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Trading Card Standards

Dria Waldroup avatar
Written by Dria Waldroup
Updated over 10 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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