Retro Forge Grading
This page is dedicated to our in-house grading system for OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) items. Examples include controller shells, cables, stick caps, and other parts that were made by Nintendo over the past few decades and in most cases, no longer sold.
This system is of our own design and while may seem subjective to some, we have put extensive research and time to ensure accuracy and fairness.
Point Scale
Items are graded on a 10-point scale based on specific criteria relating to the item's category (e.g. shells, cables, sticks)
| Grade (Point Value) | Point Value Range | Letter Grade |
|---|---|---|
| 10.0 | 9.5 - 10 | S/New |
| 9.5 | ||
| 9.0 | 8.0 - 9.4 | A |
| 8.5 | ||
| 8.0 | ||
| 7.5 | 6.0 - 7.9 | B |
| 7 | ||
| 6 | ||
| 5 | 3.0 - 5.9 | C |
| 4 | ||
| 3 | ||
| 2 | 0.0 - 2.9 | D / Junk |
| 1 | ||
| 0 |
Detailed Analysis
Below are detailed charts on what to expect from each Letter Grade (S, A, B, C, D) for each item category.
Important Note
Use these charts to get a broad/general idea of item quality. Each letter grade spans multiple grading points so the final outcome of an item may be slightly different.
Controller Shells
| Grade | Analysis |
|---|---|
| S/New | Mint condition, typically unused or from a boxed set |
| A | No UV Damage or Discoloration No Chips/Cracks May have light scratching that is not easily noticable without proper lighting |
| B | No UV Damage or Discoloration No Chips/Cracks May have light scratching that is not easily noticable without proper lighting May have light wear on trigger and stick gates from use May show flat marks on back shell where the controller was frequently placed tables/flat surfaces |
| C | No Chips/Cracks May show light/moderate amount of UV Damage/Discoloration Moderate amount of scraching and scuff marks Moderate amount of wear on stick and trigger gates Flat marks on back shell where the controller was frequently placed tables/flat surfaces |
| D | May have large chips/cracks Moderate to heavy amounts of UV Damage/Discoloration Heavy amount of scraching and scuff marks Heavy amount of wear on stick and trigger gates Flat marks on back shell where the controller was frequently placed tables/flat surfaces |