Trading photocards internationally works on reputation, and reputation is built from small procedural habits rather than good intentions. Most disputes trace back to two people using different assumptions about who ships first, what counts as proof, and how long a hold lasts. Getting the conventions right makes you someone people want to trade with.
Proof, and what counts as proof
The standard is a photo of the card next to a handwritten note showing your username and the date. Stock images or screenshots from a sales post are not proof and will get your offer ignored. For higher-value trades, a short video showing the card front, back and any surface flaws under angled light is now common and settles most condition arguments before they start.
Who ships first across borders
The usual convention is that the lower-value side ships first, or both ship simultaneously with tracking shared the same day. For a first trade with someone new, simultaneous shipping with tracking numbers exchanged within 24 hours is the safest structure. Refusing to share tracking is the single biggest red flag in international trading.
Holds and timelines
A hold means the card is off the market for you, and 48 to 72 hours is the accepted maximum without an explicit agreement. If you need longer because you are waiting on a shipment from Korea, say so upfront with a date. Silent holds that stretch a week are how people end up on avoid lists.
Packaging that survives international mail
Toploader, penny sleeve inside it, taped shut, then sandwiched between two pieces of stiff cardboard and placed in a rigid mailer. A plain envelope with a toploader inside arrives bent surprisingly often. Expect 60 to 90 days for untracked international letter post and 8 to 14 days for tracked small packet, and always tell your trading partner which one you used.
Send us the link. We'll buy it and ship it.
No Korean card, no phone verification, no Korean address. Pay once in USD.
Start a buy-for-me order →Frequently asked
Is it rude to ask for a video?
Not for anything above roughly 30 USD in value. Framing it as your normal process rather than a suspicion about them keeps it friendly, and most established traders offer one without being asked.
What if a card arrives damaged in transit?
Photograph the packaging before opening it fully. Most traders split the loss or offer a replacement card when the packaging is clearly at fault, but there is no enforcement mechanism, which is why packaging standards matter.
Should I trade or just buy the card?
If your want list is short, buying from a Korean second-hand marketplace and consolidating the cards into an existing shipment is often faster and cheaper than waiting months for the right trade partner.