre-existing defects or previous treatments
  • Loss or damage caused by shipping carriers
  • Customer packaging errors
  • Inaccurate information supplied by the customer

Our responsibility applies only to direct loss proven to have been caused by our failure to use reasonable care.

Any agreed liability limit for high-value cards should be stated in writing before we receive the card.

Nothing in these Terms limits any right or remedy that cannot legally be excluded.

16. Inspection after return

You must inspect your returned card immediately after delivery.

Any claim involving an incorrect card, missing card, shipping damage, or alleged service-related damage must be sent to support@cardcare.com.au within 7 days after confirmed delivery.

The claim must include:

  • Order or submission number
  • Clear photographs of the card
  • Clear photographs of the packaging
  • A description of the issue
  • An unedited opening video when available
  • Any shipping-carrier documentation

Keep all original packaging until the claim is resolved.

Failure to report an issue within the stated period may affect our ability to investigate, except where applicable law provides otherwise.

17. Unclaimed or abandoned cards

We will make reasonable attempts to contact you when payment, instructions, or a return address is required.

A card may be considered unclaimed when:

  • Payment remains outstanding
  • You do not provide return instructions
  • Your shipping information is incomplete
  • You stop responding for more than 90 days

Before treating property as abandoned, we will follow any notice and waiting-period requirements required by applicable law.

Do not use this section without confirming the abandoned-property laws that apply to your business location.

18. Authenticity and counterfeit cards

Unless specifically purchased, authenticity verification is not included in our standard services.

We may refuse service if a card appears counterfeit, reproduced, modified, stolen, unlawful, or intentionally misrepresented.

We are not responsible for confirming authenticity unless we expressly agree in writing to provide an authentication service.

19. Photographs and marketing

We may photograph cards for internal documentation, quality control, security, and claim investigation.

We will not use personally identifying customer information in marketing without permission.

However we will use photographs or videos of your card for advertising, social media, educational content, or promotional purposes.

20. Privacy

Personal information is handled according to our Privacy Policy.

Customer information may be used to:

  • Process submissions and payments
  • Communicate about services
  • Arrange shipping
  • Prevent fraud
  • Maintain service records
  • Meet legal, tax, or regulatory requirements

Please review our Privacy Policy.

21. Intellectual property

Our website content, photographs, videos, branding, service descriptions, graphics, and written materials belong to us or are used with permission.

You may not copy, reproduce, sell, or commercially use our content without written authorization.

Trading-card names, characters, artwork, and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Our services are not sponsored by or affiliated with card manufacturers, grading companies, or trademark owners unless specifically stated.

22. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Australia, without excluding any mandatory consumer protections that apply to the customer.

Any dispute must be brought in the courts or dispute-resolution venue legally permitted in Australia, unless applicable law requires otherwise.

23. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time.

The version in effect when the customer submits and authorizes a service will generally apply to that submission. The latest version will be displayed on our website with an updated revision date.

24. Contact information

Questions about these Terms should be sent to: support@cardcare.com.au