This Trading Card Handling and Packaging Policy has been established to ensure that all trading cards revealed, sold, or won during livestreams, pack openings, auctions, breaks, and other platform activities are handled, protected, and shipped according to consistent standards. The objective of this policy is to preserve the condition of cards from the moment they are revealed until they are delivered to the buyer, reducing the risk of damage, mishandling, packaging-related issues, or unauthorized card substitutions. By implementing these requirements, Trofee aims to provide a trusted and transparent buying experience while protecting both buyers and sellers.
1. Trading Card Handling Rules
For the purpose of this policy, a Qualifying Card is any trading card that requires sleeving and toploading under the protection requirements set out in this policy. Qualifying Cards include, but are not limited to, cards identified by rarity, collectability, market value, condition sensitivity.
Any Qualifying Card revealed on stream must be immediately protected in accordance with this policy. Cards pulled directly from sealed products must be sleeved and/or toploaded immediately after being revealed, with no unnecessary contact to the card surface, edges, or corners.
Any card that is already contained within a toploader, magnetic holder, or similar protective casing must never be removed from that protection while on stream or during the fulfillment process.
Qualifying Cards and Protection Requirements
Trofee reserves the right to designate additional cards as Qualifying Cards based on rarity, collectability, condition sensitivity, market value, or customer expectations.
2. Trading Card Condition Proof Process
For any Qualifying Card that is pulled, revealed, or sold during a livestream, the streamer must perform a clear 360-degree condition check on camera. The card should be shown from the front and back, with all edges and corners clearly visible.
This process creates a recorded condition reference that may be used by Trofee in the event of disputes relating to card condition, shipping damage, or allegations of unauthorized card substitution.
3. Trading Card Packaging Process
All cards must be packaged in a manner that reasonably protects them from bending, crushing, moisture, and other forms of damage during transit.
Packages must contain sufficient structural support to prevent flexing during transportation. Sellers may use bulk cards, card protectors, cardboard supports, team bags, bubble wrap, or similar materials to create a rigid package structure.
Fragile stickers and courier handling labels alone are not considered adequate protection and must not be relied upon as a substitute for proper packaging.
Regardless of whether cards are sleeved or toploaded, all shipments must contain sufficient protective material to prevent movement, bending, or crushing during transit. Sellers are responsible for ensuring that cards arrive in the same condition in which they were shown and sold on stream. For example, placing a single toploaded card inside a bubble mailer may still expose the card to damage during transportation. In such cases, additional structural support, such as cardboard protectors, rigid inserts, or grouped common cards, should be used to create a sturdy package and adequately protect the Qualifying Card.
4. Enforcement
Failure to comply with this policy may result in customer claims being decided against the seller, reimbursement obligations, warnings, suspension of selling privileges, removal of listings, or other enforcement actions by Trofee.
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is a Qualifying Card?
A Qualifying Card is any card listed in Section 1 of this policy as requiring sleeving and/or toploading. Trofee may also designate additional cards as Qualifying Cards based on rarity, collectability, condition sensitivity, market value, or customer expectations.
Q: Can multiple lower-value cards be placed in the same sleeve?
Depends. Lower-value cards that only require sleeving may be grouped together in the same sleeve, provided this does not create a risk of damage.
Q: Can multiple cards be placed in the same toploader?
No. Cards that require toploaders must be protected individually unless otherwise approved by Trofee.
Q: What should I do if I accidentally touch the surface of a card while opening a pack?
Accidental contact may happen during normal handling. However, streamers should minimize contact with card surfaces and immediately protect any Qualifying Card in accordance with this policy.
Q: Does every card need to be sleeved and toploaded?
No. Only Qualifying Cards must be protected according to the requirements set out in this policy. Other cards should still be packaged appropriately to avoid damage during transit.
Q: What if a buyer claims that a card arrived damaged?
Trofee may review livestream footage, card condition recordings, packaging evidence, and shipment information to determine whether the damage occurred before shipment, during packaging, or during transit.
Q: Why is a 360-degree card reveal required?
The 360-degree reveal creates a recorded condition reference for both buyers and sellers and helps resolve disputes relating to card condition, shipping damage, or unauthorized card substitutions.
Q: Are fragile stickers sufficient protection for shipping?
No. Fragile stickers do not guarantee special handling by carriers and are not considered a substitute for proper packaging and structural support.
Q: What packaging materials are recommended?
Recommended materials include penny sleeves, toploaders, semi-rigid card savers, magnetic holders, team bags, cardboard supports, bubble wrap, and other protective materials designed to prevent bending and movement during transit.
Q: What happens if a seller does not comply with this policy?
Failure to comply with this policy may result in customer claims being decided against the seller, reimbursement obligations, warnings, suspension of selling privileges, removal of listings, or other enforcement actions at Trofee's sole discretion.