How the Grading process works, from shipping to certification

Essendo il Videogioco a tutti gli effetti un bene di valore, vi sono dei prerequisiti fondamentali per la spedizione che devono essere osservati con attenzione: the product (the videogame in question, which we will call it from here on for convenience) must be placed in a sealable transparent plastic bag without removing the original protective films or using chemical products and abrasive detergents, after which it is necessary to wrap it with medium-bubble bubble wrap and secure it with paper adhesive tape to protect it from impacts.

Once the product has been prepared in this way, it must be housed in a double-wall corrugated cardboard box, whose dimensions must be two centimeters larger on each side than the packed product. The conditions listed above constitute the safe basis for shipment to TGM; however, for high-value or particularly delicate products, there is the option of using a secondary container, namely an outer box with larger dimensions and perimeter sealing with reinforced tape, for an additional degree of security.

Moreover, to ensure that the package can be tracked and identified, it is necessary to attach the shipping documentation containing the customer's personal details, contact information (mobile phone and email address), the detailed inventory of the products and, if available, the order code. 

The shipment must be made via a trackable courier (the couriers currently authorized are Gls, Ups, Dhl, and Sda), after which The Games Market, once it has received the package, takes custody of it and checks the physical condition of the product, documenting the opening procedure with photos and videos. Once registered, after checking the compliance of the packaging and verifying the documentation, if no obvious defects are found, grading is carried out.

The procedure begins with a thorough visual inspection by the grading team: the condition of the box and seal is analyzed, any signs of tampering are checked, the labels are examined, and the overall “visual” integrity is verified. There are hundreds of parameters analyzed, such as the type of ink on the covers, the intensity and color consistency of the packaging, and all those elements that the operating team considers relevant based on its experience, essential for distinguishing an original from a counterfeit or a refurbished item, for example.

The additional service that The Games Market provides is Low-Intensity X-Ray Scanning, a technology capable of verifying the presence and integrity of the contents inside without opening the package.

Progettato for operation with millimeter precision, it allows one to identify the presence, among other things, of anomalies and gaps.

When a product successfully passes the evaluation, a certificate is issued and the video game is placed in a plexiglass case with a thickness of 6 mm (top/bottom) and 4 mm on the sides, so as to ensure adequate UV protection.

The case is sealed with industrial adhesives on the top and bottom, while no glue is applied on the sides so that there is proper ventilation and therefore to prevent the onset of mold, condensation, or internal humidity, which are harmful to the product.

Completo with a score and with the detailed certification that is issued, the video game is officially graded.