Policies

SlabExchange currently only accepts PSA-graded slabs. No other grading company (BGS, CGC, etc.) is supported at this time. We plan to expand to additional grading companies in the future.

Minimum grade: PSA 7. Only grades 7, 8, 9, and 10 are tradeable on the platform. Slabs graded below PSA 7 cannot be listed.

Slab condition: the physical slab (case) must be in acceptable condition. Every slab must pass verification before it can be listed. The following will cause a listing to be denied or a dispute to be upheld:

• Cracked, chipped, or broken slab cases.
• Major scratches on the case — defined as scratches visible at arm's length under normal daylight conditions.
• Labels that are peeling, water-damaged, or tampered with.
• Slabs with removed or swapped inner sleeves or cards.
• Counterfeit or tampered PSA holders.

Cert number verification: every listed slab must have a valid PSA cert number. We periodically verify cert numbers against the PSA database. If a cert number is invalid, revoked, or does not match the listed card, the listing will be denied.

Supported categories: currently only Pokemon cards are supported. Additional categories (Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, etc.) will be added in the future.

Every listed slab must first meet the minimum eligibility conditions. Verification requirements then scale with the ask price and are additive — each tier adds to the one below, never replaces it.

The ask price sets a listing's tier. Sellers can over-verify to signal higher trust, or list one step below it, never below Tier 3 from €450 up. Where a bad sale costs most the floor rises: from €1,500 a listing is never below Tier 4, and from €2,500 every listing is Tier 5. A listing below its price's tier shows its badge in a dimmer cyan on the book, only buyers who accept that tier can buy it, and it is left out of the market price. How buyers choose a minimum tier.

The example photos below show a demonstration slab that is not for sale. Treat your own slab photos — cert numbers and high-res label shots in particular — as sensitive: only share them with a buyer through SlabExchange after a match, never publicly.

Tier 1

Under €75

• Cert verification against the PSA database.
• No photos required.

Tier 2

€75 – €249

• Front photo — clear daylight shot, cert number visible.
• Back photo — clear daylight shot, cert number visible.

Tier 3

€250 – €449

• Same two photos as Tier 2, taken with a tighter setup:
• Sideways / raking-light angle so the holographic “lighthouse” effect ↓ on the PSA label is clearly visible in both front and back shots.
• Handwritten verification code on paper, placed below the slab in both photos. Your unique 6-character code appears on the slab's edit page.

Tier 4

€450 – €749

• Everything in Tier 3 + two additional photos:
• Front UV photo — the green PSA band above the label must glow, cert number readable.
• Back UV photo — small green PSA logos around the silver PSA outline must glow, cert number readable.
• See required UV features ↓
• The lowest tier any listing from €1,500 may be listed at.

Tier 5

€750 and above

• Everything in Tier 4.
• A vetted seller, either way:
  • Sales history — ≥ 10 completed sales on SlabExchange with ≥ 95% undisputed rate.
  • Verified business — a business account whose company verification (KYB) with our payment provider is complete. It counts from your first listing.
• Required for every listing from €2,500.

The “lighthouse” effect

A genuine PSA label's holographic silver background is made of adjacent panels set at slightly different tilts. Under directional light this produces a clear left-to-right difference in illumination across the label — one side catches the light, the other stays darker. Counterfeits use flat metallic print and the label reads evenly no matter how you tilt them.

Most of the time you'll capture it naturally with decent daylight and a slight tilt of the slab — no special setup needed. For Tier 3+ we require it to be clearly visible in both the front and back label shots, so it's worth double-checking before you submit.

Bad

Good

Bad

Good

UV / blacklight features (Tier 4+)

Under a 365–395 nm UV blacklight, genuine PSA labels reveal fluorescent inks that are invisible in normal light. Both label sides must show their signature pattern, and the cert number must stay readable — a UV shot where the cert is washed out doesn't count.

You need a proper UV torch: 365 nm wavelength with a Wood's (blacklight) filter — expect to spend €15–20. The €5 UV-LED keychains sold as “blacklight” are typically 395–405 nm and unfiltered; they flood the label with visible violet light and the fluorescent inks won't stand out. Hold the torch 5–10 cm from the label and shoot in a darkened room. Counterfeits usually lack these features entirely, or use pigments that fluoresce in the wrong colour.

Photos are stored securely and only revealed to the matched buyer during the Conditional Reveal window (see below). Reviewed by SlabExchange admins — you can re-upload freely; the verification code stays the same for the slab.

