Terms & Conditions
These Terms and Conditions govern products and services provided by The Hobby Australia Cards and Collectables Pty Ltd. Tap a section below to read the terms that apply to that service or policy.
Defined terms
For the purpose of these Terms and Conditions:
Business means The Hobby Australia Cards and Collectables Pty Ltd.
Customer means any person, business or entity engaging the Business for products and/or services.
Insurance and liability
This Insurance and Liability clause applies to all services offered by the Business where items are submitted, consigned, stored, shipped, or otherwise held by the Business on the Customer’s behalf, including PSA, BGS and CGC grading, eBay consignment, and other consignment services facilitated by the Business (including Goldin Auctions and Fanatics Collect). Each service section below incorporates this clause by reference.
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1. Insurance
Submitted items will be insured by the Business based on the declared value provided by the Customer at the time of submission.
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2. Limit of liability
If a submitted item is lost or irreparably damaged while under the responsibility of the Business, the Business’s liability for direct loss or damage will be limited to the lower of:
- the declared value provided by the Customer at submission; or
- the reasonable market value of the item at the time the claim or payout is assessed.
The Business may require supporting evidence of market value.
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3. Loss or damage caused by a third party
This clause applies where loss or damage to a submitted item occurs while the item is in the possession or control of, or is attributable to the act or omission of, a person other than the Business, including a carrier, courier, grading company, insurer, or other third party (a Responsible Party), and the Business, its employees, and its contractors did not cause or contribute to the loss or damage.
- The Business will notify the Customer of the loss or damage within a reasonable time after becoming aware of it.
- The Business will lodge and diligently pursue a claim against the Responsible Party and any applicable insurer.
- Any amount payable to the Customer under clause 2 will be paid within 14 days after the Business receives compensation from the Responsible Party or its insurer in respect of the item. The amount payable will not exceed the lesser of the amount recovered (less any reasonable and documented costs of recovery) and the limit in clause 2.
- The Customer must provide information and documents reasonably requested by the Business to support the claim, and must not settle with or make a claim against the Responsible Party in respect of the item without the Business’s written consent.
- The Customer authorises the Business to pursue the claim in its own name, and, to the extent permitted by law, the Customer assigns to the Business any right of recovery against the Responsible Party to the extent of any payment made to the Customer.
- The Business will provide the Customer with a written update on the status of the claim at least every 30 days on request.
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4. Fault of the Business
Clause 3 does not apply where the loss or damage was caused or contributed to by the Business, its employees, or its contractors. In that case, the Business will pay the amount determined under clause 2 within 14 days after the claim is assessed, without waiting for any recovery from a third party.
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5. Australian Consumer Law
Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any right or remedy the Customer has under the Australian Consumer Law or any other law that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted, or modified.
PSA grading terms and conditions
By submitting trading cards for grading through Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), the Customer agrees to the following terms and conditions.
Responsibility for submitted items
The Hobby Australia Cards and Collectables Pty Ltd (“the Business”) will assume responsibility for submitted items from the time they are received by the Business until they are returned to the Customer.
The Customer authorises the Business to act on their behalf in relation to submitted items, including all dealings with PSA necessary to facilitate the grading process.
Where items are in the possession or control of PSA, a carrier, courier, or other third party, the Business remains responsible for facilitating the submission. Loss or damage attributable to that third party is dealt with under clause 3 of the Insurance and Liability clause. Loss or damage caused or contributed to by the Business is dealt with under clause 4 of that clause.
Insurance and liability: The Insurance and Liability clause above applies to this service in full and forms part of these PSA grading terms.
PSA terms and conditions
The Customer acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to PSA’s Grading Terms and Conditions, available here:
- PSA Grading Terms and Conditions: https://thehobby.com.au/pages/psa-grading-terms-and-conditions
- PSA Official Terms and Conditions: https://www.psacard.com/termsandconditions
Payment terms
Invoices are payable within 14 calendar days of being issued by the Business unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Cards will not be released, shipped, or made available for collection until payment has been received in full.
Where payment remains outstanding, reminder notices may be issued. Continued non-payment and lack of communication may result in the Business commencing an uncollected goods process in accordance with the Uncollected Goods Policy and applicable Victorian legislation (including the 28-day process described in that policy).
PSA fee adjustments and upcharges
Any fee changes applied by PSA due to:
- undervaluation of cards at the time of submission; or
- a final card grade increasing the market value beyond the selected grading category, will be passed directly to the Customer.
