Collector glossary
Short definitions for the terms that show up when you compare watch listings and Pokémon cards. Use them to match configuration, grade, and all-in cost before you buy.
Buying
- Authenticity Guarantee (AG)
- An eBay program where qualifying watches are authenticated before delivery. Strong trust signal on high-value listings. It does not replace Canada all-in cost math or configuration matching.
- AG for Canadian buyers →
- All-in cost
- Goods price plus shipping plus estimated import duty plus estimated GST/HST for Canadian buyers. A planning estimate, not official customs advice. Use it to compare US asks against Canadian dealers.
- Buying watches in Canada →
- Sold comps
- Recent completed sales for the same item, grade, and configuration. Asking prices are not comps. Filter outliers and weight recent sales when setting a target.
- Reading eBay comps →
Sneakers
- Style code
- The manufacturer SKU for a sneaker (e.g. DD1391-100). It is the identity key across marketplaces and the first authenticity check — a mismatched code is a common counterfeit signal.
- Style codes docs →
- Deadstock (DS)
- Unworn sneakers, typically with the original box. Deadstock asks are not comparable to VNDS or used pairs of the same style code and size.
- Deadstock vs used →
- VNDS
- Very near deadstock — tried on or with minor flaws, not fully worn. Price between deadstock and used; always read photos before trusting the label.
- Condition guide →
- Ask / bid
- On StockX-style boards, the ask is the lowest seller offer and the bid is the highest buyer offer for a size. Asks are not sold comps — verify with recent sales when possible.
- StockX vs eBay →
Watches
- Scope of delivery
- What is included with the watch: full set (box and papers), watch-only, or an incomplete kit. Scope changes value as much as condition. Always match scope before you compare prices.
- How to read watch listings →
- Full set / box and papers
- Usually means the watch, box, and papers (warranty card or certificate) that match the watch. Watch-only is a different product and should trade lower. Confirm the card year and that papers belong to that piece.
- Canada watch buying guide →
- Cerachrom
- Rolex’s ceramic bezel material used on modern sports models such as the GMT-Master II Pepsi and Batman. Harder than older aluminum inserts and a key identity cue when matching listings.
- Pepsi 126710BLRO listings →
- Jubilee vs Oyster
- Two Rolex bracelet styles. Jubilee is five-link and often dressier; Oyster is three-link and sportier. On GMTs, bracelet can change nickname (Batgirl vs Batman) and often the secondary premium.
- Pepsi Jubilee vs Oyster →
- Reference number
- The factory model code that identifies a watch (for example 126710BLRO). Nicknames help search, but comps must match the reference and configuration.
- Browse watch references →
Cards
- Pull rate
- How often a chase card appears in sealed product. Low pull rates help explain why some alt arts stay scarce and expensive even years after release.
- What is a chase card? →
- Population report (pop report)
- A grader’s count of how many copies of a card exist at each grade. Low population at the top grade can support a premium. Pop is not demand by itself; always pair it with sold comps.
- Population reports 101 →
- Gem rate
- The share of graded copies that receive the top grade (often PSA 10). A low gem rate means gem copies are scarce relative to submissions, which can widen the PSA 10 premium.
- What does PSA 10 mean? →
- Chase card
- The most wanted card in a set, often a secret rare or alt art with strong demand and a hard pull. Chase cards drive set interest and sealed premiums.
- Pokémon set guides →
- Raw vs graded
- Raw means unslabbed. Graded means sealed by PSA, BGS, CGC, or similar. A slab buys condition and authenticity certainty; raw usually costs less and carries grade risk.
- Graded vs raw →
- First Edition / Shadowless / Unlimited
- The three Base Set print runs. First Edition has the stamp; Shadowless has no stamp and no art-box drop shadow; Unlimited added the shadow. Treat each as its own market.
- Print runs explained →
- Manga rare
- One Piece Card Game chase printing that uses black-and-white manga panel art. Not the same product as a color alternate art, Wanted poster, or SP of the same name. Match collector ID and art before comparing prices.
- Manga rares hub →
- Leader (One Piece)
- A One Piece Card Game card type used as your deck’s Leader. A Leader parallel is a different market from a Character card of the same name — even when the listing title only says Luffy or Zoro.
- Leaders hub →
- SP / special art
- On One Piece cards, SP marks a special art or parallel treatment. Confirm the SP code and artwork in the photo. Do not comps an SP against a manga rare or base rare of the same name.
- Wanted & SP hub →
- Wanted poster art
- One Piece special treatment styled like a bounty poster. Separate from manga rares and color alts. Match the image and ID before you compare sold comps or live asks.
- Wanted & SP hub →
- Alternate art (alt art)
- A Pokémon (or other TCG) printing with unique full-art illustration, often a secret rare. Alt arts trade separately from the standard version of the same card — Moonbreon is the Evolving Skies Umbreon VMAX alt, not every Umbreon.
- Evolving Skies hub →
- Secret rare
- A card numbered beyond the printed set size (for example 215/203). Often includes alternate arts and gold rares. Pull rates are low; confirm the exact number and art before comparing prices.
- Rarity explained →
- Shadowless
- Early English Base Set print without the drop shadow on the right of the artwork box. 1st Edition cards are also Shadowless; later Unlimited cards added the shadow. Mixing print runs creates fake deals.
- Base Set hub →
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