[ CONDITION GUIDE ]
Condition, explained.
Whatever condition your games are in, that’s what we buy: condition affects price, not whether we want it. Here’s what the terms mean, what counts as full value, and how we verify it on our end.
[ BUY SHEET TERMS ]
Know your game collection.
What do you have, and how complete is it? Here are the defined levels.
- Loose
- The cartridge or disc by itself, no other items included.
- Complete (CIB)
- Complete in box: the cart/disc, the original box, and the original instruction manual.
- Brand New
- The game, box, and manual, in their original factory-sealed plastic.
- Graded
- A brand-new item that’s been graded by a condition rating agency, like VGA.
- Box Only
- The original box by itself, no game included.
- Manual Only
- The original instruction manual by itself, no game included.
[ QUALITY STANDARDS ]
What full value looks like, by item type.
Most things that ship to us qualify for full value as-is. Here’s what decides that, and what would call for an adjustment.
Cartridge Games GB, GBA, NES, SNES, N64, Genesis
Ships at full value when: Full value for light wear and faded-but-legible labels.
We adjust if: Reduced (-50%) for ripped labels, large stickers over the original label, water damage, or heavy marker. Reduced further (-100%) for cracked/chipped shells, internal corrosion, or cartridges that don’t work.
Doesn’t affect price: Light dust or grime that cleans off, and minor scuffing on the back of the shell.
Disc-Based Games GameCube, PlayStation
Ships at full value when: Full value for light, repairable scratches (manual can be missing under $40).
We adjust if: Reduced (-50%) for permanent marker on the disc. No value for discs that won’t read after resurfacing, are scratched through the top layer, or are reproductions.
Doesn’t affect price: A replaced case, as long as a case is included.
Classic Handhelds GB, GBC, GBA
Ships at full value when: Full value when fully working, with a clean screen and light cosmetic wear.
We adjust if: Reduced (-50%) for heavy wear or deep shell scratches. Reduced further (-75%) for battery corrosion, dead pixels, bad buttons, or units that can’t read games.
Doesn’t affect price: A missing charger or stylus.
Rechargeable Handhelds GBA SP, DS, 3DS, 2DS, Switch
Ships at full value when: Full value when fully functional with mild wear (missing stylus or charger is fine).
We adjust if: Reduced (-50%) for moderate wear or a scratched screen. Reduced further (-75%) for charging-port faults, unresponsive buttons, dead pixels or discoloration, broken hinges, or joystick drift.
Home Consoles All systems
Ships at full value when: Full value when tested, fully functional, and reading games properly (factory reset where applicable).
We adjust if: Reduced (-50% or more) for moderate to heavy cosmetic wear or operational issues.
Doesn’t affect price: Missing AV/power cables (priced separately on the sheet), missing port covers, and a system that hasn’t been reformatted as long as personal data is removed.
Controllers & Accessories All systems
Ships at full value when: Full value when buttons, sticks, triggers, and core functions all work.
We adjust if: Reduced (-50%) for sticky or non-functional buttons, drift, loose sticks, gyro issues, or major cosmetic damage.
Box Only / Manual Only All systems
Ships at full value when: Full value for a clean box or manual: no major tears, crushing, water damage, or writing.
We adjust if: Reduced value for moderate wear: light creasing, small tears, faded color, or minor sticker residue, as long as it’s still intact and legible. Not accepted once a box no longer holds its shape, or a manual is missing pages.
Graded All systems
Ships at full value when: Bought at the grade shown on the agency’s label or cert, provided the case is intact and the seal undisturbed.
We adjust if: A cracked or compromised case is treated as a separate condition issue from the grade itself: say so when you reach out.
Further questions? Check our FAQ →
[ HOW WE VERIFY ]
Checked twice: once by you, once by us.
When your items arrive, we check them against the same standards above before confirming the offer. If something doesn’t match what was described, see the adjusted-offer policy on How It Works. You’re never obligated to accept an adjustment.