Collector's Condition Guide
How We Grade Condition at DiecastSquad
Condition descriptions matter. We use plain, honest language no confusing grading scales or strict letter grades so you know exactly what you're getting before you buy.
To make shopping easy, every carded and loose die-cast vehicle on our store falls into one of four clear condition tiers:
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1. New / Good Condition (Collector Grade)
• Card & Packaging: Crisp, flat cardstock with clean, sharp edges and corners. The blister bubble is crystal clear, crack-free, and fully sealed with no separation.
• Vehicle: Pristine factory condition. No paint chips, tampo smears, or visible factory flaws.
• Best For: Carded wall displays, high grade collections, and keeping sealed.
2. Semi-Fresh / Soft Corner (Standard Grade)
• Card & Packaging: Light shelf wear or standard factory handling. May feature minor soft/dented corners, a faint crease, small edge wear, or a retail price sticker. The card lies flat and the blister remains fully sealed and intact.
• Vehicle: Pristine factory condition inside the packaging.
• Best For: Collectors who want a great looking carded display piece without paying a premium for mint packaging.
3. Opener Special (Bargain Grade)
• Card & Packaging: Noticeable packaging damage heavy creasing, bent hang hooks, vein marks, water waves, or a dented/cracked blister.
• Vehicle: 100% mint inside the box. Fully protected and untouched.
• Best For: Anyone planning to uncard their vehicles, custom builders, wheel swappers, or track runners get the exact same pristine car at a discount!
4. Loose Car Deals (Uncarded / Out-of-Box)
• Card & Packaging: No original card or blister included.
• Vehicle: Ranges from fresh out of blister mint to minor display or play wear. Check individual listing photos and notes for exact condition.
• Best For: Loose display cases, diorama setups, custom projects, and track racing.
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Common Terms & Flaws Explained
• Tampo: The printed graphics, logos, and headlights applied to the vehicle. A faded, smeared, or misaligned graphic is noted as a "soft tampo."
• Rub Mark: A dull spot on the paint caused by the vehicle touching the blister during transit, usually on high points like the roof or hood.
• Paint Chip: A tiny area where paint has flaked off, exposing metal or primer.
• Card Wave: Slight bowing of the cardboard, often caused by humidity changes in storage.
• Price Sticker: Retail price tags left on the card. We note if a sticker or leftover adhesive residue is present.
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Protectors & Packaging
• Hard Case Protectors: When a listing includes a hard plastic clamshell card protector, it is explicitly stated in the listing title or description as "w/ protector" or "includes hard case." If not mentioned, the item ships without one.
• Shipping Security: We pack every order carefully using proper boxing and protection to ensure your items arrive in the exact condition described.
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Questions?
Need a closer look before buying? Contact us directly with details and we'll gladly send extra photos so you can inspect the card, blister, or casting yourself. Email us at DiecasquadSupport@gmail.com