PSA upcharges are billed at PSA’s standard grading rates and not the Business’s discounted dealer rates, as this reflects the fees charged to the Business by PSA.
Where PSA changes grading fees prior to submission, the Business reserves the right to pass these fee increases on to the Customer. The Customer will be contacted and provided the opportunity to proceed or request return of their cards at the Customer’s expense.
Submission requirements
All cards must be submitted in a Card Saver.
Cards submitted outside of a Card Saver will incur a $0.30 per card handling fee to transfer the item into suitable protection.
Cards with a thickness of 130pt or greater may be submitted in a top loader.
Acceptance of terms
By signing and/or returning a PSA Grading Submission Form, the Customer acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
PSA Simple Submission Form — additional terms Applies only to Simple Submission Form customers
The following additional terms apply specifically to customers using the PSA Simple Submission Form process.
Grading category determination
The Customer authorises the Business to determine grading categories and estimated card values on their behalf.
Assessments will generally be based on the estimated market value of a PSA 9 graded card, rather than raw card value.
The Business retains discretion in selecting the most appropriate grading category and may determine higher or lower submission categories based on card condition, market value, and anticipated grade outcome.
PSA upcharge acknowledgement
Where a card is submitted based on an estimated PSA 9 value but receives a PSA 10 grade, PSA may apply an upcharge if the card exceeds the selected service category threshold.
Where this occurs, the applicable PSA upcharge fee will be passed on to the Customer.
Submission confirmation
The Business will not routinely contact customers to confirm grading category determinations or estimated values prior to submission.
Customers seeking this information may contact the Business at grading@thehobby.com.au before submission.
BGS grading terms and conditions
By submitting trading cards for grading through Beckett Grading Services (BGS), the Customer agrees to the following Terms and Conditions.
Responsibility for submitted items
The Business will assume responsibility for submitted items from the time they are received by the Business until they are returned to the Customer.
The Customer authorises the Business to act on their behalf in relation to submitted items, including all dealings with BGS necessary to facilitate the grading process.
Where items are in the possession or control of BGS, a carrier, courier, or other third party, the Business remains responsible for facilitating the submission. Loss or damage attributable to that third party is dealt with under clause 3 of the Insurance and Liability clause. Loss or damage caused or contributed to by the Business is dealt with under clause 4 of that clause.
Insurance and liability: The Insurance and Liability clause above applies to this service in full and forms part of these BGS grading terms.
BGS terms and conditions
The Customer acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to BGS’s Grading Terms and Conditions, as well as the Business’s general Terms and Conditions.
Payment terms
Invoices are payable within 14 calendar days of being issued by the Business unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Cards will not be released, shipped, or made available for collection until payment has been received in full.
Where payment remains outstanding, reminder notices may be issued. Continued non-payment and lack of communication may result in the Business commencing an uncollected goods process in accordance with the Uncollected Goods Policy and applicable Victorian legislation (including the 28-day process described in that policy).
Acceptance of terms
By signing and/or returning a BGS Grading Submission Form, the Customer acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
CGC grading terms and conditions
By submitting trading cards for grading through CGC, the Customer agrees to the following Terms and Conditions.
Responsibility for submitted items
The Business will assume responsibility for submitted items from the time they are received by the Business until they are returned to the Customer.
The Customer authorises the Business to act on their behalf in relation to submitted items, including all dealings with CGC necessary to facilitate the grading process.
Where items are in the possession or control of CGC, a carrier, courier, or other third party, the Business remains responsible for facilitating the submission. Loss or damage attributable to that third party is dealt with under clause 3 of the Insurance and Liability clause. Loss or damage caused or contributed to by the Business is dealt with under clause 4 of that clause.
Insurance and liability: The Insurance and Liability clause above applies to this service in full and forms part of these CGC grading terms.
CGC terms and conditions
The Customer acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to CGC’s Services Terms and Conditions, available here:
Payment terms
Invoices are payable within 14 calendar days of being issued by the Business unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Cards will not be released, shipped, or made available for collection until payment has been received in full.
Where payment remains outstanding, reminder notices may be issued. Continued non-payment and lack of communication may result in the Business commencing an uncollected goods process in accordance with the Uncollected Goods Policy and applicable Victorian legislation (including the 28-day process described in that policy).
Acceptance of terms
By signing and/or returning a CGC Grading Submission Form, the Customer acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
eBay consignment terms and conditions
By submitting trading cards for consignment through the Business, the Customer agrees to the following Terms and Conditions.
