A card is only worth what it’s worth in the condition it arrives in. Most damage happens in the first five minutes after a pack is opened, or in a badly packed parcel. Here’s how to protect your cards at home and when you send them anywhere in New Zealand.
The basic kit
- Penny sleeves: soft plastic sleeves. Every card worth keeping goes in one first.
- Top loaders: rigid holders. A sleeved card slides in. Get the size that fits, and use thicker ones for relic or patch cards.
- Card savers: semi-rigid holders that most grading companies prefer for submissions.
- Team bags: resealable bags to keep top loaders or base cards together.
- Storage boxes: keep everything upright, dry and out of the sun.
Five rules at home
- Sleeve it first. Clean, dry hands, and sleeve the card before you pass it around.
- No rubber bands or tape on the card or the sleeve. They dent edges and leave marks.
- Keep it out of sunlight. UV fades colours and autographs, even through a window.
- Avoid damp spots. Cupboards against outside walls and garages can warp cards over winter.
- Skip screw-down holders for valuable cards. They can press and mark the surface.
Sending cards in New Zealand
- Sleeve and top-load each card.
- Put a small piece of painter’s tape over the top of the top loader so the card can’t slide out. The tape goes on the holder, never the card.
- Sandwich the top loaders between two pieces of cardboard, or use a team bag.
- Use a padded mailer for a few cards, or a small box for more.
- Always send tracked. A standard letter isn’t worth the saving for anything you care about.
How Blunt ships your cards
Every hit, numbered card, top rookie and top insert we send goes in a penny sleeve and a top loader. Base cards go in team bags. Everything ships tracked with NZ Post, and you get the tracking number by email. If anything arrives damaged in transit, contact us within 7 days with photos and we’ll put it right. Full details are in our Shipping Policy.
Sending cards for grading
Most graders are overseas, so pack for a long trip: card savers rather than top loaders if the grader asks for them, a sturdy box, and tracked, insured shipping. Check the grader’s own packing rules before you send, because they change. We send to grading as well – PSA Only
Got a question about protecting or sending a card? Ask us.