Buylist Policy

Selling Cards to us Through Our Online Buylist

We at ETB have just added this feature and will consider it as being in the Beta stage for at least 2 months (March and April 2025). Over that period we hope to address any issues and streamline the process as much as possible. We have added this feature both as a way for us to get more cards but also to create as much transparency as possible in the buying process.

There are two methods you can use to sell cards to us:

  1. ETB Quickbuy icon.
    This method involves you sending us your collection in whatever way you want and in whatever packaging and sleeves or binders you like. No work on your part, just package it up and send it to our Oakville mailing address or drop it off at any of our retail locations and, in most cases, within 48 hours of receiving it, we will make an offer on the whole collection. Upon your acceptance of the offer your credit will be added to your account immediately or an Etransfer will be sent within 24 hours. If you would prefer a cheque, we can mail it out or you can pick it up in any of our stores.
  2. Buylist Icon
    If you prefer to create an itemized list and are willing to sort your cards and send them to us in alphabetical order then you can choose our Buylist option instead. In this case just click the Buylist icon on our website and then choose whichever TCG that you are selling to us. Type the name of the card in the search bar and then choose the correct set and finish of the card that you are selling. Finally, select the appropriate grade(s) and quantities.

Repeat this process for each card that you are Buylisting and then submit the Buylist. We will respond within 48 hours and provide you with a Buylist Confirmation Number (hereafter BCN) after we have checked to make sure that all of the quantities and prices are within the parameters that we are looking for. We will note any changes to quantities and prices that we have made and then if you decide you would like to proceed, just securely package all the cards in alphabetical order and add the BCN written down on a piece of paper with the cards and on the outside of the box on the shipping label and send it to:

Enter the Battlefield (attn: your BCN)
2172 Speers Rd
Oakville On
L6L 2X8

Once we receive your package we will send confirmation that it has arrived. We will then grade each of the cards and check them against your grades and adjust the prices if there are discrepancies based on grade or finish. If the revised price is within 80% of the quoted price we will not ask for verification and will automatically send out payment in whichever manner you had requested. If the discrepancy in pricing is greater than 20% then we will email and explain why and ask for you to make a decision as to whether you accept or would prefer the cards returned to you.

If you choose to sell us the cards we will add credit immediately if that is your preferred method of payment and if you would like an etransfer it will be sent within 24 hours. Cheques will be sent within 48 hours or available for pickup after 24 hours.

Terms Conditions and Policies:

  1. Please make sure to put your BCN on the inside of your box with your cards and on the outside with the mailing address.
  2. You must be at least 18 years old to submit a buylist or have a legal guardian do so on your behalf as per Ontario law.
  3. We do not accept packages as COD.
  4. If your package is received and is clearly damaged we will decline to accept and have the carrier contact you and then wait for your instructions.
  5. Any buylist submission is considered an offer to sell as-is.
  6. Please make sure that your cards are sorted in alphabetical order.
  7. Any counterfeit or “proxy” cards will be removed from the buylist and destroyed. They will not be returned and there will be no compensation given.
  8. We reserve the right to decline to buy any card at any time for any reason.
  9. Any binders, sleeves, deckboxes, other supplies or packaging will become the property of ETB once the Buylist is received whether the Buylist is purchased or not. Please send Buylists in as little packaging as possible.
  10. Grading is subjective and differs by game (check our grading section) but we try to make sure that we grade cards the same whether we are selling or buying a card.
  11. Cards in MP, HP or Damaged condition are bought at a much lower price (or sometimes not at all) so please be mindful of this when making your Buylists. If you grade all your cards as NM and they are really MP then your Buylist might drop by as much as 90% or even not be wanted at all depending on which TCG your Buylist is.
  12. We will usually honor the prices given after providing a BCN so long as we receive the cards within 10 days of issuance of the BCN. That being said, we do reserve the right to decline to buy any card at any time for any reason. However we will notify you of this and not process any of the Buylist until we come to an agreement.
  13. Mystery Booster, List, Promo stamped and prerelease cards will not be bought for more than the Buylist price of the original in the same finish (foil or non-foil) in most cases despite the widely varied prices on the website.
  14. While in Beta, we expect a number of pricing errors on our website and for this reason we require sellers to wait until we have checked the Buylist and sent a BCN before physically sending the Buylist to us. During the period after you submit the Buylist and before we send the BCN we will check the pricing and quantities of the Buylist for any errors and then send the BCN with the updated pricing. After receiving the BCN you can decide if you are happy with the (possibly adjusted) quote and then physically send the cards to us with the attached BCN if you’d like to proceed.
  15. The last one. The truth is, we have to have all these rules to protect ourselves but in reality we try to be fair and upfront. If there is an issue we will call or email you. Our goal is to buy your cards and for the process to be as simple and pleasant as possible for everyone. We are independently owned and we like to think of ourselves as reasonable. If you have any questions, we are just a phone call or email away and always happy to answer any questions you might have. We don’t know any place that makes selling cards as quick and easy as it is with us. We look forward to buying and selling cards with you soon. Kris and Jay

