Grading Scale

Updated Mar 8th 2024

Enamel pins

A = best of the batch, very few flaws when viewed up close. Note that each is hand-filled and polished by staff in the manufacturing factory and may have tiny inclusions in the enamel (e.g. specks) or scuffs along the metal.

B = noticeable but still minor flaws, e.g. bubbles in plating, pitted plating visible even when viewed front-on, stray fibres or larger spots in enamel, shallow scratches or dents in enamel, isolated scratches in screenprint, pin pricks in peripheral areas.

C = very obvious flaws, e.g. large stray fibres, oxidised blue/green blemishes, exposed base metal along edges, pricks or gouges in central areas, very poor plating, misfills. I consider C-grades unsellable at a regular price, so typically the only way to get them in my shop is through the Weighted P4P/Freebie listing at random for either a heavily discounted price or for free with a discount code.

 

Intermediate A-/B+ grade for special effect designs

A-/B+ is a mixed grade that is good enough for most people, but not quite good enough for me! If you are only a bit picky, you can still get a nice pin with A-/B+. If you are very picky, you probably just want an A.

These pins may have one or more tiny bubbles, tiny specks of dirt, lines or small spots under screenprint, or minor plating flaws that are visible from around 20~30cm away, but not noticeable at arm's length.

 

Pay-for-production (P4P) designs

P4P products are only very loosely graded so that the best of the batch go out first. They may have minor flaws, but defective items are removed during quality checking.

In purchasing a P4P item, you are acknowledging that what you receive may be anywhere from an A to a C-grade according to the above scale. I always endeavour to exclude C-grade items from P4P stock, but especially for preorder runs, this may not be possible.

If you are disatisfied with the quality of a P4P item you have received, you can request to purchase another copy provided I have extras available, but I will not send out free replacements nor provide any refunds. P4P policy here →

 

 

Think the pin you received is not the grade you paid for?

I'm sorry to hear that you aren't satisfied! Please send photos and/or video of the issue via email to [email protected] so we can discuss options.

I pride myself on being a strict grader with a keen eye for detail, but I'm human, and so are the manufacturing staff who make my pins for me, so mistakes can happen. There are also some limits in what I can do as someone who ships most of their orders internationally (I am located in Australia). I do not accept returns unless the buyer pays the return shipping cost, which for small merch is not worth the refund you will get on your items ;A;

If you received a B-grade when you paid for an A (or A-/B+), I can either:

If you received a C-grade when you paid for an A or B, I can either:

* Depends on whether I have stock available to send a replacement.

Because A and B-grades are both considered "sellable" grades, please note that I cannot refund the full cost for a B-grade item that was sent in error. I will, however, absolutely refund the cost for accidental C-grade items, because they should not have been dispatched in the first place. For items you believe to have been damaged in transit, please see the Shipping page. If you paid for a C-grade item, you cannot claim a refund even if you are dissatisfied with the flaws.

I also ask that if you receive a replacement item, do NOT resell or trade the flawed item for any more than half of the original item price + split shipping cost(s). It is incredibly disrespectful and you may be banned from my shop as a result.


Thank you for understanding, and I hope you like your new merch!