Since 1996, this groundbreaking and original Entertainment Earth Mint Condition Guarantee has ensured that you as a collector receive the best possible product in the best possible condition.

To understand why most action figures and toys are not in C-10 condition, you need to know where toys come from and how they get to your door.

Most action figures and toys are made in China. Unlike electronics, computers, or any other consumer appliance, toys are mass produced, packaged, and placed in cardboard boxes (a.k.a. "cases") without additional padding or foam. Why? Because toys are meant to be opened and played with by children! They are not designed for collectors to keep.

Toys are thrown on a ship in China, come across the stormy Pacific Ocean, arrive in Seattle or Long Beach, are tossed onto trucks, and arrive at a manufacturer's domestic warehouse. They are then sorted and pitched onto new trucks that deliver them to our warehouse. It is only at our warehouse that we inspect each and every toy for its condition. No other party along the delivery route really cares about the condition of these products. Again, toys are meant to be opened and played with by children!

This example is important because when you receive a product from us, it may indeed have a small scratch or dent on the window box, or a slight crease in the cardboard. This is perfectly normal and usually indicates that the entire batch-- thousands of units-- is in exactly the same condition, or worse. In this situation, you may receive an item in C-8 condition, but we guarantee that it is the best condition available anywhere.

Because we accept orders for items well in advance of their release, we cannot know the condition in which they will they will arrive. If the condition is lower than C-8 when an item gets here, we will post that condition on our website. You can also call or e-mail us about the condition of any item. We do promise, however, that the item we send to you, unless otherwise noted, will be in the best condition possible. We will absolutely choose the best pieces from our inventory to send to you.

Our quality control and shipping experts inspect each and every action figure and toy we sell to you. When they find a product in not-mint condition (C-7 or worse), they return that product to our merchandising department, who removes it from inventory. Our merchandising department then determines if it can be resold in not-mint condition. If it can, the price is reduced and it is offered for sale as a clearly labeled not-mint item.

If a product reaches you in not-mint condition (below C-8), we will determine if the shipping carrier affected the condition of your item. Either way, after receiving the damaged item back from you, we will replace it (if the item is still available). If we do not have any additional units available for replacement, the only remedy is to offer you a refund. Please see our Return Policy for more information.

Our Mint Condition Guarantee does not apply to items specifically labeled "not mint" in the name of the product, the item number, or the product description. It does not apply to gift items, housewares, home decor, plush items or apparel, where Mint Condition is simply unnecessary. It also does not apply to affiliates, affiliate stores, retail partners, wholesale customers, or retail customers who receive discounted pricing. We will ship full cases of toys and action figures and inspect them to insure C-8 or better on shipment, but we will not replace individual non-mint pieces. Damaged cases with clear shipping damage will be claimed with the shipping carrier and replaced, if possible. Sales are final to affiliates, affiliate stores, retail partners, and wholesale customers.

Not-mint condition generally refers to items that are "retail store quality" and may have bent, damaged, or creased packaging. The product itself is in perfect condition, unless otherwise noted. So, if you like to play with your stuff instead of keeping it in perfect packaging, the items we sell that are not in mint condition are a great way to get a small discount.

Also, any time we cannot sell a complete set because some of the items in the set are not in mint condition, the individual items will be offered as "Not Mint" items. This is a great opportunity to buy individual figures that we normally sell only in sets.

Shipments from manufacturers usually contain a small percentage of not-mint items. As soon as our warehouse staff identifies these items, they are added to our website for sale at a reduced cost.