Wondering what condition your collectibles are really in? This free tool walks you through the same checkpoints professional graders look at — for trading cards, scale figures and plush — and gives you an honest, category-by-category read on where your item stands. Pick a category, rate each checkpoint, and get a plain-English verdict plus tips on protecting and, if you like, adding to your collection from HD Toys Store Japan.
One thing this checklist takes for granted is that the piece is genuine — grading a reproduction carefully still leaves you with a reproduction. If anything about the paint application, the box print or the joints feels off, run through the authenticity checkpoints first (it covers the tells our inspection staff in Japan actually look for), then come back and grade it.
Watch: How We Check Condition
Before you rate your own item below, here is the same checkpoint pass we do on every piece we list — box edges, paint and surfaces, seams and joints, and included extras. The piece in this clip is Transformers Micro Powered Master DaiAtlas C-348 General Commander Zone G1 1990 from our current inventory.
Care & Storage: keeping the condition you just graded
Grading tells you where an item stands today. A few simple habits keep it there — and protect its resale value for years. Here is how to look after each type.
Trading Cards
- Sleeve first, then hard-case. A penny sleeve inside a toploader or one-touch protects the corners and edges — the two things that most often cap a card’s grade.
- Store flat and snug, never loose. Cards left loose in a drawer bow and warp. Keep them in side-loading binder pages or boxed standing upright so nothing bends.
- Away from sunlight and humidity. UV light fades ink and damp air warps and clouds the surface. A closed box in a room-temperature cupboard is ideal.
- Handle by the edges. Clean, dry hands and an edges-only grip avoid fingerprints and fine surface scratches that show up under light.
Browse trading cards in stock →
Scale Figures & Statues
- Keep out of direct sunlight. White and clear plastics yellow with UV exposure — the most common value-killer on older figures. Display behind glass, away from windows.
- Dust gently and often. A soft makeup brush or an air blower lifts dust without scratching; avoid solvents and household sprays on painted detail.
- Mind heat and weight. Heat softens PVC and can lean a pose over time. Don’t stack or press parts together, and support heavy pieces on their stand.
- Keep the box uncrushed. For boxed pieces the box is part of the value — store it flat and dry if you may resell later.
Browse scale figures in stock →
Plush & Soft Toys
- Spot-clean only, keep dry. Blot marks with a barely-damp cloth and a little mild soap; never soak — wet stuffing mats, loses shape and can smell.
- Store breathable, not sealed. A cloth bag or open shelf beats a sealed plastic bag, which traps moisture and causes a musty odor.
- Protect the tags. Hang and tush tags drive plush value; a simple tag protector keeps them crisp and attached.
- Out of sun and dust. Bright light fades fabric and airborne dust encourages pilling — a shaded, low-dust spot keeps colors and texture like-new.
Once you know the condition, see what it means for value and how easily it sells in our Condition & Market Liquidity Guide →