Chaos sorting

Scan mixed piles.
We sort them for you.

Skip the pre-sort. Scan cards into any open bin and SortSwift tracks every location. Picklist compensation handles the rest, so intake sorting disappears entirely.

Save 2+ hrs per 500 cards · five scanning methods · unlimited free scanning

0×
Pre-sort passes
~2hr
Per 500 cards (was ~4)
99.9%
High-accuracy add-on
29
Super Sorter bins

The bottleneck

Manual sorting is the bottleneck.

Most sellers spend hours organizing cards by set before they even start scanning. Chaos sorting eliminates that step completely.

Without chaos sorting

The old intake grind

  • Sort cards by set before scanning
  • Separate foils, promos, and variants
  • Organize bins by category or value tier
  • Re-sort when bins overflow
  • Roughly 4 hours to process 500 cards
With chaos sorting

Scan and move on

  • Scan cards into any available bin
  • SortSwift tracks every card location
  • Picklists tell you exactly where to pull
  • No pre-sort, no re-sort, no wasted time
  • Roughly 2 hours to process 500 cards

How it works

Three steps, zero pre-sorting.

Step 1

Scan

Use any of five entry points to scan cards: phone camera, web scanner, file upload, Simple Sifter, or Super Sorter. Cards go into whichever bin is available.

Step 2

Identify

SortSwift recognizes the card, records its bin location, applies your condition setting, and prices it automatically using your autopricing rules.

Step 3

Route

When an order comes in, SortSwift generates a picklist that tells you exactly which bin to pull from. No searching, no guessing.

Where it shines

Where chaos sorting shines.

Collection intake

A collection arrives with 2,000 unsorted cards, over the counter or in the mail. Scan the entire pile without spending an hour organizing first. Every card lands in inventory with accurate pricing.

Post-tournament buyback

Players trade in stacks of mixed cards after events. Chaos sort the lot, generate store credit instantly, and move on to the next customer.

Daily mail processing

Online buylist submissions arrive as mixed shipments. Scan each package into the next open bin and let picklists handle fulfillment.

Trade-ins

Accept trade-ins without making the customer wait while you organize. Scan, price, issue credit. The sorting happens in the background.

Hardware

Hardware built for chaos sorting.

Phone cameras and webcams work for any volume. Dedicated hardware unlocks higher throughput.

Flagship

Super Sorter

Automated 29-bin sorting machine. Feed cards in, they get scanned, identified, and physically routed to the correct bin. It runs 3,200+ cards per hour across 29 bins.

  • 3,200+ cards/hour throughput
  • 29 physical sorting bins
  • Cards routed to the right bin as they scan
Appliance

Simple Sifter

Raspberry Pi scanning appliance paired with a document scanner. Continuous feed scanning without a full sorting machine, sized for a desk or counter.

  • Document scanner feed rate
  • Compact desktop footprint
  • Ideal for mid-volume sellers

All five scanning entry points support chaos sorting: Mobile App, Web Scanner, File Upload, Simple Sifter, and Super Sorter.

Do the math

Calculate your time savings.

See how much chaos sorting saves compared to traditional set-by-set intake.

Your numbers

Based on traditional sorting at roughly 250 cards/hour versus chaos sorting at roughly 500 cards/hour. Actual throughput varies by scanning method.

Your estimated savings
Hours saved per year
104 hrs
Labor cost saved per year
$2,080

FAQ

Chaos sorting questions.

What exactly is chaos sorting?

Chaos sorting means you scan cards into any available bin without pre-sorting by set, color, or value. SortSwift tracks every card's location and generates picklists so you can pull orders accurately from mixed bins. The time savings come from eliminating intake sorting entirely.

Do I need to sort by game before scanning?

Each scan session uses one game selection, so you do need to separate cards by game. Within that game, though, you skip all set and category pre-sorting. That is where chaos sorting saves the most time.

How accurate is scanning with mixed piles?

Scanning is unlimited and free on every plan at lower accuracy, and the 99.9% high-accuracy add-on is available when you need it. Confidence scoring flags low-certainty matches for visual review, so misidentifications get caught before cards hit inventory.

What hardware do I need for chaos sorting?

Any of the five scanning entry points works: the Mobile App, Web Scanner, File Upload, Simple Sifter (Raspberry Pi appliance plus a document scanner), or Super Sorter (the 29-bin automated machine). You can start with just a phone camera.

Does chaos sorting handle conditions and pricing?

Condition is set by the user during scanning. Once a condition is assigned, SortSwift applies your autopricing rules automatically so the card hits inventory fully priced and ready to list.

Still curious?

Want a walkthrough?

Book a call with a real person and we will show you chaos sorting on your own cards.