Transit wording should name each leg
“Insured” is not enough. Identify inbound transit, provider custody, grader custody and return transit, then ask what product or policy applies to each one.
Read CardRevive shipping and cover termsBuyer checklist · Australia
How to choose a card restoration service in Australia
The useful comparison is not who makes the loudest promise. Ask every provider the same questions about intake records, treatment disclosure, transit, pricing and grading risk, then compare the written answers before a valuable card changes hands.
Six criteria to compare in writing
Ask the same question of every service
| Criterion | Questions to ask every provider | CardRevive’s published position |
|---|---|---|
| Turnaround | When does the clock start? Is inspection separate from treatment? Are grading and transit added afterward? | Restoration timing is published by service tier and confirmed after physical assessment. Grading-company time and transit are separate. |
| Transit and cover | Who carries the inbound risk? Is cover agreed-value insurance, carrier compensation or neither? What about overseas parcels? | No agreed-value or collectible insurance is provided. Customers arrange inbound transit; paid Australia Post Extra Cover can be selected for an Australian return parcel. No overseas cover is offered. |
| Treatment disclosure | Will the provider say exactly what changed? Do they claim work is undetectable or promise a grade? | Any work is treated as alteration. Scope and material risks are approved before treatment; CardRevive never recolours and never guarantees a grade or undetectable work. |
| Grading-house compatibility | Which houses can the provider submit to? Who decides whether a treated card is accepted? | Middleman support is published for PSA, BGS, PCG, ACE and CGC. TAG submission is not offered. The grading house alone decides eligibility and grade. |
| Before/after documentation | Is every card recorded at receipt? Can you see stage updates and approvals? | Every intake is logged and photographed. The private portal carries per-card stages, photos, messages, approvals and invoices. |
| Pricing transparency | Is inspection charged? Are tiers, add-ons, GST, shipping and a declined quote itemised before work? | A$10 inspection per assessed card is published. Restoration tiers and add-ons are listed, and the portal or invoice itemises approved charges before payment. |
Your shortlist
Six checks before a card leaves your hands
- 01
Ask for written terms covering custody, loss, damage and the exact transit legs included.
- 02
Ask whether every card is photographed before any cleaning or treatment.
- 03
Reject guaranteed grades, guaranteed undetectability and vague claims of “full insurance.”
- 04
Confirm what happens if physical assessment finds the quoted work is not worthwhile.
- 05
Read before/after examples with the lighting, grade and outcome caveats still attached.
- 06
Compare the total journey, not a restoration or grading headline price in isolation.
Documentation should begin before treatment
A useful record includes arrival photographs, the approved scope, material risks, stage updates and the final condition—not only a polished after image.
See the CardRevive client portalQuestions collectors ask
Straight answers before you commit
How do I compare card restoration services in Australia?
Give each provider the same checklist: turnaround definition, transit and cover terms, treatment disclosure, grading-house support, intake photography and fully itemised pricing. Ask for written answers and compare the total journey rather than one headline price.
Should a card restorer guarantee a higher grade?
No. The grading house makes the final authentication and grade decision. A credible provider should explain alteration risk, avoid promises of undetectability and make clear that treatment or a past result cannot guarantee the next outcome.
Are trading cards insured during restoration?
Do not assume they are. Ask whether the provider offers agreed-value insurance, carrier compensation or no cover, and identify each transit and custody leg. CardRevive does not provide agreed-value or collectible insurance and offers only optional Australia Post Extra Cover for an Australian return parcel.
What proof should a restoration service provide?
Look for intake photographs, a written condition record, an approved treatment scope, progress updates and a final before/after record. CardRevive logs and photographs every intake and records per-card stages, approvals and invoices in its private portal.
How should I compare CardRevive with The Card Medic?
Apply the same checklist to both services and verify each provider’s current terms directly: turnaround, transit and cover, treatment disclosure, grading-house support, before/after documentation and itemised pricing. This page makes no claim about The Card Medic’s price, turnaround or quality.
Intake · Sydney
Send us your worst card.
Start the submission flow, package your cards, and ship them to the Sydney lab for assessment.
$10 AUD inspection per card. If your card doesn't need restoration, you skip the tier fee. If our service has a problem, contact us so we can put it right.
Every card is assessed before any work. No grade is ever guaranteed, and we never recolour.