CG Official Policy Update: Integrity & Transparency Standards

 To our Collectors and Members,

​Collector’s Grade (CG) came to the public eye in 2021 during a pivotal shift in the hobby. As the legacy grading companies jacked up their prices and discontinued their lower-tier services, they effectively signaled to the average collector and reseller that their business was no longer a priority. Our mission from day one was to fill that void and provide a professional option for the people the big players left behind.

​In 2023, after some of the industry’s larger players stopped grading items from international markets like Peru and China, a large community of collectors was left without a way to preserve their collections. CG stepped in to fill that void. We’ve always believed these items—specifically manufactured fan art—hold value to the people who collect them for the joy of the hobby, and they deserve to be preserved and protected in a professional slab.

​Cleaning Up the Hobby

​Manufactured fan art and custom handmade items have an important place in the market for collectors who appreciate independent creativity. However, bad actors do not have the right to use our professional services to deceive or defraud the consumer. It has come to our attention that individuals are exploiting the lack of standard labeling on independent items to intentionally pass off independent creations as official corporate products.

​This is unacceptable. CG has never, and will never, intentionally play a role in misleading or deceiving the consumer. We didn't build this company to provide a platform for scammers. As a leader in the independent collectible space, we are taking direct action to protect the community and set a clear industry standard.

​To eliminate any opportunity for deception, we are implementing the following Mandatory Labeling Standards for all unlicensed products:

​1. The Universal UNLC Requirement

​To provide immediate, undeniable notice that an item is an independent creation, the UNLC (Unlicensed Collectible) designation will now appear on all unlicensed slabs. To further clarify the nature of the item, it will be accompanied by one of the following category markers:

​FAN ART: For manufactured items produced by independent entities (e.g., the various series from Peru, China, or other independent international print runs).

​CUSTOM: For unique, handcrafted items created by individual artists.

​This dual-layer system removes the "gray area" and ensures every buyer knows exactly what they are looking at.

​2. Removal of Brand Trademarks

​To ensure there is zero risk of confusion, CG is removing all corporate brand names from our labels for unlicensed products.

​The New Standard: Labels will feature the Character Name and Numerical Registry ID alongside factual manufacturer data (e.g., "2023 Peru Series").

​The Goal: We describe the art; we don't brand it. This keeps our members safe and ensures the consumer is fully informed before they spend a dime.

​3. A Shield for the Community

​These rules act as a shield for our members and every collector who buys a CG slab. By making our labels more transparent, we are ensuring that when you see the CG name, you are seeing a standard of honesty. We are shutting the door on bad-faith actors so that the real collectors can continue to enjoy the hobby for the joy of collecting, with total peace of mind.

​Integrity You Can Trust

​We provided the option when others denied you one, and we will continue to support the diversity of this hobby. We are choosing to implement these standards because that’s what this community deserves.

​Thank You,

Charlie
Founder & Owner
Collector's Grade LLC