SAFETY GUIDE · 4 MIN READ
Meet smart.
Pay in person.
CardSeeker never holds your money, so the exchange happens between you and the other collector. These habits keep every deal simple and safe.
DO
- Agree the price in the offer thread so there is a record
- Ask for back, corner and edge photos before you travel
- Check a graded card's cert number on the grader's own site
- Meet at a CardSeeker-listed safe meet spot
- Tell someone where you are going and when
DON'T
- Send a deposit or any money before you meet
- Move the conversation off CardSeeker to agree terms
- Meet at a home address or anywhere without people around
- Hand over payment before you have inspected the card
- Assume a grade is genuine because the slab looks right
Before you meet
Negotiate inside the app
Use the in-app offer thread so there is a record of the price you agreed on and what was promised. Verbal-only agreements leave no trail if things go sideways.
Ask for back-of-card photos and a video walkaround
A clear video of all four edges, the back, and a hand holding the card under good light catches most issues. Don't skip this for graded slabs either.
Verify the cert number
If the card is graded, every grader (PSA, BGS, SGC, CGC) lets you verify the cert number on their site. Match the printed cert against the public record before you commit.
When you meet in person
Use a CardSeeker-listed safe meet location
Mall concierge desks and shopping center info points are public, well-lit, and have staff and cameras. Browse the list at /safe-meets and pick the one closest to both sides.
Share your live location with a friend
Tell someone you trust where and when you are meeting. Share your live location from your phone for the duration of the meet.
Bring the right tools
A jeweler's loupe or 10x magnifier, a UV pen, and clean cotton gloves prevent disputes after the trade. Inspect under the venue's lighting, not your phone torch.
If you ship instead
Use a tracked courier and insurance
Aramex, DHL, and Fetchr all offer tracked services across the GCC. Insurance is cheap relative to the card. Both sides should be able to follow the parcel in real time.
Document the packaging
Photograph the card going into its sleeve, semi-rigid or slab box, then bubble-wrapped, then sealed into the courier bag. Send the photos to the buyer before drop-off.
What CardSeeker does NOT do
- We never hold buyer funds, act as a middleman for money, or pay out sellers.
- We never authenticate cards beyond what the seller publicly attests.
- We do not guarantee the condition, grade, or authenticity of any listing.
- We do not arrange shipping or resolve courier loss claims.
We are a directory and introduction layer. The trade itself is between you and the other party.
Reporting a problem
If a seller is misrepresenting cards, ghosting after agreement, or behaving in a way that puts other buyers at risk, report them from any listing or storefront page. The report flows into our admin queue and is reviewed within two business days. Repeat offenders are removed.