How Grading Works

The HAGS ritual

Transparent. Consistent. Secure.

Every card that enters the HAGS cauldron follows the same seven-step process — documented, repeatable, and built for collectors who want honesty as much as they want a grade. Family-run graders, not a faceless factory. One prized card or a full bundle: the ritual doesn't change.

Our 7-step grading process — from your doorstep to your slab, and back again.

01 Submission Received

Choose your tier in our Submissions collection and place your order. We record it in our grimoire and assign a unique reference — your card's journey from intake to return starts here. Order confirmation lands in your inbox; keep it close.

02 Intake & Documentation

When your package arrives at the workshop, we log it immediately. Each card is inspected, photographed, and recorded — a clear arrival record of what we received and in what condition. If anything doesn't match your order or our Submission Guidelines, we'll reach out before the brew continues.

03 Authentication Review

Where it applies, we run authenticity checks before grading proceeds. Not every category needs the same scrutiny — our graders follow published standards for your card type. If an item can't be authenticated to our satisfaction, we'll explain the outcome under our Submission Agreement.

04 Professional Assessment

Experience meets the HAGS grading standards. Our graders assess condition, surface, corners and edges, centreing, and category-specific traits — the same published criteria for every submission, every time.

05 Final Grade Assignment

The grade is set against our established scale and what was observed in assessment — documented criteria, not gut feel. Dig into the detail on our Grading Standards page.

06 Quality Control Review

No card leaves the cauldron after a single pass. Every graded card gets a second review — consistency, accurate labelling, alignment with our standards. Only when QC is satisfied do we prepare your certificate and slab for the journey home.

07 Packaging & Return

Graded cards are securely packaged and sent back via tracked delivery. You'll receive dispatch and tracking details once your order is on its way — never left wondering where your treasures are.

What every submission earns