Responsibility for consigned items
The Business will assume responsibility for consigned items from the time they are received until such time as they are sold and delivered to the purchaser, or returned to the Customer.
The Customer authorises the Business to act on their behalf in relation to consigned items, including all dealings with eBay, purchasers, payment providers, shipping providers, and other relevant third parties necessary to facilitate the sale process.
Where consigned items are in the possession or control of a carrier, courier, marketplace, purchaser, or other third party, the Business remains responsible for facilitating the consignment. Loss or damage attributable to that third party is dealt with under clause 3 of the Insurance and Liability clause. Loss or damage caused or contributed to by the Business is dealt with under clause 4 of that clause.
Insurance and liability: The Insurance and Liability clause above applies to this service in full and forms part of these eBay consignment terms. For consigned items, references to “submitted items” and “declared value” include items consigned for sale and any declared or assessed value provided for insurance purposes.
General terms and conditions
The Customer acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to the Business’s general Terms and Conditions.
Auction sales
The Customer acknowledges that auction results are determined by market demand and that the Business has no control over:
- the final sale price achieved; or
- the number of bids received.
All completed sales are considered final.
The Customer must not engage in, or arrange for others to engage in, bidding activity intended to artificially inflate the sale price of consigned items (“shill bidding”).
Where shill bidding is identified, the Customer may be held liable for:
- the full final sale amount;
- all associated eBay fees and charges; and
- an administration fee equal to 10% of the final sale price or $100 AUD (whichever is lower).
Consignment payments
Following the successful sale of an item, the Business will make payment to the Customer’s nominated bank account within 5 business days of funds being received from eBay.
Payments will be made less any agreed fees, commissions, shipping costs, marketplace fees, and other applicable charges associated with the consignment sale.
The Customer will be provided with an itemised statement outlining:
- final sale prices;
- fees and deductions; and
- the final payout amount.
Any discrepancies should be raised with the Business as soon as reasonably practicable.
Unsold auction items
Where an auction item does not sell, the Business may offer the Customer the opportunity to relist the item for a second auction.
If an item remains unsold following a second auction attempt, the Customer will be responsible for return postage costs prior to the item being returned.
Failure to arrange payment for return postage and/or respond to communication from the Business may result in the Business commencing an uncollected goods process in accordance with applicable Victorian legislation.
Fixed price listings
Fixed price items may be listed for a maximum period of three (3) months.
At the end of this period, the Business may contact the Customer to discuss:
- pricing adjustments;
- relisting options; or
- return of the item at the Customer’s expense.
Fees and international sales
Consignment payout percentages, inclusive of standard eBay fees, apply to all items sold through the Business.
An additional 1.1% fee applies to international sales.
Customers located outside Australia are responsible for any international transfer fees associated with payment of consignment proceeds, including but not limited to:
- PayPal Goods and Services fees; and
- international bank transfer fees.
Final sale price payout percentage & fees
Auction listings
- Customers may provide a full list or images of cards intended for consignment by attaching them to the submission form or email.
- All auction listings are conducted as 7-day auctions and will generally commence at 12:00pm (AEST/AEDT) each Sunday.
- Auction outcomes are determined by market demand. The Business cannot guarantee final sale prices or bidder activity.
Fixed price eBay listings
- Prior approval from the Business is required for all fixed price listings. In most cases, only items with an estimated value of $200 AUD or greater will be accepted.
- For fixed price listings, the Minimum Sell Price should reflect the lowest amount you are willing to accept for an item. Any offer received at or above this amount may be automatically accepted on your behalf.
- Customers may revise their List Price or Minimum Sell Price by submitting an updated form. Changes will generally be applied by the next business day.
Auctions with a specific starting bid
- Customers may request a specific starting bid amount, subject to approval by the Business.
- All auction listings are conducted as 7-day auctions and will generally commence at 12:00pm (AEST/AEDT) each Sunday.
Goldin Auctions and Fanatics Collect
Dedicated terms apply to consignments sold through Goldin Auctions and Fanatics Collect. Those service-specific terms sit alongside these Terms and Conditions.
Insurance and liability: The Insurance and Liability clause above applies to items submitted to the Business for Goldin Auctions or Fanatics Collect consignment, to the extent those items are held, stored, or shipped by the Business, unless the relevant service-specific terms expressly provide otherwise.
