Support
Answers to the most common questions. Can't find yours? We're a small team of real collectors — email us and we'll get back to you quickly.
🐹 Getting started
How do I start trading?▾
Create a free account (email, Google, or Discord), list the cards you have and the cards you want, and either browse listings or wait for a match. When you agree a deal, choose your protection: on a sale, add our Protected Deal intermediary service or buy direct; on a trade, pick intermediary, escrow deposits, or a direct swap. We guide both sides through shipping and completion.
Is TCG Hamster free to join?▾
Yes — creating an account, listing cards, and building a wishlist are all free. We only charge fees when a protected deal actually happens.
Which games do you support?▾
Pokémon (English and Japanese), One Piece, Disney Lorcana, Gundam, Riftbound and both current Dragon Ball games — singles and sealed product. More games follow based on demand.
💷 Fees & pricing
What are the fees?▾
Selling: 10% commission from the seller. Protected trades (escrow or intermediary): 10% money-handling fee (min £12.50). Direct swaps between trusted collectors are free, at your own risk. Every fee is shown before you commit — there are no hidden charges.
Why do you charge fees at all?▾
Fees cover the real costs of a safe marketplace: ~3% payment processing, sellers' postage labels on direct sales, hosting and infrastructure, dispute handling and buyer protection, free insured postage on protected deals, fair wages for people who love this hobby — and corporation tax on whatever's left, like any UK business. The full breakdown is in 'Our fees — and why', linked wherever a fee is shown.
Where do card prices come from?▾
Live market data — Cardmarket EU pricing where available, TCGplayer as a fallback, and eBay UK data for graded cards and sealed products. Prices are a guide; sellers always set their own asking price.
🔒 Escrow & protected trades
How does escrow work?▾
Before anything ships, both sides lodge a refundable deposit equal to the full trade value — on a £1,000 trade, £1,000 each, held safely by us. If the other person doesn't deliver, you get your money back. Deposits are refunded in full once both sides confirm their cards arrived; the only cost is the money-handling fee.
What does the verified intermediary do?▾
Both sides ship to our trusted partner, who checks every card is genuine and as described before forwarding it on. Fakes and misgraded cards get caught before they reach you. It's required on deals over £250.00.
When does the money get released?▾
For sales, the buyer's payment is held by us and released to the seller once the buyer confirms the cards arrived as described. For escrow trades, deposits are refunded when both sides confirm. Confirming receipt is what releases funds — so check your cards first.
📦 Postage & shipping
Is postage really free?▾
For sellers, yes. On protected deals (escrow or intermediary), tracked and insured postage is included, funded from the fee. On direct sales the buyer pays a flat £3.50 delivery fee per seller order — however many items — and we buy the seller's tracked label from it, so the seller posts for free; transit insurance on direct sales is chosen and paid by the seller (required over £50.00). On direct swaps you can buy discounted tracked postage through us at cost plus a small service fee.
Do I need a printer?▾
No. We give you a QR code — show it at a Post Office, Collect+ shop, parcel locker, or Royal Mail delivery office and they print the label for you. You can also book a collection from your door.
How should I pack my cards?▾
Sleeve + toploader, sandwiched between rigid card or bubble wrap, in a waterproof bag. For deals over £100 you must film a continuous packing video and photograph the sealed parcel — full rules are on every deal page under 'Safe shipping rules'.
🛡️ Problems & disputes
The cards I received aren't as described — what do I do?▾
Don't confirm receipt. Report the problem from the deal page within 48 hours of delivery, keep everything exactly as received (packaging included), and film an unboxing video if you haven't already. Our team reviews the evidence from both sides and resolves the dispute — your money stays protected until it's settled.
The other person never shipped.▾
If tracking never activates, raise a dispute from the deal page. On escrow deals you get your full deposit back; on sales the buyer is refunded in full.
Someone wants to deal off-platform.▾
Don't. Off-platform deals have no protection — no escrow, no dispute handling, no insured postage — and asking is against our rules. Report it to us instead.
🔐 Account & security
How do I enable two-factor authentication?▾
Go to your Profile → Two-factor authentication → Enable, then scan the QR code with any authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy, 1Password). We strongly recommend it for every account.
How do I reset my password?▾
Use 'Forgot password?' on the sign-in page. If you signed up with Google or Discord, just sign in with that provider — there's no separate password.
How does the rough location feature work?▾
You share only your postcode area (like CR5) — never your address. It powers 'closest to me' browsing and suggests a fair halfway town if you choose to trade in person.
Still stuck?
For anything about a specific deal, use the messages on the deal page so our team has the full context. For everything else:









