Selling Vintage Baseball Cards Online: A Complete Guide

Do you have boxes of old baseball cards collecting dust in your attic or garage? If those cards are from the 1970s or earlier, you could potentially make some decent money by selling them online. The vintage baseball card market remains strong, with certain rare and valuable cards still fetching thousands of dollars at auction.

Successfully selling old baseball cards online takes more than just listing them for sale on eBay. You’ll need to do some research to determine which cards are actually worth something. You’ll also need to photograph and describe your cards properly so buyers understand what they’re getting. And you’ll need to know how to package and ship the cards safely.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to get the best possible return on your baseball card collection by selling online, including:

Determining the value of your cards through research and checklists
Photographing and listing your cards for maximum visibility and sales
Packaging cards securely for shipping
Top online selling platforms for vintage baseball cards
Tips for describing cards accurately and avoiding red flags for buyers
Maximizing your profits through Bundle deals, auctions, and negotiated sales
Safely storing and protecting your collection until it’s sold

Let’s get started!

Determining Card Values Through Research

The first step is figuring out which of your old baseball cards are actually worth something. Most common cards from the junk wax era of the 1980s-90s have little to no value. You’ll want to focus your efforts on cards issued from the 1950s through the 1970s, when production runs were smaller.

Do some online research to familiarize yourself with key players, sets, and valuable traits that increase a card’s worth. Here are some valuation resources:

Check online price guides from websites like Beckett, Sports Card Price Guide, and eBay’s Completed Listings to get a ballpark value for each card.

Download checklists to identify card issues, sets, and specific serial numbers that may make a card rare or valuable.

Look up similar cards recently sold on eBay to see current market prices. Make note of graded vs. ungraded values.

Join vintage baseball card forums and Facebook groups to ask veteran collectors’ opinions on valuations and potential demand.

Photographing Cards For Online Sales

It’s imperative that your card photos fully convey each item’s condition and key details. Poor or inaccurate photos can cost sales. Here are tips for photographing:

Shoot cards laid flat on a clean, solid-colored background (white or grey works best). No glare or reflections.

Take multiple photos of each card – front, back, close-ups of defects or autograph authentications if needed.

Use good lighting for clarity. Natural light is ideal. Avoid shadows and dark corners.

Photograph cards exactly as they appear – zoom in on any flaws, creases, stains or wear clearly. No surprises!

Number each photo file to match descriptions for easy identification.

Listing Your Cards For Sale

Once photographed, it’s time to create detailed listings for your baseball cards on platforms like eBay, COMC, or through vintage card shops and auction sites. Consider the following:

List singular high-value cards individually and bundles inexpensive cards in group lots.

Provide clear photos and accurate grade/condition assessments in descriptions.

Research reasonable starting bid/buy-it-now pricing based on comps. Price fairly but allow room for bidding.

Offer calculated shipping costs and accept payment through secure payment processor.

Respond promptly to any buyer questions. Communication builds trust.

Cross-post desirable cards across multiple marketplaces to maximize exposure.

Packaging Cards For Safe Transport

Now the cards need to be packaged securely for shipping. Here are tips:

Place each card in a penny sleeve protector and then top-load each into rigid plastic or paper card holders.

For multiple cards, use a semi-rigid cardboard or plastic card storage box. Surround cards with acid-free paper or bubble wrap.

Package boxes or bundles between sturdy cardboard to prevent bending. Consider double-boxing and bulk filler like air bags.

Use bubble mailers or cardboard boxes and seal well with clear packing tape, not duct or electrical tape which can damage cards.

Clearly label packages and include your return address.

Consider registered shipping for high-value items requiring signature. Basic tracking is fine for less valuable cards.

Top Online Marketplaces For Vintage Cards

The biggest online platforms for selling vintage baseball cards include:

eBay – Widest buyer base and easiest platform to list on but charges insertion and final value fees.

COMC (Card Collector & Sports Collectibles) – Focused vintage sports marketplace with lower fees than eBay. Grading submission service.

Heritage Auctions – Reputable auction house that brings top dollar but requires consignment process and fees.

Classic auctions – Popular with collectors, charges monthly membership and commission rates.

Facebook Vintage Groups – Chance to get cards in hands of eager collectors at lower marketplace fees.

Describing Cards Accurately for Buyers

To give buyers confidence, list clear details on:

Player, team, card issue year
Overall condition rated on standard scales (near mint, excellent, very good, etc.)
Centering, corners, edges – describe any flaws
Authenticity issues worth noting
Case (graded, ungraded protective holder, loose, etc.)
Bundle contents if applicable

Avoid vague terms like “vintage” that don’t clarify age or condition issues. Photos should illustrate all discussion points. Honestly conveying condition is key to building trust.

Maximizing Profits

Some strategies for making the most money on card sales:

Bundle group lots by theme, set, or player to move common inexpensive cards and add more items to your overall sales value.

Watch similar “Compare to Sold” listings and reprice if your asking amount doesn’t seem competitive for that card’s condition.

Promote desirable individual cards on social media to drum up bidding during online auctions.

Contact card shops about consignment options to leverage their collector networks. Usually get better rates than marketplaces.

Be open to reasonable offers buyers make directly. Negotiation can result in quicker sales at good prices.

Protecting Your Collection Before Sale

To maintain card quality until they find new homes:

Store cards in acid-free boxes, binders or removable sleeves inside climate-controlled areas away from direct light.

Safeguard high-end cards, especially graded examples, in fireproof home security boxes or bank safe deposit boxes.

Inventory your collection and photograph expensive/rare pieces so any damage or theft can be reported.

With patience, diligent research and marketing on your cards, you have a good chance of making decent returns from your vintage baseball card collection by selling online to eager collectors. Following the best practices here should help maximize your profits. Good luck!