SlabExchange operates a continuous order book for each card and grade combination. Buyers place BIDS and sellers place ASKS.

Bids represent the total all-in price a buyer is willing to pay, including the card value and shipping costs. Asks represent the card value only — shipping and insurance are calculated and added on top when a match occurs.

A match occurs when a bid price meets or exceeds an ask price plus the calculated shipping cost between the seller's and buyer's countries, and the listing meets the bid's minimum tier. When matched, the slab is locked and a trade is created.

Orders can be cancelled at any time while in the ACTIVE state. Once matched, the trade follows the Conditional Reveal Window.

When a bid and ask are matched, the trade enters the MATCHED state. At this point, the buyer is granted a 24-hour window to review the seller's slab photos and PSA cert number.

During this window the buyer can:

• Pay — paying is how the buyer approves the slab. The seller is then asked to ship, and the payment stays held until the buyer confirms arrival.
• Cancel — the match ends and the slab goes back on the market.
• Report a problem — before payment this ends the match too, and SlabExchange staff review the report.

If the buyer has not paid when the 24 hours are up, the match is cancelled and the slab goes back on the market. The slab is locked for the seller while the window is open.

A cancellation, a lapsed window and a report all count as a buyer cancellation, a report only until staff uphold it. The first in 90 days is a warning; a second within 90 days pauses matching on the buyer's account for 7 days, because each one kept a seller's slab off the market.

Every slab ships with tracking. Up to a card value of €500 it ships tracked; above €500 it ships signed home delivery, so someone has to sign for it on arrival. The trade tells the seller which one, and untracked shipments are never accepted.

Shipping cost

Shipping rates are based on the country pair (seller's country to buyer's country) and the delivery method. SlabExchange keeps a default rate for each, tracked and signed, covering all EU member states, and a seller may set their own (see Payments & Fees). The rate is determined at match time and snapshotted on the trade record.

Insurance

Every shipment is insured through Secursus, covering loss, theft, and damage during transit across all EU-27 countries. The insurance premium is 1% of the card value with a minimum of €1.50.

Insurance is quoted at match time (phase 1) and the policy is created when the seller provides a tracking number (phase 2). The buyer does not need to take any action for insurance.

Total cost breakdown

The buyer pays a single all-in price composed of:

• Card price — the matched execution price.
• Shipping — tracked or signed delivery for the country pair, by card value.
• Insurance — 1% of card value (min €1.50).

The seller receives the card price minus the 5% platform fee. Shipping and insurance costs are covered by the buyer's total payment.

Packaging requirements

Sellers must pack slabs securely in a rigid mailer or small box. The slab should be wrapped to prevent movement during transit. SlabExchange is not responsible for damage caused by inadequate packaging — this may result in a dispute being resolved in the buyer's favour.

A buyer may open a dispute during the 24-hour Conditional Reveal window if the slab photos do not match what was advertised or if the PSA cert number cannot be verified.

When a dispute is opened:

• The trade enters the DISPUTED state.
• Payment stays held — no money is transferred to either party.
• SlabExchange staff will review the dispute within 2 business days.
• Both parties may be asked to provide additional evidence (photos, shipping records).

Valid dispute reasons

• Photos do not match the actual slab (wrong card, different grade label, etc.).
• PSA cert number is invalid, revoked, or does not match the listed card.
• Slab case is cracked, damaged, or shows signs of tampering.
• Card category or variant does not match the listing.

Dispute outcomes

• Resolved for seller — trade completes, funds released to seller.
• Resolved for buyer — trade cancelled, full refund to buyer.
• Escalated — complex cases may require additional investigation.

Repeated fraudulent disputes will result in account suspension. Disputes cannot be raised after the 24-hour window has closed or after the buyer has confirmed the trade.

Post-delivery disputes

If a slab arrives damaged or does not match what was shown during the reveal window, the buyer should contact info@slabexchange.eu within 48 hours of delivery. The Secursus insurance policy covers loss and damage during transit.

Payments run through our payment provider. When a bid and ask match, the buyer pays within the reveal window, and the payment is held by the payment provider. Funds are only released to the seller after the slab has been delivered and the buyer has confirmed arrival. If the buyer does not act within the post-delivery confirmation window, the trade auto-completes and payment is released.

Platform fee: SlabExchange charges a 5% platform fee on each completed trade, deducted from the seller's payout. Buyers pay the full matched price including shipping.

