Terms of Service

Last Updated: March 16, 2026  |  Effective: March 16, 2026

1. Definitions

"Card-Star," "we," "us," and "our" refer to Card-Star.com and its parent company, operators, and affiliates. "Platform" refers to the Card-Star.com website, applications, APIs, and all associated services. "User," "you," and "your" refer to any person or entity accessing or using the Platform. "Seller" refers to any User who lists items for sale. "Buyer" refers to any User who purchases or bids on items. "Card Identity" or "CIS" refers to the Card Identity System, our proprietary digital tracking system for trading cards. "Content" refers to all text, images, data, listings, reviews, and other material posted on the Platform.

2. Account Registration

To access certain features of the Platform, you must create an account. When registering, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and update your information to keep it accurate
• Maintain the security and confidentiality of your login credentials
• Accept responsibility for all activity under your account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account

You may not create multiple accounts, share accounts, or transfer your account to another person without our written consent. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) to use the Platform. By using the Platform, you represent and warrant that you meet this requirement. If you are using the Platform on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

4. Marketplace Rules

Card-Star operates as a marketplace platform connecting Buyers and Sellers of trading cards and related products. We are not a party to transactions between Users. We do not own, possess, or inspect items listed on the Platform unless using our Escrow Service. While we provide tools, data, and protections to facilitate safe transactions, the ultimate responsibility for each transaction lies with the Buyer and Seller.

5. Seller Obligations

As a Seller on Card-Star, you agree to:

• Accurate Listings: Provide truthful, complete descriptions of all items, including condition, grading information, and any defects or damage
• Authentic Items Only: List only genuine, authentic trading cards and related products. Counterfeit, fake, or reproduction items are strictly prohibited
• Condition Accuracy: Accurately describe card condition using Card-Star's standardized condition scale. Misrepresenting condition may result in account suspension
• Grading Honesty: If listing graded cards, provide accurate grading company, grade, and certification number. Falsifying grading information is grounds for immediate termination
• Timely Shipping: Ship sold items within 3 business days of payment confirmation unless otherwise specified in your listing
• Proper Packaging: Package cards securely using appropriate protective materials (penny sleeves, top loaders, bubble mailers, or rigid mailers as appropriate)
• Tracking: Provide valid tracking information for all shipments
• Communication: Respond to Buyer inquiries within 48 hours
• Tax Compliance: You are solely responsible for determining and remitting any applicable sales taxes, income taxes, and other taxes related to your sales

6. Buyer Obligations

As a Buyer on Card-Star, you agree to:

• Commitment to Purchase: Placing a bid, making an offer that is accepted, or clicking "Buy Now" constitutes a binding commitment to complete the purchase
• Timely Payment: Complete payment within 48 hours of purchase commitment. Failure to pay may result in account restrictions
• Accurate Shipping Information: Provide a correct and complete shipping address
• Prompt Confirmation: Confirm receipt of items within 7 days of delivery. If no confirmation or dispute is filed within 7 days of confirmed delivery, the transaction will be automatically completed and Seller payment released
• Good Faith Returns: Only request returns or file disputes for legitimate reasons as outlined in our Return Policy

7. Fees and Payments

Platform Fees

• Standard Seller Fee: 10% of the final sale price
• Verified Seller Fee: 8.5% of the final sale price (available to identity-verified sellers meeting performance criteria)
• Listing Fees: $0 — Card-Star does not charge fees to list items
• Escrow Fee: 1.5% of the sale price for transactions using the optional Escrow Service (available for cards valued over $500)

Payment Processing

Payments are processed through third-party payment providers (currently Stripe and PayPal). Payments are automatically split: Card-Star's platform fee is deducted, and the remainder is paid to the Seller's configured payout method. Card-Star does not store credit card information directly. All payment processing is handled by PCI-compliant third-party providers.