Uncollected goods policy
Grading invoices are payable within 14 calendar days of issue. Where items submitted for grading remain unpaid and the Customer has not responded to reminder notices or entered into a payment arrangement, the Business may commence an uncollected goods process in accordance with applicable Victorian legislation and guidance provided by Consumer Affairs Victoria.
The following process will generally apply:
1. Invoice issued
An invoice will be emailed to the Customer once graded items have been returned to the Business and are ready for collection or shipment.
2. Reminder notices
If payment has not been received, reminder notices may be issued by the Business.
The Business will generally issue reminder notices:
- 14 days after invoice issue (first reminder)
- 21 days after invoice issue (second reminder)
- 28 days after invoice issue (final reminder)
3. Commencement of uncollected goods process
Where an invoice remains unpaid 28 days after the due date, and there has been no communication or payment arrangement agreed to by the Customer, the Business may issue written notice advising that the uncollected goods process has commenced.
4. Statutory notice period
The Customer will be provided written notice in accordance with applicable Victorian legislation. This notice will outline the timeframe in which payment must be made before further action may be taken.
5. Disposal of uncollected goods
If payment remains outstanding following the statutory notice period and no payment arrangement has been entered into, the Business may take action permitted under applicable Victorian legislation, including sale or disposal of goods to recover outstanding amounts owed.
Imagery policy
By submitting items to the Business, the Customer agrees that the Business may photograph or use images of submitted items for:
- record keeping;
- grading and consignment documentation;
- social media content;
- marketing and promotional purposes; and
- educational or informational content.
The Business may edit, crop, or modify images for formatting or promotional purposes.
No personal Customer information will be disclosed without permission unless required by law.
In store drop-off and pickup
In store drop-off policy
When dropping off items directly to the Business, the Customer agrees to the following:
- The Customer agrees to the Terms and Conditions relevant to the selected service.
- All items must be securely packaged and sealed to ensure their safety and security. Loose or unsealed items may not be accepted.
- Items may be stored securely until they are received and processed by staff.
- The Customer confirms that all items listed on the submission form are included within the package. Any discrepancies or omissions identified during processing will be communicated to the Customer via email.
In store pickup policy
Photo identification may be required for any person collecting items in-store.
Items will only be released to the original Customer unless written authorisation is received via email prior to collection.
Outstanding invoices must be paid in full before items will be released.
Once items have been collected and leave the Business premises, responsibility for the items transfers to the Customer. The Business is not liable for any loss or damage occurring after collection.
Shipping policy
The Business ships Australia-wide using Australia Post and generally requires Signature on Delivery for all shipments.
Customers may select either:
- Regular Parcel Post; or
- Express Post
during checkout.
Shipments include standard Australia Post insurance coverage (up to $100 AUD). Customers wishing to insure shipments for a higher amount must select and pay for additional insurance coverage during checkout, up to Australia Post’s maximum available cover.
Orders will be shipped to the address supplied by the Customer at checkout. Customers are responsible for ensuring shipping details are accurate prior to purchase.
Most in-stock orders are dispatched within 2–3 business days. While the Business aims to dispatch within 1 business day, occasional delays may occur due to staffing availability or operational requirements.
Refund policy
The Business offers a 30-day return policy for eligible products purchased through our website.
Customers have 30 days from the date of receiving their item to request a return.
This policy does not apply to:
- PSA, BGS, or CGC grading submissions;
- eBay consignment services;
- custom or special-order items;
- sale or clearance items; or
- gift cards.
Eligibility for returns
To be eligible for a return, items must:
- be returned in their original condition;
- be unused and unopened (where applicable);
- include any original packaging; and
- be accompanied by proof of purchase.
The Business reserves the right to decline returns that do not meet these conditions.
How to request a return
To request a return, please contact the Business at sales@thehobby.com.au.
If your return request is approved, the Business will provide instructions on how and where to return your item.
Items returned without prior approval may not be accepted.
Damaged, incorrect or faulty items
Please inspect your order upon receiving it.
If an item is received damaged, faulty, or incorrect, please contact the Business as soon as possible so we can review the issue and work towards an appropriate resolution.
Exchanges
The quickest way to exchange an item is to return the original item (subject to approval) and place a new order for the replacement item.
Refunds
Once a returned item has been received and inspected, the Business will notify the Customer of the outcome of the return request.
If approved, refunds will be processed to the original payment method used for purchase.
Please note that processing times may vary depending on your bank or payment provider.
