AiGrading: an innovative Italian grading service for Naruto Mythos cards

Grading collectible cards in Europe is going through a genuine renaissance. Why? It is simple. If your card gets a high grade, its value goes up, although there are a few small catches...

Over the past days we decided to try AiGrading in practice and sent four unique cards from our Naruto TCG collection in for grading. For transparency and fairness towards you as readers: the service was done for us free of charge as part of a collaboration, but there was no brief and no pressure for a positive review. Everything you read here is based on our own experience of sending cards there. How does AiGrading do, what does the process look like, what does it cost, and is the promo that lets you recoup the whole cost really that good? Let us find out.

What is AiGrading? AI, NFC and blockchain combined

AiGrading stands out from traditional grading companies through an approach built on its own AiSystem ecosystem. It combines advanced digital tools, algorithms supporting visual analysis and the knowledge of experienced graders.

What draws the most attention is the patented Smart Label:

Built-in NFC / RFID chip: there is an integrated circuit inside the frame. Just tap it with a phone running the AiGrading app (iOS / Android) to instantly pull up the full digital certificate.
Digital certificate and blockchain: grading results are irreversibly written to a blockchain, which guarantees security, authenticity and that the document cannot be forged.
Two frame types: a classic, solid hard case (Hard Case / Slab) in the modern Radiante design (with an exclusive gold version for 10 Pristine grades), or grading in a sleeve (Sleeve).

How are cards graded and what is taken into account?

The AiGrading process is extremely detailed and split into four key categories (subgrades):

Centering: a very precise measurement of the card's margins vertically and horizontally, separately for front and back (for example an exact 50-50 or 45-55 ratio).
Surface: analysis of micro scratches, creases, factory print defects and discolouration on both sides.
Edges: inspection of the card's edge lines (front and back).
Corners: assessment of the corners for chipping or paper delamination.

Interestingly, the physical label inside the slab carries a clear overall grade, while the full breakdown into front and back subgrades plus detailed charts is available in the app after scanning the NFC tag.

Services and price range

AiGrading offers flexible packages suited to collectors, from single submissions to bulk shipments.

Standard grading cost: the price for a single card in a hard case starts at roughly 15-25 EUR (depending on how many cards you send, the turnaround you pick and any current promotions).
Express service: that is 30-45 EUR and is completed within 5 working days.
Frame types: a full mount in a hardened slab (Hard Case), or the cheaper certification in a protective sleeve (Sleeve Certificate).

Their exact, current price list is here: https://aigrading.com/en/solutions-and-pricing.html

PROMO HIGHLIGHT: send 4 cards and get a Kakashi Hatake card (worth about 1000 PLN!)

If you are considering trying AiGrading, now is absolutely the best moment. Some time ago the company launched a genuinely good promotion aimed at Naruto Mythos TCG fans:

The rules are simple: submit 4 cards for grading at aigrading.com using the right promo code and the order includes the super rare, exclusive promo card Kakashi Hatake Mythos 137/130.
A real return on investment: the market value of that promo card currently hovers around 1000 PLN.
Why is it such a deal? Adding up the cost of grading four cards (shipping included), the value of the Kakashi card covers the whole investment and then some. It is literally a chance to grade your favourite cards for free and come out ahead.

Do not believe it sells for that much? Check the SOLD listings on eBay here: https://www.ebay.pl/sch/i.html?_nkw=kakashi+hateke+promo+137+mythos&_sacat=0&_from=R40&rt=nc&LH_Sold=1

And now... our experience: testing AiGrading in practice!

To judge the quality of the service fairly, we sent AiGrading a parcel with 4 special cards:

3x Gold Naruto
1x numbered Sasuke Uchiha Variant

What are our impressions once the parcel came back?

Pluses:

Lightning-fast turnaround: very little time passed between the cards being received at the Italian office and being sent back. Turnaround is a huge advantage. Worth noting that the 5 working days (for the express service) does not include shipping time. For us that was another 2 to 3 days each way. Shipment status can of course be tracked on the AiGrading site.
Slab build quality: the frames are very solid, perfectly clear and sit nicely in the hand. The card simply looks stunning inside. Aesthetics 10/10.
NFC ecosystem and digital extras: tapping the phone against the label and jumping straight to the subgrades on screen makes a good impression. The whole presentation around the order and the attention to detail are top notch.
High grades: nice to get, but... exactly, let us move on.

Minuses and thoughts:

Grading too lenient? We cannot shake the impression that the AiGrading scale is not very strict. Small defects or factory flaws on our cards were treated very leniently or simply skipped when the final score was set. To put it plainly, we received grades that were too high.
What does that mean for the market? On one hand everybody enjoys a "ten" or a "nine plus" in their collection. On the other hand, if AiGrading grades stay this lenient, those cards may not build a strong price premium in the eyes of the most demanding, strict collectors and investors.

Summary: is AiGrading worth using?

AiGrading is a breath of fresh air on the European market. Great slabs, an innovative use of NFC and blockchain and a lightning-fast turnaround make using the service feel modern and pleasant.

Although we think the grading criteria should be considerably stricter, the current promotion changes everything. Getting a Kakashi Hatake Mythos 137/130 card worth around 1000 PLN for sending in just 4 cards makes the offer unbeatable.

If your collection holds Naruto cards you want protected in beautiful frames, there is nothing to think about. This is the perfect moment for a test. And what comes next? That is all in AiGrading's hands. Fingers crossed.