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Trading Card Standards

Joseph Odera avatar
Written by Joseph Odera
Updated over 2 months ago

To ensure quality, consistency, and transparency when selling trading cards on Drip, we’ve outlined key standards across four areas:

  1. The Basics – Understanding key card conditions and defects

  2. Listing for Sale – How to properly present a card or break spot

  3. During Your Live Stream – Key points to follow while streaming

  4. Preparing for Shipment – How to securely package and ship orders


The Basics: Examining Your Cards

Before listing a single card for sale, you must thoroughly check for any defects or imperfections—whether the card is vintage or freshly pulled from a pack.

Common Card Defects to Look For

🔍 Marks & Scratches – Ink smudges or surface scratches, particularly on holographic cards.
🔍 Print Lines – Defects from the factory that appear as light lines on holographic surfaces.
🔍 Whitening – Small white spots on the back edges of a card, even on pack-fresh cards.
🔍 Creases – Visible folds or dents anywhere on the card.

Key Areas to Inspect

  • Corners – Cards have four corners, which can be sharp or rounded depending on the manufacturer.

  • Edges – The top, bottom, left, and right sides of a card.

  • Surface – The entire front and back of the card, including artwork, holographics, and text.


Condition Classifications for Cards

Once a card has been examined, it should be classified based on its condition:

Near Mint / Mint (NM/M) 🌟

Best condition possible—absolutely flawless with no visible damage.
✅ No whitening, creases, scratches, or surface wear.

Lightly Played (LP) 👍

✅ Very minor signs of handling—card may have slight scratches or minor whitening.
✅ Has been shuffled in play but remains in great condition.

Moderately Played (MP) ⚠️

✅ Noticeable corner and edge wear, possibly slight creases.
✅ Holographic surfaces may show some clouding.

Heavily Played (HP) ❌

Major signs of wear on edges, corners, and surface.
✅ Larger scratches, scuffing, and clouding visible.

Damaged (D) 🚨

Significant damage—deep creases, heavy surface wear, or extreme edge damage.
✅ These cards should be priced at the lower end of the market.

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