What is the best place to sell sports cards?

Selling sports cards can be a great way to make some extra money if you have a valuable collection, or it can even grow into a profitable side business. With the rising popularity of sports memorabilia and collectibles, there are many different options for selling cards, both online and locally. Choosing the right marketplace to sell your cards can make a big difference in how much money you are able to get for your collection. Here are some tips on finding the best places to sell sports cards.

Local Sports Card Shops

One of the most popular places to sell sports cards is right in your hometown at a local sports card shop. These specialty shops cater to sports card collectors and dealers, so they are always interested in purchasing collections or rare cards. The advantage of selling to a local shop is you can get cash immediately and not have to deal with shipping items. Sports card shop owners are very knowledgeable about the current market value of cards, so you can expect to get fair prices. Make sure to call ahead to the shop to see if they are currently buying cards and get a sense of the type of inventory they are looking for.

Selling to a smaller local shop helps support small businesses in your community. However, the downside is that you are limited to what that one shop owner can afford to buy from you. The inventory they have available funds will determine how much they can offer for large or high-value collections. It’s a good idea to shop your collection around to multiple shops in your area to get the best price.

Tips for Selling to Local Shops

Organize your cards logically by sport and player so the shop owner can quickly assess what you have.
Research current market values so you know if the offer is fair.
Ask if they buy cards outright or sell on consignment.

Negotiate respectfully if the offer seems too low.
Ask about trade-in options if you are looking for specific cards in return.

Sports Card Shows

Another option is selling your cards at one of the many sports card trading shows held across the country each year. These shows attract large crowds of avid collectors and dealers who are all looking to buy and sell cards. The advantage of a show is you have access to hundreds of buyers in one location, which creates a competitive marketplace and drives up the prices. Sports card shows typically have booth spaces where you can set up and display your cards for sale similar to a trade show. You may also be able to walk around with a portfolio and negotiate with buyers.

The downside to selling at shows is you have to rent your booth space, so you need to make sure your sales exceed the cost. It takes some experience to learn how to properly price and negotiate at these fast-paced shows. If you have a lot of valuable vintage cards, a show can be an ideal place to get top dollar from serious collectors. Make sure to research the major sports card shows in your region.

Tips for Selling at Card Shows

Display your best, high-value cards prominently to attract interest.
Invest in card display cases to securely show off your collection.

Price cards competitively based on current market rates.
Engage customers and discuss players/teams to build rapport.
Offer bulk discounts on large purchases to move more inventory.

Accept credit cards by using a mobile card reader for more sales.

eBay

eBay is the largest online marketplace for buying and selling sports cards. The huge volume of collectors on eBay is both a pro and a con when selling cards. You have access to millions of buyers, but also a lot more competition from other sellers. eBay does require some selling fees which cut into profits, but the platform still ends up being one of the easiest ways to get top dollar for rare, high-value cards. Auction-style listings tend to fetch higher final prices than “Buy It Now” options.

The key factors when selling cards on eBay are reputation, photos, and descriptions. Take clear, high-res photos showing the front and back of cards so buyers can inspect condition. Write accurate descriptions noting any flaws and provide details on the player, year, card maker, etc. Building up positive feedback on eBay takes time but leads to higher sales prices and more trust from buyers.

Tips for Selling Cards on eBay

Research completed eBay sales to price cards competitively.
Offer expedited and tracked shipping options.
Pack cards securely to prevent damage in transit.

Consider grading high-value cards first to boost value.
Take advantage of promoted listings and auctions.

Facebook Groups

There are thousands of buying/selling/trading groups on Facebook related to sports cards and collectibles. Facebook groups provide an online community marketplace made up solely of engaged collectors and dealers within your desired sport or team. The highly targeted audience means you can find buyers willing to pay top dollar for the exact type of cards you are selling.

Make sure to carefully read group rules before posting any sale listings. Most groups have requirements around providing photos, prices, and descriptions. Joining some groups also requires being approved and answering joining questions. Facebook groups allow you to post cards for sale one at a time or as entire collection lots. You can also arrange local pick-up which avoids shipping hassles.

Tips for Selling in Facebook Groups

Search for niche player/team groups that match your collection.
Post clear photos and be responsive to buyer questions.

Use Facebook Marketplace’s shipping program for sales.
Consider auction-style listings to drive up bidding.
Join targeted breaker/reseller groups to reach that audience.

Sports Card Forums

There are dedicated hobby forums and message boards focused exclusively on sports card collecting and trading. Two of the largest and most active forums are Blowout Cards and The Cardboard Connection. These forums have areas for buying, selling and trading between members. They also have sections for showing off collections and discussing the hobby.

Forums allow you to create detailed threads showcasing your sale inventory with photos, descriptions, and prices for every card available. Other members can claim cards for sale via replies in your thread. Reputation is very important on forums, so be sure to establish yourself as a trustworthy seller. Make sure to follow all guidelines and use moderators if any issues arise.

Tips for Selling on Forums

Organize threads with lists of cards or spreadsheet price lists.

Offer discounts for buying multiple cards to incentive larger purchases.
Use seller reputation systems and feedback.
Provide shipping price tiers based on number of cards bought.

Consider requiring payment before shipping high-value cards.

Sports Card Consignment

For very high-end, valuable card collections, consignment may be the way to go. A consignment dealer will take possession of your cards and actively market and promote them to buyers on your behalf for an agreed upon commission percentage. This saves you the work of finding buyers yourself and leverages the dealer’s marketing resources and distribution channels. Consignment also avoids you having to invest upfront in grading/authentication costs.

