Data Use Policy

Sold comps are valuation evidence. Asking prices are reference only.

Grade Signals uses market data to help collectors and small dealers evaluate specific raw Pokemon cards before grading. The app is research-only and does not automate buying, bidding, checkout, offers, scraping, or seller targeting.

Current Beta

Grade Signals currently uses provider-supplied aggregate sold-history fields, including eBay-sourced sold prices when present in the snapshot. The app also offers user-directed eBay search links for manual research; those pages are not scraped. Licensed PokeTrace Scale data supplies bounded individual sold samples; those samples remain provisional while their original listings are checked.

Why We Use It

Sold comps support raw-to-graded valuation, floor-grade net analysis, confidence labels, and audit trails that explain why a card is marked Buy, Negotiate, Pass, or Needs Review.

Direct eBay Target

If approved for eBay Marketplace Insights, Grade Signals would request item-level sold-comp evidence only for specific user-selected cards: sold price, sold date, title, item ID, URL when permitted, condition, category, and image when permitted.

What We Do Not Do

Grade Signals does not automate purchases, bids, checkout, offers, reserve price estimation, seller profiling, broad category reporting, data resale, or public bulk access to provider data.

Active Listings

Active and sold eBay search links may be shown for manual research on eBay. Active asking prices are availability context only and are not treated as sold value in raw-to-graded net calculations.

Keeping used cards current

For signed-in accounts, Grade Signals keeps card IDs and the day of a view, confirmed scan, watch, or submission save for up to 30 days. Repeated actions count once per card and day. This helps prioritize price and evidence refreshes; it does not upload scan photos or send account details to pricing providers. Scheduler exports contain card priorities, with no account IDs, emails, collection documents, or owner notes. You can export your research activity with your account data; deleting your account removes the associated activity.

Operational Safeguards

Provider API credentials are stored server-side and are not exposed in browser code.
Sold-comp requests are tied to specific user-selected cards, not broad polling.
Responses are cached to reduce repeat calls and provider load.
Request volumes are rate-limited globally and per user.
Infrastructure errors are retried cautiously and never in uncontrolled loops.
Provider attribution is shown wherever sold-comp evidence is displayed.
Research outputs distinguish sold comps, market estimates, and active asking prices.
User-facing eBay search links are browser handoffs and are not scraped.
Direct item-level eBay sold listings will not be requested unless Marketplace Insights access is approved.

Research Disclaimer

Grade Signals is a research and decision-support tool. It is not financial, investment, legal, tax, grading, or collecting advice. Card prices, grading outcomes, fees, liquidity, and market conditions can change.

Independent research product.

Grade Signals is not affiliated with eBay, Nintendo, The Pokemon Company, PSA, BGS, CGC, SGC, ACE, TAG, or marketplace providers. Trademarks and marketplace data references are used for card identification and valuation research.