Sticker & label removal
Mail-in from anywhere in the United States, or drop it off at an event.
Rental stickers, garage-sale price tags, somebody's name in marker — most of it can come off. I work slowly with the right solvents and gentle heat so the shell keeps its finish and the original label stays exactly where Nintendo or Sega put it.
- Price tags, rental stickers, security labels, and old tape lifted off
- Hardened adhesive residue removed without hazing the plastic
- Original artwork protected throughout — no bleaching, no scrubbing
- Permanent marker removed from bare shell plastic where possible
- An honest heads-up when a sticker can't come off cleanly
Why old adhesive fights back
A sticker applied in 1993 isn't a sticker anymore. The carrier has gone brittle, the adhesive has hardened and cross-linked, and it's bonded to the plastic underneath. Pull it dry and it comes off in flakes, taking a strip of label or a patch of shell texture with it.
Household shortcuts make it worse. Nail polish remover melts and clouds the plastic, a heat gun warps the shell, and a scraper leaves permanent gouges that catch the light forever.
How the removal actually goes
Gentle warmth softens the adhesive first so the sticker releases rather than tears. What's left is dissolved with a solvent chosen for the specific residue and the specific plastic, applied in small amounts and away from any printed surface.
The shell is then cleaned and buffed so there's no dull patch marking where the sticker sat. It's a patient job, which is exactly why it's worth handing off.
Good for collectors and resellers
A clean shell with intact original artwork is the difference between a shelf piece and a box of loose carts. If you're building a display collection or preparing games for sale, sticker work pairs naturally with a contact cleaning — one trip, both jobs.
Send a photo with your ticket if you're unsure. Some stickers are obviously safe, some are obviously risky, and I'd rather tell you which is which before your box is in the mail.
Questions people ask
Will the original label survive?
That's the whole objective. Original artwork is protected throughout, solvents are kept off printed surfaces, and heat is kept low and slow. If a sticker overlaps the label in a way that makes removal risky, you'll hear that before any work starts.
Can you get marker off a shell?
Usually. Permanent marker on bare plastic lifts with the right solvent. Marker written directly across a printed label is a different story and is treated case by case.
What about yellowed plastic?
Sticker removal and yellowing are separate problems. Adhesive and residue come off cleanly; sun-yellowed plastic is a chemical change in the material itself, and I won't pretend a wipe-down fixes it.
Do you do cases and manuals too?
Cases and boxes, yes, with the same care. Paper manuals are fragile enough that I'd rather talk it through first than guess.
All work is carried out under the repair authorization & risk acknowledgment.