Collector guide
Buying graded Pokemon cards in the EU
What EU collectors should know before buying PSA slabs: import VAT and customs when buying from the US or Japan, and your rights when buying from an EU shop.
Buying from outside the EU
Most high-end PSA slabs are sold in the US and Japan. When a slab is shipped into the EU from outside, it goes through customs. You normally pay import VAT at the rate of your country (for example 21% in the Netherlands or 19% in Germany), calculated on the value of the goods plus shipping. Customs duty may also apply depending on how the item is classified.
Carriers usually collect these charges before delivery and often add their own handling fee. On a card worth several thousand euros, import costs can add a large amount to the price you see on the listing.
Buying from an EU-based shop
Goods shipped from one EU country to another do not go through customs, so there are no import charges on delivery. The price you pay at checkout is the price you pay.
Your right of withdrawal
When you buy online from a business in the EU as a consumer, EU law gives you 14 days to withdraw from the purchase without giving a reason, counted from the day you receive the item. This right does not apply when you buy from a private seller, which covers many marketplace and social media sales.
Slabify TCG is based in Amsterdam and offers this 14-day right of withdrawal on every order. See the returns page for how it works.
Insured shipping
Standard postal insurance often does not cover the full value of a high-end slab. Before buying, check that the seller ships tracked with insurance for the full value, and who carries the risk if the parcel is lost. Under EU consumer law, the risk stays with the seller until the item is delivered to you.