First, evaluate the condition and value of your cards. Baseball cards can vary widely in price depending on the player, year issued, and condition of the specific card. Take time to carefully examine each card to determine its relative condition on a scale of Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, Excellent or Near Mint. This will help you properly assess the card’s potential value. You can use online price guides to get a ballpark estimate of what common players in different conditions have recently sold for. Be realistic in your pricing.
Once you know your cards’ potential values, decide how you want to sell them. Your main options are through a local card shop, online auction sites, collector conventions/shows, or directly to another collector. Selling to a local card shop is convenient as they will buy cards in bulk, but you likely won’t get top dollar that way. Online auction sites like eBay give you access to a huge base of collectors but require more work listing each card individually. Collector conventions/shows let you meet collectors face to face but require more planning to attend events.
If choosing to sell online, take high quality photos of each card that clearly show the front and back without glare or fingerprints. Shoot photos against a solid dark background for best results. When listing on eBay, include all relevant details like the player, year, brand/set and accurate condition assessment in the title and description. Calculate proper shipping costs and include those in your price. Cards worth $10 or less typically aren’t worth the cost to individually ship. Consider bundling cheaper cards into combined lots to make shipping feasible.
Pay close attention to properly packaging cards for shipping. Never use plain envelopes which can damage edges. Invest in acid-free toploaders or penny sleeves to safely hold each card. Place cards inside a larger envelope or rigid mailer with plenty of cardboard or air pockets around them. Clearly mark packages as containing collectible/non-bendable items to ensure careful handling. Provide your buyer with a tracking number for peace of mind.
Offer a refund/return policy if something goes wrong. Consider accepting payment through PayPal Goods & Services which protects both buyers and sellers. Ask for payment within a few days of purchase and be prepared to relist cards that aren’t paid for promptly to keep your listings active. Store unsold cards carefully in climate-controlled conditions away from direct light which can accelerate deterioration over time.
With some time and effort, you can earn fair prices for your old baseball card collection through the methods above. Do thorough research, take excellent photos, provide details for buyers, and ensure safe packaging to give your cards the best chance of finding new homes with collectors. Proceeds from selling cards can become a nice hobby supplement or help finance additional collecting pursuits down the road. With patience and understanding market values, you can turn your old cards into cash.