Jay's Realistic Card Grading Guide

I have learned over the years that card grading is subjective and varies greatly between TCGs and within TCGs based on pricing and age. Here is what I have learned and how we grade cards at ETB. Feel free to agree or disagree but this is how we grade cards and how I expect the rest of LGSs do as well whether they admit it or not. It is important to note that because the grades of cards are subjective and for the most part there are only 5 different grades that each grade is a range rather than an absolute.

Magic the Gathering

Magic is interesting because it truly is a played game. As a general rule a cards' value is greatly influenced by its playability and players are willing (more than any other game) to play with cards in “played” conditions. Because of this, grading for MTG is the least picky and most true to the labels of Near mint (NM), Lightly played (LP), Moderately Played (MP), Heavily Played (HP) and Damaged (Dam). And it is important to note that inexpensive cards (ie. Cards under $3) are graded considerably more leniently than expensive cards, and old border cards are also generally graded more leniently than newer cards. All that being said here are how old border MTG cards are graded at ETB:

Condition Predicted Grade Description
NM 7-10 This is a card that is in very good condition it has good surfaces, clean corners and only small defects from wear that don't visually distract from the overall look of the card. Note that it is NEAR mint, not mint. It can have small defects. BGS calls everything from 7-10 a NM card and I like to think of it that way as well. Obviously there is a big difference between a 7 and a 10 but they all count as NM.
LP 6-7 This grade allows for a small amount of wear, maybe a little surface scuff or a couple of slightly whitened corners or maybe a small white spot or two or three on the edges. I'd give this 6 or 7 out of 10.
MP 4-6 This grade allows for a wide range of defects. Overall it is a playable card that looks fine in a sleeve but still shows considerable signs of wear. There will be a few surface scratches or multiple bits of whitening on the edges or corners. It might have some indents from a fingernail or a very small binder bite. Nothing severe but definitely noticeable. This would be a 4-6 out of 10.
HP 3-4 This is a card that has seen the trenches. It is worn, it is battered, it is bruised, but it is still sleeve playable. It is a 3-4 on my 10 point scale.
Damaged 1-2 This card may be beautiful but it has one or more of the following: a crease, any sort of inking (marker or pen), water damage, cuts, major indents, holes, tears. It is not sleeve playable but it does fill a hole in a collection or count as owning a card so that you can proxy it. It is a 1-2.

Pokemon

Pokemon is collected more than played (though I know it still has a thriving play community) and as such, its collectors are much more strict on grading.

Condition Predicted Grade Description
NM 9-10 In Pokémon, NM seems to have forgotten the 'Near' part of the acronym, and collectors who receive a card with even the smallest whitening get upset. The grading is much more inaccurately named. A NM card that we buy is really just a Mint card (it is nearly flawless with no noticeable whitening, crisp corners, and centering that is pretty good to the naked eye).
LP 8-9 LP is a beautiful card with the smallest of imperfections, maybe a tiny bit of whitening on an edge or a corner that isn't perfect or its centering is off a bit. An LP Pokémon card is a NM Magic card most of the time.
MP 5.5-8 MP has the biggest range. It can have noticeable wear and/or whitening. It can have surface scuffs but it is still a decent card that will show nicely in a binder.
HP 4-5.5 HP has a fair bit of wear. Still structurally sound but noticeably worn.
Damaged 1-4 Damaged is any card where there is a ton of wear or structural damage or inking.

YUGIOH

I don't know where to begin with Yugioh. The NM, LP… system is used for these but the words themselves in the traditional sense are meaningless. Yugioh buyers straight up forgot that the word Near exists in Near Mint and Lightly Played means flawless to them but here is how I can best describe them:

Condition Predicted Grade Description
NM 9.6-10 This card should be in a museum.
LP 8.5-9.5 Incredible card, if I look for a minute straight at the card then I can maybe find something that makes me believe it isn't perfect.
MP 7-8.5 Very nice card though I can find the flaws without having to squint.
HP 5.5-7 This would be a very reasonable Magic card or a MP Pokémon card but in Yu-Gi-Oh! it is HP. It will have a few defects: a rough corner or two, a light indent, some scuffing.
Damaged 1-5.5 Damaged is everything else.