Payment processing fees are included in the buyer's total. Shipping costs include delivery and insurance — shown as a single “Shipping” line. Each route has a default rate for tracked and for signed delivery. A seller may set their own per destination country and method: lower freely, or higher only with a source for the carrier's price, which the trade records with the charge. The order book always shows the shipping a listing's seller charges you.

In case of a cancelled or disputed trade that is resolved in favour of the buyer, the full matched price is refunded. Platform fees are not charged on cancelled trades.

• Accurate listings: the slab you list must exactly match the card, grade, and cert number entered. Misrepresentation will result in disputes being resolved against you and potential account suspension.
• Ship promptly: after a trade is confirmed (or the 24h reveal window expires), you should ship the slab as soon as reasonably possible and provide a valid tracking number and carrier name. Excessive delays without communication may result in the trade being cancelled.
• Secure packaging: use a rigid mailer or box. Damage caused by poor packaging is the seller's responsibility.
• Ship the way the trade says: tracked up to a card value of €500, signed home delivery above it. Untracked shipments are not valid, and a slab over €500 sent without a signature is not covered by the shipping insurance.
• Keep tax info current: your legal name and country of residence must be up to date. Business sellers must also provide a Tax Identification Number (TIN) for DAC7 compliance. Individual sellers are not required to provide a TIN.

• Sufficient funds: your payment method must be valid and have sufficient funds at the time of matching. Failed payments will cancel the trade.
• Review during reveal window: you have 24 hours to review the slab photos and cert number, then pay or cancel. If you have not paid when it closes, the match is cancelled and counts as a cancellation.
• Good-faith disputes only: only open a dispute if you have a genuine concern. Frivolous or repeated bad-faith disputes will lead to account suspension.
• Accurate address: provide a valid EU delivery address. SlabExchange only operates within the EU-27.

• Counterfeit, re-sealed, or tampered PSA slabs.
• Slabs graded by companies other than PSA.
• Cards from categories not currently supported on the platform.
• Wash trading, market manipulation, or coordinated price inflation.
• Creating multiple accounts to circumvent bans or fee structures.
• Listing slabs you do not physically possess.

Violations will result in immediate listing removal, trade cancellation, and potential permanent account suspension.

SlabExchange operates exclusively within the European Union and complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, EU 2016/679).

Data we collect: username, email address, country of residence, your name and shipping address, and identifiers from our payment provider. Slab photos and PSA cert numbers are collected as part of the listing process.

How we use it: to operate the exchange, process payments through our payment provider, address parcels, comply with DAC7 tax reporting obligations (see below), and verify that the cert, card and label on each listing match PSA's record.

Data retention: trade records and associated personal data are retained for 7 years to satisfy EU tax and accounting obligations. Account data can be deleted on request, subject to legal retention requirements.

Your rights: you have the right to access, rectify, or erase your personal data. Contact us at legal@slabexchange.eu for any GDPR requests.

All data is stored on EU-hosted servers (Hetzner, Falkenstein, Germany).

Third-party processors

We share data with these processors strictly for the listed purposes:

• Our payment service provider (EU) — payment processing, seller payout onboarding, holding the buyer's payment until confirmation.
• PSA (US) — cert number verification only; we send the cert number you provide and receive grading metadata.
• TCGdex (EU) — public card catalog images and set metadata; no personal data is sent.
• Secursus (EU) — shipping insurance; we send card value, seller and buyer country, and tracking number once provided.
• Sentry (EU region) — error tracking; PII is excluded from event payloads by configuration.
• MaxMind (US) — local IP-to-country lookup; no data is sent to MaxMind, the database is queried offline.
• TransIP (NL) — domain and email hosting.
• Hetzner (DE) — infrastructure (compute, object storage); your data lives here.

Security reporting

Security researchers can report vulnerabilities to security@slabexchange.eu. See /.well-known/security.txt for the standard disclosure file.

SlabExchange is classified as a Digital Platform Operator under EU Directive 2021/514 (DAC7). This means we are legally required to collect and report seller income data to EU tax authorities each calendar year.

What is reported: seller legal name, country of residence, Tax Identification Number (TIN, business sellers only), total trade revenue, and number of completed transactions during the reporting year.

When: reports are submitted annually by 31 January for the preceding calendar year.

What you must provide: all sellers must keep their legal name and country of residence up to date. Business sellers must also provide a Tax Identification Number (TIN). Individual sellers are not required to provide a TIN. Failure to provide required information will result in your listings being suspended until the information is supplied.

