Terms and Conditions

1) The Services

1. Eligibility for Submission

To submit items, you must:

• provide accurate submitter information (name, address, email, etc.);
• complete the submission process, including service level, return shipping choice, and declared value; and
• pay all applicable fees, taxes, and shipping charges.

We may refuse service to anyone or reject any submission, including for suspected fraud, policy violations, abusive conduct, nonconforming packaging, prohibited items, or operational limitations.

One account / one submitter rule: If you maintain an online account, you may only maintain one account. We may suspend or terminate accounts for misuse or policy violations.

2. Service Levels, Declared Value, and Value Adjustments

We may offer multiple service levels with different estimated turnaround times and pricing. Your selected service level may include a Declared Value limit (sometimes "Maximum Insured Value").

Declared Value means the maximum compensation you may receive for loss or damage while the item is in our custody (see Section 12), and may also determine service eligibility and fees.

You are responsible for selecting an appropriate declared value for each item.

Value adjustment: If we determine an item's fair market value exceeds the declared value or service level limit you selected, we may require an upgraded service level and associated fee. If you refuse to pay the adjusted fee, we may return the item unprocessed at your expense and charge processing/handling fees.

3. Turnaround Times

Any stated turnaround time is an estimate only and not a guarantee. Delays may occur due to submission volume, staffing, quality control, carrier delays, payment issues, weather, or other factors.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, STORY SLAB HAS NO LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM DELAYS OR FAILURE TO MEET ESTIMATED TURNAROUND TIMES.

We do not provide grading results by phone/text/social media. Results may be available through your account (if applicable) or via return shipment paperwork.

4. Eligible Items; Submission Standards; No Altered Items

We will provide Services according to our then-current grading/authentication standards and procedures.

You agree not to knowingly submit items that are:

• trimmed, recolored, restored, pressed (if not disclosed/allowed), cleaned in a deceptive way, rebacked, altered, counterfeit, forged, or otherwise tampered with; or
• in a condition too fragile or hazardous to process.

We may reject any item in our sole discretion. Items rejected for inauthenticity/alteration may still incur standard fees because evaluation requires labor and professional judgment.

5. Subjective Nature of Opinions

Authentication and grading involve professional judgment and can be subjective. We do not guarantee that another grading company—or even Story Slab at a different time—would assign the same result.

No promises about value: You understand the grade/opinion is not a promise of market value, resale price, or liquidity.

If you disagree with results, your remedy is to use whatever review/reholder/regrade service we offer (if any) and pay applicable fees.

2) Shipping, Risk of Loss, and Packaging

6. Inbound Shipping and Packaging Requirements

You are responsible for packing and shipping items to us exactly as required by our submission instructions. Nonconforming packaging may result in:

• processing delays;
• added handling fees; and/or
• rejection and return at your expense.

Carriers are not our agents. We are not responsible for loss or damage in transit to us, even if we provide a suggested label option or shipping guidance.

You bear the sole risk and cost of inbound shipment, including insurance decisions.

7. When We Become Responsible

We are responsible for an item only after it is received, opened, identified, and logged into our system. Carrier delivery confirmation alone does not establish responsibility.

8. Return Shipping

Unless you choose an approved pickup method (if offered), we return items via third-party carrier, typically with signature required. You are responsible for accurate return address details.

If a package is returned to us due to failed delivery attempts, address errors, refusal, or non-collection, you are responsible for reshipment fees and any additional insurance charges.

3) Inspection, Corrections, and Claims

9. Inspection Upon Return; Time Limits

Upon receipt of your return shipment, you must promptly inspect:

• the item(s);
• the holder(s);
• the label(s); and
• any paperwork included.

You must report any alleged shipping damage, holder defects, label errors, or missing items within five (5) calendar days of delivery (or other short window you choose).

Failure to report within the stated window means you waive the claim to the maximum extent permitted by law.

10. Label Corrections

If we confirm a label error (e.g., wrong set/year/player/card number), you must follow our label correction process and return the item as instructed. If we caused the error, we may cover return shipping for correction (policy-dependent).

You agree not to sell, market, or circulate a mislabeled item as-is if you know or should know the label is incorrect, and you agree to indemnify us for claims arising from your distribution of a known mislabeled item.

4) Holders, Labels, and Tampering

11. Holder / Label Ownership and Tampering

Story Slab holders and certification labels are intended to remain intact.

If you break open a holder, you assume the risk of injury and item damage.

A removed item is treated as ungraded for all purposes.

We are not responsible for any damage caused by cracking a holder.

If you possess a holder/label you believe is counterfeit, altered, or tampered with, you should notify us.

