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Card Break Guidelines

Last updated on Jan 14, 2026

Eligibility to Conduct Card Breaks

  • Only approved sellers in the Sports and Trading Card categories can conduct Card Breaks.

  • All sellers can offer personal card openings ("Rip-and-Ship") for individual buyers

Rules for Conducting Card Breaks on Trofee

  • Continuous On-Screen Visibility: All aspects of a Card Break (including the sealed product, tools, and actions such as card handling) must remain visible on-screen from the moment the item is opened until the break concludes. You may use multiple camera angles to ensure all items are in view. For example, avoid removing packs or cards from the view of the camera, as this may result in policy violations.

  • Break Details in Listings: Break rules must be clearly posted in the item description or Show Notes. Specify terms for card distribution (e.g., which cards are classified as “base” or “bulk” and whether they will be sent to buyers). Example format: “Full case team break: Buyers select a team, and cards matching that team are sent to them. Bulk cards are excluded.”

  • Card Breaks Are Limited to Cards Only: Items such as jerseys, helmets, or other memorabilia cannot be part of a Card Break. If you plan to offer memorabilia, consider running a Mystery Box show that complies with Trofee’s Mystery rules.

Card Break Standards

  • Guaranteed Cards for All Buyers: One Card Minimum Per Buyer: Each buyer in a break must receive at least one card per purchase, regardless of break outcome.

  • Break Types: For guaranteed breaks (e.g., hit drafts), only auction as many spots as there are cards in the break. For other formats (e.g., team breaks where specific teams may not appear in a break), ensure that each buyer receives at least one card.

  • One Show Per Break: No Multi-Show Breaks: All products in a Card Break must be opened within a single live show. You cannot split a Card Break across multiple shows or pre-sell spots off the Trofee platform.

  • Avoid Conflicts of Interest: Family members, household members, or employees of the seller are not allowed to participate in the seller’s Card Breaks. They may observe but cannot bid or buy.

Frequently Asked Questions on Card Breaks

  • What are Card Breaks? Card Breaks involve opening sealed card products with unknown contents and distributing the cards among multiple buyers based on a defined format (e.g., team or division breaks). This differs from “rip-and-ship” where a product is opened for a single buyer.

  • Who can run Card Breaks on Trofee? Eligible sellers who meet Trofee’s standards for TCG and Sports Card categories may conduct Card Breaks. All breaks must comply with visibility, card-only content, and single-show policies.

  • What happens if a card goes off-screen during the show? Sellers are responsible for maintaining continuous visibility of all items. If an item is accidentally off-frame, sellers must honor refund requests if buyers raise concerns.

  • How should sellers handle unsold spots in a Card Break? If some spots don’t sell, sellers can hold these spots for future breaks as long as the sealed product has not been opened. Sellers should avoid canceling sold spots due to insufficient sales, as this may lead to account actions.

  • Why must all items remain on-screen? Transparency in Card Breaks ensures buyers see all items as they are opened, fostering trust and ensuring a fair experience. Multi-angle setups are permitted but must keep the sealed products in view throughout.

  • Can I offer non-card items in Card Breaks? Card Breaks are limited to cards only. Memorabilia or mixed packages are not permitted in Card Breaks. To sell these items, consider using the Mystery Box format, which has its own guidelines on Trofee.

  • Can singles be auctioned off within a Card Break? Yes, singles may be auctioned after or before a Card Break but must follow all Trofee listing and visibility rules.

  • What is a compliant camera setup for Card Breaks? Any camera configuration that keeps all items visible in real-time is compliant. Single or multiple cameras are acceptable as long as they ensure full visibility.

  • Are there restrictions on the type of items in Card Breaks? Only trading cards are permitted in Card Breaks. Non-card items, even if professionally packaged, should follow Trofee’s Mystery Box rules if they are to be included in a sale.

  • What constitutes a “related bidder”? Related bidders are defined as anyone in the same household, family members, or employees of the seller. These individuals may observe the stream but cannot actively participate by bidding or buying.