Seller Payouts

Seller payouts are initiated after the Buyer confirms receipt or after the 7-day auto-completion period, whichever comes first. Payout timing depends on the Seller's configured payout method and the payment processor's standard processing times.

Fee Changes

Card-Star reserves the right to change fee structures with 30 days' advance notice to Sellers. Continued use of the Platform after fee changes constitutes acceptance.

8. Listing Policies

All listings must comply with the following:

• Only trading cards, sealed trading card products, and card-related accessories may be listed
• Listings must include at least one clear photograph of the actual item being sold
• Stock photos may not be used as the primary listing image
• Descriptions must be accurate and not misleading
• Prices must be stated in the listing currency (CAD by default)
• Listings may not contain external links, contact information, or attempts to conduct transactions off-platform
• Duplicate listings for the same item are prohibited
• Listings expire after 30 days but may be renewed

9. Auctions

When participating in auctions on Card-Star:

• All bids are binding commitments to purchase at the bid price
• Bid retraction is not permitted except in cases of clear error (e.g., entering $1,000 instead of $10.00), subject to Card-Star review
• Shill bidding (bidding on your own items or coordinating bids) is strictly prohibited and will result in permanent ban
• Anti-snipe protection: bids placed in the final 5 minutes of an auction extend the auction by 5 minutes
• If a reserve price is set and not met, the Seller is not obligated to sell
• Auction winners must complete payment within 48 hours

10. Offers and Negotiations

When the "Best Offer" feature is enabled on a listing:

• Buyers may submit offers below the listed price
• Sellers may accept, counter, or decline offers
• Accepted offers are binding on both parties
• Offers expire after 48 hours if not responded to
• Sellers may set a minimum offer threshold

11. Shipping and Delivery

• Sellers are responsible for shipping items securely and providing tracking
• Risk of loss transfers to the Buyer upon delivery confirmation by the shipping carrier
• Card-Star is not responsible for items lost, damaged, or stolen during shipping
• Sellers are encouraged to purchase shipping insurance for high-value items
• International shipments are the Seller's responsibility for customs compliance

12. Returns and Refunds

Card-Star facilitates returns under the following circumstances:

• Item Not As Described: If the item materially differs from the listing description, the Buyer may request a return within 7 days of delivery
• Counterfeit Item: If the item is determined to be counterfeit, a full refund is issued and the Seller's account is reviewed
• Item Not Received: If the item is not received and tracking shows no delivery, the Buyer may file a dispute
• Damaged in Transit: If the item arrives damaged due to inadequate packaging, the Buyer may request a return

Returns are not accepted for:

• Buyer's remorse or change of mind
• Minor variations in condition perception where the listing was reasonably accurate
• Price changes after purchase

In approved returns, the Buyer ships the item back at the Seller's expense. Refunds are issued once Card-Star confirms the item's return in the described condition.

13. Disputes

Card-Star provides a dispute resolution process for transaction issues:

1. Direct Resolution: Buyers and Sellers are encouraged to resolve issues through the messaging system first
2. Formal Dispute: If direct resolution fails, either party may open a formal dispute within 14 days of the transaction
3. Card-Star Review: Our team reviews evidence from both parties and makes a binding decision
4. Resolution: Outcomes may include full refund, partial refund, or ruling in favor of the Seller

Card-Star's dispute resolution decisions are final for disputes under $500. For disputes over $500, either party may pursue additional legal remedies.

14. Card Identity System

The Card Identity System (CIS) is a proprietary feature of Card-Star that creates digital identities for trading cards. By listing or registering cards on the Platform:

• You consent to the creation of a Card Identity record for each card
• Card Identity records include ownership history, sale prices, condition data, and grading information
• Card Identity records are permanent and may persist after your account is closed
• Historical sale price data associated with Card Identity records is considered Platform data, not personal data
• The Card Identity System, its data, algorithms, and presentation are the exclusive intellectual property of Card-Star

15. Escrow Service

For transactions involving cards valued over $500, Card-Star offers an optional Escrow Service:

