Thinking about selling your old baseball card collection but not sure where to start? With baseball being America’s pastime, chances are you or a family member had been collecting baseball cards at some point. Now that many years have passed, you may have amassed a large collection that is just taking up space. Fortunately, the vintage baseball card market remains strong. With a little work, you could potentially make a nice profit by selling your baseball cards. Here are the main steps to take to sell your old baseball cards and get top dollar for your collection.
The first step is to go through your entire collection and inventory what cards you have. Take the time to carefully look at each card and note important details like the player, year, brand (Topps, Fleer, etc.), and most importantly, the condition. Card condition is extremely important when determining value. Use a grading scale of Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, Near Mint, and Mint to assess each card. Also take note of any flaws like bends, creases or edge wear that could downgrade the condition. Taking a thorough inventory will make listing your cards to sell much easier down the road.
Once you have a complete inventory of your cards documented, it is time to research values. The best way to research vintage baseball card values is to use online price guide websites like BaseballCardPedia.com or PriceGuides.com. Search for specific players, years and grades to see recent sales data and get a general idea of what your cards could be worth. Be sure not to just look at raw numbers, but also analyze trends and note price differences based on minute condition variances. Prices can fluctuate greatly depending on even the smallest of flaws. Doing thorough research up front will allow you to properly price your cards for sale.
With an inventory and value research completed, the next step is determining the best outlet for selling your baseball cards. There are a few main options to consider: consignment with a local card shop, online auction sites, peer-to-peer sites or card shows/trade days. For a large collection, consigning with a local reputable card shop can be a good low effort option that allows them to handle the work of photographing, listing and selling your cards for a commission typically 20-30%. Online auction sites like eBay give you the biggest potential buyer audience but require more work photographing and listing each card individually. Peer-to-peer sites like CollectorsUniverse.com let you list your entire collection at once with flexible pricing while still reaching many buyers. Card shows provide a live sale and trade environment for meeting collectors face to face. Ultimately the best option depends on the size of your collection and how hands on you want to be in the sales process.
Before listing your baseball cards for sale, it is important to prepare them properly. Invest in some acid-free pages, toploaders and other penny sleeves to safely store each card during the listing process and shipping. Clean any dirt or grime off the surface with a soft-bristled brush. Check for stability and that there are no bits of the card ready to flake off. Proper storage and prep will show potential buyers you have cared for the cards and help maximize the sale price. When photographing, use a neutral solid color background and bright consistent lighting. Clearly show any flaws up close along with the entire front and back of each card so buyers know exactly what they are purchasing.
Pricing your vintage baseball cards properly is an important part of getting top dollar. Look at recently sold comps on sites like eBay to determine fair starting prices for auction listings, but price firm for “Buy It Now” listings. You may need to be flexible on rare and highly desired cards that could fetch top dollar from an avid collector versus typical bulk common cards. Do not be afraid to set aggressive “Buy It Now” prices on your best gems while using a minimum reserve on auction listings. Promote your sale across platforms and to collector groups on social media to reach the biggest possible targeted audience. With patience and the right promotion, you could end up making thousands selling your old baseball card collection!
Proper record keeping is important for tax and inventory purposes once you start selling cards. Keep sales receipts, documentation of expenses, shipping costs and commissions or fees paid. Be sure to claim any profits made on future tax returns. Once a sale is complete, promptly pack orders securely in new toploaders or penny sleeves within cardboard for shipping. Always promptly reply to any buyer questions. Following through on the sale process with top-level customer service will help you build a good reputation for future sales. With some work up front researching, preparing and listing your vintage baseball card collection, you have a great opportunity to liquidate childhood memories into cash!
