Baseball cards have been a popular collectible for decades, especially among fans of America’s favorite pastime. Whether you have a collection you’ve amassed over the years or are looking to sell off singles from sets, Des Moines, Iowa offers several options for selling your baseball cards.
One of the largest and most established card shops in Des Moines is Midwest Cards and Collectibles, located on Douglas Avenue just east of the city center. Midwest Cards has been in business for over 30 years and buys, sells, and trades all types of sports cards, comics, and memorabilia. They have an extensive inventory of new and vintage cards available and their staff has deep expertise in valuations. Selling cards to Midwest Cards is a reliable way to get a fair price. They pay cash on the spot for singles, sets, or entire collections based on the cards’ conditions and the current market. They also provide consignment services if you want them to sell cards on your behalf for a commission.
Another local card shop that specializes in buying collections is Kingdom Comics and Collectibles, located in West Des Moines. While smaller than Midwest Cards, Kingdom Comics has been serving the Des Moines area for over 15 years and owner Tom Henson has appraised and purchased collections worth tens of thousands of dollars. He examines each card closely and pays competitive rates, usually offering a percentage of any guide price for vintage cards in good condition or sets worth over $500. Selling directly to a store offers convenience but you usually won’t get top dollar.
If you want to maximize the value of your baseball cards, your best bet is to sell individually on an online marketplace like eBay. This requires more work on your part to research estimated values, take photos, create listings, and ship orders. You have access to a huge nationwide and even global pool of interested collectors. The downside is fees of around 13% per sale plus shipping costs. Another popular option for online selling is through a peer-to-peer site like COMC (Cardboard Connection), where they handle storage, grading if desired, and order processing for a fee per card.
Before selling your baseball cards anywhere, it’s important to do your research on current market prices. Check sold listings on eBay to see what similar condition cards have actually sold for recently to get a realistic value. Proper grading by experts like PSA or BGS can significantly boost rare card values but you’ll pay grading fees of $10-30 per card depending on the level of service. Organize your collection by sport, set, year or other criteria to make it easier for potential buyers to evaluate. Clearly stating conditions, includes/excludes and being transparent about flaws will build trust with buyers.
Whether you sell locally at a card shop, a large auction house, or online, Des Moines offers collectors several good options. With some research and preparation, you can sell your baseball card collection efficiently and potentially earn thousands of dollars. Just be sure to exercise patience, as moving higher value cards may take some time. With the sustained interest in baseball cards as an alternative investment and collectible, now is a great time to sell in Des Moines.