DAC7 reporting is separate from your personal tax obligations. SlabExchange does not provide tax advice — consult a local tax professional for guidance on how platform income affects your tax return.

The Creator Program lets creators (content makers, community organisers) share a personal creator code with their audience. Anyone can enter a creator code from their dashboard.

For the person entering a code: the first time you link a creator code, you receive a one-time €10 platform-fee credit (the “Creator Linked” achievement). This credit offsets your 5% selling fee and is not paid out as cash. The €10 is granted once per account, ever — you may switch which creator you support at any time, but the reward is not earned again.

For creators: you earn 20% of the platform fees generated by the users who link your code, paid out in cash to the payout account you set up for selling. Because this is income, creator earnings are subject to the same DAC7 tax reporting obligations that apply to sellers.

Keeping support active: from beta onwards, supporting a creator works like a subscription — your link stays active for a rolling period and then lapses unless you re-up it from your dashboard (one tap). Lapsed support earns the creator nothing until you renew; your one-time €10 is unaffected either way.

SlabExchange is currently in alpha: creator codes can be entered and the €10 reward is granted now, and your support is attributed to the creator from day one (and stays active without re-upping during alpha). The 20% revenue share, and the renew-to-keep-supporting cycle, begin once beta (live trading + payments) opens — no platform fees exist to share until then. To become a creator, contact us at partnerships@slabexchange.eu.

These terms apply to all use of SlabExchange. By creating an account you accept them. SlabExchange is currently in alpha — the platform is operational for slab listing and wishlist tracking but trade execution + payments are not yet enabled. These terms will be re-versioned and reviewed by counsel before beta launch (live trading).

Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old, have legal capacity to enter into binding contracts, and be a resident of one of the 27 EU member states. Account creation from outside the EU-27 is blocked at the network layer.

Acceptance

Creating an account constitutes acceptance of these terms, the Privacy & GDPR Policy, and all platform rules above (eligibility, photo verification, dispute process, etc.). Continued use after a material change to these terms — which we will announce on this page and via email — also constitutes acceptance of the updated version.

Account responsibilities

• Provide accurate registration and DAC7 information; keep it up to date.
• Keep your password and access tokens secure. You are responsible for activity under your account.
• Only list slabs you legally own and can deliver.
• Do not use the platform for money-laundering, tax evasion, or any illegal purpose.
• Do not attempt to circumvent the EU-27 geo-restriction, dispute resolution, or platform fees.

Platform rights

SlabExchange reserves the right to refuse listings, suspend accounts, reverse trades, or cooperate with law enforcement in cases of fraud, abuse, or violations of these terms. We aim to communicate reasons for any account action, but reserve the right not to do so where confidentiality, legal duty, or fraud investigation requires.

Service availability

SlabExchange is provided "as is"during alpha. We make no warranty of uninterrupted availability, fitness for a particular purpose, or accuracy of third-party data (PSA cert lookups, TCGdex catalog, shipping rates). We will give advance notice of planned downtime where reasonably possible.

Liability

To the extent permitted by Dutch law and applicable EU consumer-protection rules, SlabExchange's liability is limited to direct damages caused by our wilful misconduct or gross negligence. We are not liable for indirect or consequential losses, lost profits, or loss of trading opportunity. Your statutory consumer rights are not affected.

Governing law & jurisdiction

These terms are governed by the laws of the Netherlands. Disputes will be resolved by the competent courts of the Netherlands, without prejudice to any mandatory consumer-protection rights you have under the laws of your EU member state of residence.

Termination

You may close your account at any time via Settings → Delete account (or by emailing legal@slabexchange.eu). Some data is retained under legal obligation (financial records, DAC7) for the statutory period; everything else is anonymised on close.

Contact

Legal questions: legal@slabexchange.eu. Security disclosures: security@slabexchange.eu. General feedback: feedback@slabexchange.eu.

SlabExchange is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, Creatures Inc. or Game Freak. Pokémon and all related names are trademarks of their respective owners. Card images are shown to identify the genuine graded cards offered for resale; the card art remains the copyright of its owners.

Card data and most card images come from TCGdex (MIT licence). Where TCGdex has no image of a card yet, the image comes from The Pokémon Company's official card database or from community card databases. A card nobody has an image of shows its card back.

Rights holders who want an image removed can write to legal@slabexchange.eu.