Card trade checklist: what to check before and after meeting

Good trades often feel easy because the preparation happened before the meeting. This checklist summarises the points that most often cause mistakes and lets you review a deal without relying on memory.

Before contacting someone

Check that the card belongs to the correct game and set.
Update your available and wanted lists.
Decide which condition, language and version you accept.
Take current photos of the main cards.

Before confirming the trade

Write exactly what each person is giving.
Agree on place, time and handover method.
Check guide value and condition defects.
Confirm whether any card is reserved or pending.

During the meeting

Place cards on a clean surface and check name, number, language, finish and condition. If a card does not match, say so before handing yours over. You can change the proposal or cancel without turning it into a conflict.

Immediately afterwards

Store new cards, remove traded cards from your inventory and record any relevant detail. For remote trades, keep tracking information and confirm receipt after checking the contents.

Use the review to improve

Ask what information was missing and what worked well. Over time, your listings will become more precise, meetings faster and TradeMatches matches more useful.

A checklist to use at the meeting

Tick each item as you inspect the trade. Selections last only while this page is open and are not sent to a server. Pause before handing cards over if an item cannot be confirmed.

Codes, languages and finishes match both agreed lots. I counted copies and removed cards outside the agreement. I inspected backs, corners and defects with the owner’s permission. Cash, expenses and delivery arrangements are agreed. No deck card or reserved copy is being handed over accidentally. Both people accept these lots after inspection. After delivery, I removed outgoing cards from my available list. 0 of 7 items checked

One failed check and the next action

Suppose you agreed on a foil copy but the presented card is regular. Do not tick the first item just because the name matches. Explain the difference and check whether the agreed copy is available. Otherwise make a new proposal or cancel. Completing a checklist records an inspection; it does not authenticate cards or guarantee a problem-free trade.