Inspection Guide

"Inspected, not graded" is the promise behind every listing in this store. This page shows what that actually means — the exact process every game goes through before it earns a spot on our shelves.

1. Intake & identification

Every item is logged with its own SKU the day it arrives and identified precisely — title, platform, region, and edition. That SKU follows the item forever, so the exact copy you see in a listing is the exact copy that ships to you.

2. Authenticity check

Reproduction carts and bootleg discs are everywhere in this hobby, and screening them out is non-negotiable. We check board construction, chip markings, shell molds, label print quality, and disc ring codes against known-original references. Repros are never sold at this store. 

3. Cleaning

Cartridge contacts are properly cleaned (no, not blown on), shells are cleaned of grime and sticker residue where it can be done safely, and discs are cleaned and — when needed — professionally resurfaced. Clean contacts and clean discs aren't cosmetic; they're why the game works the first time you try it.

4. Testing

Every cartridge is booted on real hardware and checked past the title screen. Battery-backed carts are checked for holding saves. Discs are tested for a clean read from boot, with attention to load points where worn discs typically fail. Anything that doesn't pass doesn't get listed — it gets repaired or it gets parted out.

5. Condition & completeness, honestly assigned

Loose — the game itself without original box and manual; the listing states exactly what's included (cart only, disc & manual, and so on). Complete in Box — game, manual, and original box or case, all present. Sealed — factory sealed, never opened. Notable wear, writing, or flaws are called out in the listing rather than left for you to discover. If we'd want to know it as a buyer, it's written down.

6. Storage & shipping

Inspected inventory is stored clean and dry, and when you order, it's packed properly — carts and discs protected, boxes protected like the collectibles they are — and shipped in 1–2 business days, tracked and insured.

The backstop

Process or not, we're human. That's what the 14-day guarantee is for: if anything arrives not working or not as described, we make it right. See Returns for the details, or check our public eBay feedback to see how the process holds up in the wild.