Privacy policy
This Privacy Policy describes how The Hobby Australia Cards and Collectables Pty Ltd (“the Business”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) collects, uses, and discloses personal information when you visit or make a purchase from thehobby.com.au (the “Site”), or when you use our grading, consignment, or related services. We handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and with other applicable privacy laws.
Personal information we collect
When you visit the Site, we automatically collect certain information about your device, including information about your web browser, IP address, time zone, and some of the cookies that are installed on your device. Additionally, as you browse the Site, we collect information about the individual web pages or products that you view, what websites or search terms referred you to the Site, and information about how you interact with the Site. We refer to this automatically-collected information as “Device Information”.
We collect Device Information using the following technologies:
- “Cookies” are data files that are placed on your device or computer and often include an anonymous unique identifier. For more information about cookies, and how to disable cookies, visit https://www.allaboutcookies.org.
- “Log files” track actions occurring on the Site, and collect data including your IP address, browser type, Internet service provider, referring/exit pages, and date/time stamps.
- “Web beacons”, “tags”, and “pixels” are electronic files used to record information about how you browse the Site.
When you make a purchase, attempt a purchase, submit items for grading or consignment, or otherwise engage our services, we may collect information including your name, billing address, shipping address, payment information (including credit card details or PayPal), email address, phone number, and details of items submitted. We refer to this information as “Order Information”.
When we talk about “Personal Information” in this Privacy Policy, we are talking both about Device Information and Order Information.
How do we use your personal information?
We collect and use Personal Information for purposes that are reasonably necessary for our business functions, including to:
- fulfil orders and provide grading, consignment, and related services (including payment processing, shipping, invoices, and confirmations);
- communicate with you about your orders, submissions, and our services;
- screen orders and submissions for potential risk or fraud;
- improve and operate the Site (including analytics); and
- where you have opted in or it is otherwise permitted by law, provide marketing information about our products or services.
We use Device Information to help screen for potential risk and fraud (in particular, your IP address), and more generally to improve and optimise our Site.
Sharing and overseas disclosure
We may disclose Personal Information to service providers who help us operate our business, including Shopify (our online store platform), payment providers, shipping carriers, grading companies, consignment marketplaces, and analytics providers such as Google Analytics. You can read more about Shopify’s privacy practices at https://www.shopify.com/legal/privacy, and Google’s at https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/. You can opt out of Google Analytics at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Some of these providers are located outside Australia (including in Canada and the United States). Where we disclose personal information overseas, we take reasonable steps to ensure it is handled consistently with the Australian Privacy Principles, including through contractual arrangements where appropriate.
We may also disclose Personal Information where required or authorised by Australian law, to respond to a lawful request for information, or to otherwise protect our rights.
Direct marketing
We may use your Personal Information to send you marketing communications about products or services we think may interest you, where permitted by law (including the Australian Privacy Principles and the Spam Act 2003 (Cth)). You can opt out of marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link in those emails, or by contacting us.
You can also limit some targeted advertising through the tools offered by platforms such as:
Your rights under Australian privacy law
Under the Australian Privacy Principles, you may request access to the personal information we hold about you, and ask us to correct it if it is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant, or misleading. In some circumstances you may also ask us to delete personal information we no longer need.
To make a request, contact us using the details below. We will respond within a reasonable period. If we refuse a request, we will tell you why (unless it is unreasonable to do so) and how you can complain.
If you are overseas and other privacy laws apply to you (for example, the GDPR), you may have additional rights under those laws. Contact us if you wish to exercise them.
Complaints
If you have a privacy complaint, please contact us first so we can try to resolve it. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at https://www.oaic.gov.au.
Data retention
We keep Personal Information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by Australian law (including tax and record-keeping obligations). When you place an order through the Site, we will maintain your Order Information for our records unless and until you ask us to delete it and we are not required to retain it.
Changes
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. The current version will be posted on this page.
Minors
The Site and our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 16. If you believe we have collected personal information from a child under 16 without appropriate consent, please contact us so we can take steps to delete it.
Contact us
For more information about our privacy practices, if you have questions, or if you would like to make a complaint or access/correction request, please contact us by email at sales@thehobby.com.au or by mail:
The Hobby Australia Cards and Collectables Pty Ltd, PO BOX 1319, Werribee Plaza, Hoppers Crossing VIC 3029, Australia
Terms of service
Website use and online store terms live on a separate page.
Read the full Terms of Service for thehobby.com.au. Service-specific grading and consignment terms remain on this page.