5) Loss, Damage, and Insurance

12. Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Items While in Our Custody

We will use reasonable care in handling items. If we determine (in our sole discretion) that an item was lost, stolen, or damaged while in our custody/control, we will compensate you as follows:

Compensation is limited to the lesser of:

• (a) the item's fair market value at the time of loss (as determined by us using reasonable methods), or
• (b) the Declared Value for that item (or applicable service level limit), or
• (c) any additional cap you state.

We may choose to:

• return the damaged item and compensate for the reduction in value; or
• retain the item and pay the applicable maximum compensation.

Exclusive remedy: This compensation is your sole and exclusive remedy for loss/damage while in our custody, and may require signing a release.

We are not liable for sentimental/intrinsic value.

6) Your Representations, Fraud, and Prohibited Conduct

13. Your Representations and Authority

By submitting items, you represent and warrant that:

• you have the legal right to submit the item(s);
• the item(s) are not stolen and are free of liens/encumbrances;
• all submission information is accurate (including declared value); and
• you have authority to submit items on behalf of any third party owner (if applicable).

14. Altered/Counterfeit Items; Fraud Prevention

"Altered" includes trimming, recoloring, bleaching, pressing (if not disclosed/allowed), cleaning, rebacking, restoration, or any other manipulation intended to misrepresent condition or authenticity.

We may:

• reject altered/counterfeit/forged items;
• charge evaluation fees even if rejected;
• document and retain evidence of suspected fraud as needed;
• report suspected criminal activity to applicable authorities where required/appropriate; and/or
• deactivate certification numbers if we later determine an item was materially misrepresented, altered, or counterfeit.

7) Payments, Cancellations, and Security Interest

15. Payment Terms; Non-Refundability

You agree to pay all fees, shipping, insurance (if any), taxes, and other charges. Fees are generally non-refundable once processing begins.

Cancellation: You may request cancellation only before grading/authentication work begins (as determined by our internal status). Cancelled submissions may still be charged handling, return shipping, and other incurred costs.

Chargebacks or reversed payments may result in certification deactivation and collections actions.

16. Delinquent Payments; Security Interest (Optional but common)

If you fail to pay amounts due, you grant us a security interest/lien in submitted items and any other of your property in our possession, to secure payment. We may retain, and if legally permissible, sell/dispose of items to satisfy unpaid balances after required notice periods.

(If you don't want this, remove it—but understand you're giving up leverage against non-payment.)

8) Data, Images, and Intellectual Property

17. Data and Image Usage; Ownership

In the ordinary course of business, we may collect:

• item identification data, set details, grade, subgrades (if offered), notes, and other metadata ("Data"); and
• scans/photos/videos of the item and/or holder ("Images").

Together, Data and Images are "Submission Content."

You authorize us to create, store, use, and publish Submission Content for operational, verification, research, marketing, anti-fraud, population reporting, and other business purposes.

Ownership: To the fullest extent permitted by law, Story Slab owns the Submission Content we create (e.g., our photos, our database entries, our certification records). You retain ownership of your physical item.

Limited license back to you: We grant you a limited, revocable license to display images of your graded item and our certification information for personal use and resale listings, so long as you present it accurately and do not imply Story Slab endorses your sale.

18. Certification Verification

Our certification lookup tools (if offered) are intended to assist verification, but do not eliminate risk. You remain responsible for due diligence when buying/selling.

9) Legal Terms

19. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

20. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST VALUE, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, OR SENTIMENTAL VALUE).
• OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM RELATING TO AN ITEM OR SERVICES WILL NOT EXCEED THE FEES YOU PAID FOR THE SERVICES FOR THAT ITEM, OR THE DECLARED VALUE CAP (WHICHEVER IS LOWER), EXCEPT WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

21. Dispute Resolution; Arbitration; Class Action Waiver (U.S.)

Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or Services will be resolved by binding arbitration on an individual basis, not in court, except for small claims matters. You and Story Slab waive the right to a jury trial and to participate in class actions or class arbitration, to the extent permitted by law.

22. Governing Law; Venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to conflict of laws rules. If arbitration is not applicable, exclusive venue lies in Illinois courts, to the extent permitted by law.

23. Force Majeure

We are not liable for delays or failure to perform due to events beyond our reasonable control (carrier disruptions, weather, power outages, system failures, labor shortages, governmental action, etc.).

24. Miscellaneous

These Terms constitute the entire agreement regarding submitted items and Services and supersede prior communications. If any provision is held unenforceable, the remainder remains effective. We may assign these Terms; you may not assign without our written consent.