Frequently asked questionsEverything Aussie sellers
Everything Aussie sellers
actually ask.
Twenty-five honest answers covering pricing, postage, payment, condition, counterfeits and returns. If your question isn't here, email us at hello@zimcollects.com.au — we answer every message.
Pricing & offers
How do you decide what my card is worth?
We pull live TCGplayer market data and recent eBay AU sold listings, convert to AUD daily using Frankfurter FX, then apply a condition multiplier. You see the same input data we do — there's no black-box markdown.Why is your offer lower than eBay's headline price?
Because eBay's headline price is before fees, postage, time and risk. Once you subtract eBay's 13–15% in fees, AusPost tracked postage, the 14–30 day wait, and the chance of a chargeback, our offer typically lands in the same range — you just receive it in 24 hours.Will you negotiate?
On bulk submissions and high-value singles ($1,000+), yes — email us with photos and we'll quote manually. Standard scanner offers are non-negotiable so the system stays fair for everyone.Do you price-match other Australian buyback services?
Send us a screenshot of a current competing offer on the same card and condition, and we'll match it where the maths works. We won't match offers that we believe rely on bait pricing.
Shipping & postage
Do I have to pay postage?
No. We email you a pre-paid AusPost tracked label as soon as you accept the offer. Drop the parcel at any Australia Post outlet — we cover everything including signature on delivery for high-value parcels.How should I pack the card?
Penny sleeve, then top loader, then a small padded mailer with cardboard reinforcement. For slabs: bubble wrap the slab, double-wrap, then padded mailer. We've never received a card that arrived damaged with this method.What if AusPost loses my parcel?
The pre-paid label includes tracked + insured cover. If a parcel goes missing, we lodge the claim and cover the agreed offer regardless of the AusPost outcome.Can I drop the cards off in person?
Yes for Melbourne sellers — we run a Saturday morning collection point in the inner north. Email us to arrange. For all other cities, the AusPost label is faster and free.
Payment & timelines
How fast do I actually get paid?
Same business day after we confirm the card on arrival. Confirmation lands within 24 hours of the parcel reaching our Melbourne address.How do you pay?
Direct bank transfer (PayID or BSB/account) is default. PayPal and Wise are available on request. We don't pay in cryptocurrency.Can you pay in store credit?
Yes — store credit on our shop earns a 10% bonus over the cash offer. Useful if you're planning to buy a display case or sealed product anyway.Is there any minimum offer amount?
No minimum. We've paid out offers as small as $8 and as large as five figures. The free postage label kicks in automatically over $100.
Condition & grading
How do you grade condition?
We use the standard TCG condition scale: Near Mint (NM), Lightly Played (LP), Moderately Played (MP), Heavily Played (HP), Damaged. We err strict — a card we'd grade NM most graders would also grade NM.What if my card grades differently than I described?
We send a counter offer reflecting the real grade. You have 72 hours to accept the counter, or decline and we ship the card back free of charge.Do you buy PSA / BGS / TAG / CGC graded cards?
Yes, all four major grading companies in any grade. Graded copies typically command 1.5–3x the equivalent raw card depending on the grade and the card.Should I grade the card before sending?
Generally no — we offer against the raw market for raw cards. If the card is a clean PSA 10 candidate it can make sense to grade first, but factor in PSA's US$25 fee plus international postage and 30–55 day turnaround.
Counterfeits & authenticity
What if my card turns out to be a counterfeit?
We email you photos and our authentication notes, and ship the card back free of charge. We never destroy counterfeits without owner consent and never resell them.How do you authenticate?
Every card is checked under 10x magnification, UV light, and against a reference set. For high-value vintage we also use weight calibration. We've passed and rejected at every value tier — no card is too small or too large to authenticate properly.Are reprints (e.g. Celebrations) treated as fakes?
No — official reprints with the appropriate set markings are genuine cards, just from a later print run. We price them against the reprint market rather than the original.
What we buy and don't buy
What do you buy?
Modern English Pokémon cards in NM and LP raw, all PSA / BGS / TAG / CGC graded copies in any grade, sealed product (boxes, ETBs, packs) from any era, and most vintage holos.What don't you buy?
Heavily played raw cards, water-damaged or creased copies, known counterfeits, and most non-English raw modern cards. Japanese vintage and high-value Japanese moderns we'll quote manually.Do you buy whole binders / collections?
Yes — we offer a single bulk number on whole-collection submissions to save you scanning each card. Email a video walkthrough of the binder and we'll quote within 48 hours.Do you take other TCGs?
Not currently. We focus on Pokémon TCG so we can be honestly expert at one thing rather than mediocre at six. Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh and One Piece sellers will get more accurate offers from category-specific buyers.
Account & process
Do I need an account?
Only at the point you accept an offer — we need a delivery confirmation address and bank details. Browsing prices is anonymous.Can I cancel after accepting an offer?
Yes — until the card arrives and is confirmed. Email us and we cancel the postage label, no questions asked.What happens to my data?
Your details are used to ship, pay and (occasionally) email you about new offers if you opt in. We never sell data to third parties. See the Privacy policy for the full breakdown.
Returns & guarantees
Can I get my card back if I change my mind?
Yes — until we transfer payment. After payment is sent the sale is final, but the 72-hour counter window gives you a meaningful chance to back out if the offer revises.Do you offer any kind of guarantee?
Yes — see the Buyback Guarantee page. Short version: if the offer revises down on inspection, you get 72 hours to accept the new number or get your card returned free of charge.
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