The best consignment dealers have online eBay stores, websites, and physical auction houses to reach the largest pool of buyers. Make sure to do diligence on any dealer to understand their sales performance and how they will price and promote your collection. Requiring pre-approval on final selling prices gives you control. Consignment deals often have time limits, so factor that in.

Tips for Consignment Deals

Interview multiple recommended dealers to find the best fit.
Consider signing with non-exclusive dealers to compare performance.
Get all terms, commissions, duration, and out-clauses in writing.

Ask about ancillary costs – insurance, storage, photography, etc.
Review advertising plans and sales channels they will leverage.

Selling Platform Comparison

Here is a helpful comparison table summarizing some of the major differences between popular sports card selling platforms:

Platform	Pros	Cons
Local Card Shop	– Cash immediately in hand – Knowledgable about fair pricing – Supports local business	– Limited by shop’s buying budget – Have to travel to shop
Card Show	– Hundreds of buyers in one place – Competitive atmosphere drives up prices	– Cost of booth fees – Time spent traveling and at show
eBay	– Millions of buyers – Marketplace drives top dollar for high-end cards – Easy selling platform	– Fees cut into profits – Shipping costs
Facebook	– Targeted niche groups of engaged collectors – Arrange local pick-up	– Have to join relevant niche groups – Rules to follow for listings
Forums	– Very active hobbyist community – Detailed sale threads with pictures	– Less anonymous buyers – Have to build seller reputation
Consignment	– Don’t have to find buyers yourself – Leverage dealer marketing and distribution	– Pay commission percentages – Can take longer to sell cards

Grading Cards Before Selling

One option that can significantly increase the value of your high-end cards is getting them professionally graded and encapsulated before selling. Services like PSA, BGS and SGC will formally grade the condition of your card on a 1-10 scale based on centering, corners, edges, surface, etc. The card gets sealed in a tamper-proof plastic case with the grade displayed. Buyers are willing to pay much more for a graded 8, 9 or 10 rated card compared to a raw “ungraded” card.

The cost of grading does range from around $10-$100+ per card depending on the service level. This extra cost is well worth it for rare, vintage cards worth $500+. Grading helps prevent condition disputes and confirm authenticity too. The two downsides are the wait time for grading and risk that the card grades lower than you expected. For modern bulk cards, grading costs are usually not worth the return on investment.

Tips on Card Grading

Learn to critically evaluate card condition yourself before submitting.

Only grade high-value vintage cards over $250 in value.
Use reputable services like PSA, BGS or SGC.
Select faster service levels if needed.

Check current grading company turnaround times before submitting.
Insure your package when shipping cards to grading company.

Selling Unopened Packs/Boxes

Unopened sealed wax packs or full boxes represent the ultimate sealed collectible for many hobbyists. Vintage packs from the early eras of baseball, football and basketball can sell for insane amounts to serious collectors. Even modern unopened packs and boxes have value well above the cost of the enclosed cards if you sell to the right buyers.

The wax pack wrapper condition is very important, so be selective on keeping only packs free of tears or creases. Unopened boxes should be stored safely to prevent crushing or loosening. Again, grading companies like PSA can “grade” and encapsulate packs and evenfull boxes. Finding niche collectors who focus on sealed products will yield the highest prices. Local shops rarely offer fair prices on sealed items.

Tips for Selling Packs and Boxes

Inventory packs separately by exact product, year and condition.
Research recent eBay sales to gauge market pricing.

Consider auction-style listings for rare packs.
Describe box condition in detail noting any shelf wear.
Get boxes/packs graded if very high value.

Market broadly to sealed collectors outside just one sport.

Using Sports Card Consignors

Selling a large, valuable sports card collection on your own can be very time consuming and complex. An easier option is partnering with a sports card consignor service. For a fee or commission percentage, these services will assess your cards, inventory them, get them graded if needed, photograph/list them, bring them to shows, market them online, handle all logistics, collect payments, and send you the profits. This saves an immense amount of work.

The top sports card consignors are Probstein123, BBCE, PWCC, and Love of the Game. Make sure to compare the reputations, commission rates, and sales histories when choosing a service. Read consignment contracts closely to ensure you retain control over final selling prices and time limits. Once you consign your cards, relax and let the experts handle maximizing your collection’s value.

Other Selling Tips

Here are some final tips for successfully selling your sports card collection:

Sort and organize your collection first before pricing or listing.
Inventory your collection in a spreadsheet ledger to track details.

Research recent “sold” listing prices as your pricing benchmark.
Consider bundling lesser-value cards into large lots.
Take high resolution, well-lit photos of front & back.

Disclose any flaws or damage upfront in descriptions.
Pack cards very securely to prevent shipping damage.
Offer free shipping or build it into your pricing strategically.

Provide plastic sleeves and top loaders for expensive cards.
Save receipts for high-value postal or courier shipments.
Always insure valuable packages, signature on delivery.

Conclusion

Selling sports cards can be very lucrative if you take the time to understand the hobby and marketplace. Maximum value relies heavily on presentation, description, organization, and targeting the platforms that collectors frequent. Patience is also key, as obtaining top dollar often requires waiting for the right buyer. While selling locally at shops or shows has its advantages, larger online marketplaces tend to yield higher profits for rare and high-end cards. As long as the sports memorabilia collecting hobby remains popular, there will always be a bull market for purchasing rare and vintage sports cards.