The Process
Submit Cassette or CD Grading Request
To submit your audio cassette or CD for grading and encapsulation, you must complete the submission form on this site. We will need details of the item so we can determine the appropriate tier and pricing plan for you. A member of our team will then send you an invoice and confirm your order. You'll then receive a confirmation email that includes a set of instructions and a pre-paid shipping label. Simply package the item securely and affix the shipping label, drop off with the courier or schedule a pick-up.
B-Side Receives and Confirms
Once your item is received, a B-Side team member will send you an email and confirm your cassette or CD has arrived safely and matches the description from the original grading request. At this stage, we also provide an initial "condition" review of the item to ensure there was no damage during shipping.
Grading
We first put all items through our authentication process before it goes to grading, this is to confirm the authenticity of your CD or cassette. Since these items have become valuable collectibles, we want to catch all bootlegs and fakes at this stage. After authentication, it enters the grading process. Here we utilize a brand new multi-point grading technique, specific to audio CDs and cassettes, and come to our “Overall Grade”. We look at the booklet, J-card, sleeve (if applicable), discoloration, condition of the tape or CD, and more.
B-Side then generates a publicly viewable certificate with pictures of the item that's hosted on our website.
Encapsulation and Protection
We utilize custom or special cases to protect and encapsulate your items. Our B-Side grading label are printed and sealed inside the case. A final quality control check is then performed for grade and label accuracy prior to placing your items in their respective acrylic cases and sealing them. If any discrepancies are found, the affected items are sent back to the grading. Once fully sealed and encapsulated, we provide pictures to you, just to keep you informed!
Return Item to You or List on Marketplace
Once the items have been graded and secured in their acrylic case, you then have the choice of B-Side listing the item for you on its Instagram page or any other website / platform (e.g. eBay, Grailed, etc.). We can also ship the item back to you fully insured.