For generations, Card Breaks have made collecting more fun and more accessible, letting people take part without buying a whole sealed box. On Whatnot, we bring this format online and on camera, with the rules and tools to keep them fair.

In a Card Break, a seller splits a sealed product, like a box of basketball cards, among multiple buyers. Each buyer purchases through a “spot” based on defined criteria, like a team (e.g. New York Knicks) or division (e.g. Atlantic Division). The seller opens the product live and distributes the cards. Everything offered in a Break must come from the sealed product, and Breaks are for trading and sports cards only.

Breaks make the hobby more accessible: you don't have to buy a whole sealed box to take part. And even if your team isn’t pulled, you still receive a card. 

When you open a sealed pack of cards, you don’t know what's inside – and finding out is part of the fun. The same goes for picking up a mystery or end-of-season box at checkout. Both have been a part of collecting and retail for generations. 

On Whatnot, fairness comes first: no seller decides who gets what, and we don't either. Every assignment and opening happens live, on camera, so buyers see every step. When sellers use our in-app randomizer, it runs on a public, open-source tool that works the same for everyone, with a full record of the assignment.

Sellers who sell items using Card Breaks are held to strict standards:

• Transparency requirements: Sellers list the specific items that are available or being opened so buyers can make informed decisions before purchasing.

• Tooling built for these formats: We offer dedicated tooling that makes each step clear for sellers and keeps spot assignments fair – including randomization using a public, open-source library.

• Live accountability: Spots are assigned and products are opened on camera, in front of everyone. Buyers watch in real time, ask questions, and see how spots are assigned, while sellers build their reputation in the open.

• Policy enforcement: When a seller or buyer breaks our rules, we take action – from warnings and billbacks to selling restrictions or removal – based on severity and history.

Our High Value Loss Reimbursement policy covers cards purchased through Breaks. If a high-value card isn't delivered, we reimburse buyers at the card's full market value, and bill the seller back for that value. We built this because these formats deserve a higher standard for accountability online–one that didn’t exist before.