Deal safely
Cardboard Assets connects you with other collectors — every deal is worked out and completed directly between you and the other party. That freedom is the point, but it means the safety habits below are on you. Read this once; it'll save you real money someday.
Goods & Services vs. Friends & Family
When paying by PayPal (or similar), Goods & Services charges the seller a small fee but gives you buyer protection: if the card never shows up or isn't as described, you can open a claim and usually get your money back.
Friends & Family has no protection at all — it's a gift. A stranger insisting on F&F, a wire, Zelle, or crypto "to avoid fees" is the single loudest red flag in the hobby. Offer to split the G&S fee instead; a legit seller will usually take that trade.
Timestamp photos
Before you pay, ask for a timestamp: a photo of the actual card next to a handwritten note with today's date and your handle. It proves the seller physically has the card right now — screenshots and recycled auction photos can't fake it.
Sellers: offering a timestamp before being asked is the fastest way to close a deal with a careful buyer. Shooting a short video while packing high-value cards protects you from false "not as described" claims, too.
Meeting up in person
- Meet in busy public places: card shops, show floors, bank lobbies, police-station exchange zones.
- Daylight hours, and bring a friend for high-value deals.
- Count cash and inspect cards before anyone leaves — not after.
- For slabs, check the cert number on the grader's site while you're standing there (every graded listing here links straight to the cert lookup).
- Trust your gut. A deal that feels off is a deal you skip.
Red flags
- Price way below every recent comp with pressure to "act fast."
- Refuses Goods & Services, timestamps, or a quick video call.
- Wants to move the conversation off-platform immediately.
- Brand-new account, zero confirmed deals, selling multiple grails at once.
- Slab photos where the label font, hologram, or case corners look off — compare against the grader's current cases.
- "My cousin will drop it off" / any story that changes who you're dealing with.
Use the reputation system
Confirmed deal counts and ratings here can't be bought — they only come from deals both sides confirmed. Check a seller's profile: badges, deal history, testimonials, and response rate. After your deal completes, confirm it in the conversation's Deal Panel and leave a rating. You're building the trust graph that keeps scammers out.
See something shady? Use the Report button on any listing, profile, or conversation. Moderators review every report.
Cardboard Assets never processes payments, holds funds, or ships cards — anyone claiming to be "Cardboard Assets escrow" or "Cardboard Assets support" asking for payment is a scammer. Questions? Deal with verified sellers while you learn the ropes.