• The Seller ships the card to the Card-Star Vault
• Card-Star verifies the card's authenticity and condition
• Upon verification, payment is released and the card is shipped to the Buyer
• If verification fails, the card is returned to the Seller and the transaction is cancelled
• The Escrow fee (1.5% of sale price) is non-refundable once the card has been received by Card-Star

16. Prohibited Items and Conduct

Prohibited Items

• Counterfeit, fake, or reproduction trading cards
• Stolen property
• Cards with altered or tampered grading labels
• Re-sealed products marketed as factory sealed
• Non-card items (exceptions: sealed card products and card accessories)
• Items that infringe on intellectual property rights

Prohibited Conduct

• Shill bidding or bid manipulation
• Price manipulation or market manipulation schemes
• Creating fake accounts or circumventing account suspensions
• Harassment, threats, or abusive behavior toward other Users
• Attempting to conduct transactions off-platform to avoid fees
• Scraping, crawling, or automated data collection without permission
• Interference with Platform operations or security
• Providing false identity or verification information
• Money laundering or other illegal financial activity

17. Intellectual Property

Card-Star's Intellectual Property

The Card-Star name, logo, Card Identity System, price analytics engine, Card-Star Index, marketplace algorithms, website design, code, and all associated branding are the exclusive intellectual property of Card-Star and its operators. No User may:

• Copy, reproduce, or distribute Card-Star's proprietary systems or data
• Use Card-Star's trademarks, logos, or branding without written permission
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract source code from the Platform
• Create derivative works based on Card-Star's proprietary features
• Use Card-Star's price data, analytics, or Card Identity data for commercial purposes without a licensing agreement
• Frame, mirror, or create unauthorized versions of any Card-Star pages

Third-Party Intellectual Property

Trading card images, player names, team names, and brand names referenced on the Platform are trademarks of their respective owners. Card-Star does not claim ownership of third-party intellectual property. Use of such marks is for identification purposes only.

18. User Content

By posting Content on the Platform (including listings, images, reviews, and messages), you:

• Retain ownership of your original Content
• Grant Card-Star a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, display, and distribute your Content in connection with the Platform and its promotion
• Warrant that your Content does not infringe on any third party's rights
• Acknowledge that Card-Star may remove Content that violates these Terms

Card-Star does not claim ownership of User-uploaded images of trading cards. However, aggregated sale data, price analytics, and Card Identity records generated by the Platform are Card-Star's property.

19. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• Card-Star is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, express or implied
• Card-Star does not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure
• Card-Star is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Platform
• Card-Star's total liability for any claim arising from these Terms or the Platform shall not exceed the greater of (a) the fees paid by you to Card-Star in the 12 months preceding the claim, or (b) $100 CAD
• Card-Star is not responsible for the accuracy of User-submitted listings, the condition of items sold, or the performance of Sellers or Buyers
• Card-Star is not responsible for losses resulting from unauthorized access to your account

20. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Card-Star, its operators, officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from: (a) your use of the Platform; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any third party's rights; (d) any Content you post on the Platform; or (e) any transaction you conduct through the Platform.

21. Termination

Card-Star may suspend or terminate your account at any time for violations of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or at our discretion with reasonable cause. Upon termination:

• Active listings will be deactivated
• Pending transactions will be completed or cancelled as appropriate
• Seller payouts for completed transactions will be honored
• Card Identity records may persist as Platform data
• You may request deletion of your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy

You may close your account at any time by contacting us, provided all pending transactions are completed.

22. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Alberta, Canada, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Platform shall be resolved in the courts of Alberta, Canada. You consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

23. Changes to Terms

Card-Star may update these Terms at any time. We will notify Users of material changes via email or Platform notification at least 14 days before the changes take effect. Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

24. Contact

For questions about these Terms of Service, contact us at:

Card-Star.com
Email: legal@card-star.com
Website: card-star.com/contact