Updated 25 September 2019
This document specifies the rules and guidelines for shipping cards to recipients selected on Cardsphere. Covered are the practices to protect cards physically through packaging and financially through tracking and insurance.
Also covered is the Code of Conduct for interacting with other Cardsphere users.
The exchanged value of items being traded via mail is dependent upon the card condition as described in the Cardsphere Condition Guide. In order to receive the full value for the cards, they must arrive in the reported condition. The best way to ensure this happens is to properly package your cards for safe transit through the mail, up to and including the point of the recipient opening the package.
Except where packaging is expressly disallowed here, the sole determining factor of whether packaging appropriately protects shipped items is whether or not the shipped cards arrived in the promised condition.
Cards should be protected against surface damage (scratching and scuffing) by enclosing them inside soft penny sleeves. “Perfect Fit” sleeves should contain no more than a single card, otherwise sleeves should contain no more than three cards. Cards of significant value should be individually sleeved.
Cards should be protected against water damage by completeley sealing them in team bags.
Cards should be protected against bending and warping by enclosing them within toploaders or affixing them to other stable, hard material. When sending three cards or fewer, the best choice is to enclose them within a top loader of appropriate size. When sending more than three cards, sandwich them between the top loaders.
Cards should be protected against damage caused by movement within packaging by using tape to close top loaders or affix them to other stable, hard material. Cellulose tape (Scotch tape, packing tape) is not allowed to be used anywhere that may cause it to come into contact with cards. If cellulose tape is used, paper or sleeves must also be used as a barrier to protect the cards. Cardsphere recommends using painter's tape.
Cards should be protected against damage by using appropriate envelopes. Depending on the value of cards enclosed, you may wish to consider using bubble mailer envelopes. Otherwise, envelopes of an appropriate size (invitation envelopes) must be used to make sure that the packaged cards cannot slide within the envelope. Flimsy ends must not be present because mail sorting machinery can cause these to tear and cards to be lost. Additional material (paper, top loaders) can be used to stabilize flimsy envelope ends.
All materials used for packaging must be clean and without debris or stickiness. This includes ensuring no grit, hair or other materials within sleeves. Glue or other tacky material is not allowed to be used in packaging.
Items must ship within 3 mail business days of being committed.
Items may only be shipped with signature confirmation required where approved by the receiver via the messaging system prior to shipment.
Cardsphere's Terms and Conditions specify that the responsibility for safe and prompt arrival of cards lies wholly on the sender. When disputes are opened for non-arrival of cards or cards arriving damaged, resolutions will favor the receiver where no pattern of abuse on the part of the recipient has been established.
As such, Cardsphere strongly recommends that when sending cards of significant value, you use a form of tracking and/or insurance. When using a tracking number, send your trade partner the details using Cardsphere's messaging system. Where available, consider using services that include free delivery confirmation such as stamps.com or Paypal Ship Now. Otherwise, speak with your local postal service to determine your best options.
Some percentage of mail will always be lost. To protect yourself, you should purchase insurance coverage for the total value of your sent cards.
The Cardsphere community is made up of a mixture of Magic: the Gathering players and collectors from all over the world, who have varying levels of commitment and experience with the game. To continue growing our community and connect more and more traders with one another, it's important that Cardsphere be comfortable for the entire community.
Having wide range of users from power traders and retailers to casual kitchen-table players is a huge strength, but it can also lead to communication issues and unhappiness. In order to make sure our community is inclusive and supportive, we have a few ground rules to which we ask our users to adhere.
This code of conduct applies to all spaces and means of communication managed by Space Cow Media. This includes the messaging system, reddit board, support portal and any other forums operated by Cardsphere. In addition, violations of this code outside these spaces may affect a person's ability to participate within them.
If you believe someone is violating the code of conduct, we ask that you report it to Cardsphere.