Terms of Service

1. The service

Polaris Cards is an online marketplace that allows users to buy and sell trading cards. Polaris Cards facilitates transactions between buyers and sellers but is not itself a party to any sale. The contract of sale is between the buyer and the seller.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use Polaris Cards. By registering you confirm that you meet this requirement.

3. Your account

• You are responsible for keeping your login credentials secure.
• You are responsible for the accuracy of the information you provide when registering and for keeping it up to date.
• One account per person. We may suspend duplicate accounts.
• Notify us immediately via the feedback form if you suspect unauthorised access to your account.

4. Listings and sales

• You may only list items you own and have the right to sell.
• Listings must accurately describe the card, its condition, and any relevant defects.
• Misrepresented cards are strictly prohibited. Listings must accurately reflect the card’s actual condition and any modifications.
• Counterfeit cards are strictly prohibited. We have a zero-tolerance policy — selling or attempting to sell counterfeit cards will result in an immediate and permanent account ban.
• Sellers must ship the item within 7 days of payment confirmation. Failure to ship within this period entitles the buyer to cancel the order free of charge.
• Sellers must have the listed item in their personal possession at their stated location. You may not list items held by a third party, stored elsewhere, or that you do not yet own. This ensures accurate shipping costs and prevents fulfilment delays.
• Prices must be in the currency displayed on the platform.
• Listing photos must accurately represent the card’s condition at the time of listing. Photos are used as evidence when resolving disputes.

5. Commercial sellers

• Sellers operating as a business or in a commercial capacity must accurately identify themselves as professional sellers on the platform. Misrepresenting a commercial operation as a private seller to avoid legal or tax obligations is strictly prohibited and may result in immediate account termination.
• When a business sells to a consumer, the buyer is entitled to a 14-day right of withdrawal under EU consumer law. Commercial sellers are solely responsible for honouring this right and handling any resulting returns and refunds in compliance with applicable legislation.
• Commercial sellers are solely responsible for complying with all applicable business regulations, including VAT registration and reporting obligations in their country of operation. Polaris Cards is a marketplace and is not responsible for the tax affairs of its sellers.
• Commercial sellers must ensure their business details (company name, registration number, and VAT number where applicable) are accurate and up to date in their seller profile.

6. Payments

Payments are processed by Stripe. By making a purchase you agree to Stripe’s Consumer Terms. Polaris Cards does not store payment card details. Refunds and disputes are handled according to Stripe’s policies and applicable consumer law.

7. Delivery and disputes

• Buyers are responsible for inspecting the received item and confirming delivery only when satisfied that it matches the listing description.
• Confirming delivery releases payment to the seller and constitutes acceptance of the item. Disputes cannot be raised after delivery has been confirmed.
• If an item does not match the listing, the buyer must raise a dispute before confirming delivery.
• Approved refunds require the buyer to return the item to the seller before the refund is processed. Return shipment costs are the buyer’s responsibility, and a tracked shipping method must be used.
• Listing photos and the original item description serve as the primary evidence when a dispute is assessed.
• When requested during a dispute, buyers must provide clear and accurate photos of the received item via the dispute image attachment feature. Failure to comply will result in the dispute being closed and the refund denied. This requirement exists to protect sellers against fraudulent claims, such as substituting a legitimate card with a counterfeit after delivery.
• If packaging is visibly damaged upon delivery, the buyer must photograph the package before opening it and notify the carrier of the damage at the time of delivery. Failure to do so may affect the outcome of a damage-related dispute.
• Sellers are strongly advised to photograph packaged items before handing them to the carrier. These photos may serve as evidence in disputes concerning item condition or packaging.

8. Non-delivery

• If an order is not delivered within a reasonable time and the buyer raises a non-delivery dispute, Polaris Cards may issue a full refund to the buyer on the seller’s behalf.
• Most of the refund will be recovered directly from the funds held in Stripe, which are not released to the seller until delivery is confirmed.
• Where shipping was already purchased and paid through the platform’s integrated shipping service (Shipit), that cost may not be recoverable from Stripe. In such cases, the seller is liable to reimburse Polaris Cards for any amount that cannot be recovered, including any non-refundable shipping costs incurred.
• Polaris Cards reserves the right to offset any such outstanding amounts against future payouts or credits on the seller’s account.

9. Reporting violations

If you spot a listing or user you suspect is in breach of these terms — including cards that appear counterfeit, misrepresented, or otherwise suspicious — please report it immediately using the report button found on every listing and seller profile. Include a brief description of your concern. We review all reports and take action where warranted. Early reporting helps protect the entire community.

10. Prohibited conduct

You must not:

• Use the platform for any unlawful purpose.
• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users.
• Attempt to circumvent transactions off-platform to avoid fees or protections. Local pick-up is permitted provided the order is placed through Polaris Cards; payment may be settled in person by cash or mobile payment.
• Scrape or automate access to the platform without permission.
• Upload content that infringes third-party intellectual property rights.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these rules.

11. Intellectual property

You retain ownership of content you upload (photos, descriptions). By uploading you grant Polaris Cards a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display that content on the platform for the purpose of providing the service.

12. Disclaimer of warranties

Polaris Cards is provided “as is” and “as available”. We do not warrant that the service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that listings are accurate. The platform is currently in development and features may change without notice.

13. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Polaris Cards is not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the service, including losses from transactions between users. Our total liability for any claim shall not exceed the amount you paid to Polaris Cards in the 12 months prior to the claim.

14. Governing law

These terms are governed by and construed in accordance with EU law. Disputes shall be resolved in competent courts within the European Union. EU consumers retain the protection of mandatory consumer law provisions in their country of residence.

15. Changes to these terms

We may update these terms from time to time. We will give reasonable notice of significant changes. Continued use of the service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.

16. Contact

Questions about these terms? Send us a message.