Inventory. Before starting to sell baseball cards, you need to build up an inventory to have cards available to sell. There are a few ways to acquire cards to sell: purchase lots of random cards, purchase individual high-value cards, or use cards you already have from your personal collection. Purchasing lots of cards is usually the most cost-effective way to build inventory quickly. You can find card lots for sale on eBay, at card shows, local card shops, and retail stores. Make sure to only purchase from reputable sellers.
Pricing Your Cards. It’s important to properly price each card in your inventory for sale. Take the time to look up recently sold prices on platforms like eBay to get a sense of the true market value of each card. Overpricing will result in cards not selling, while underpricing means leaving money on the table. Consider allowing offers on priced cards as well. For high-value cards, doing extensive research is essential to maximize profits. You can use apps like Collector to help track prices.
Listing Your Cards Online. Once priced, you’ll want to list your cards for sale on popular online marketplaces. eBay is generally the largest and best marketplace for sports cards. Create a seller account and start listing your individual cards and card lots for auction or fixed prices. Be sure to include high-quality photos, detailed descriptions of any flaws or grading details, and calculate competitive shipping charges. Other viable selling platforms include Comc, Collector, and Twitter.
Promoting and Marketing. Dont’ just list your cards and wait – you’ll need to promote them to get sales. Create a Instagram page dedicated to your cards for sale and interact with others in the hobby. Follow collectors and teams and like/comment on their posts. Post photos of new listings daily to engage customers. You can also create Facebook ads or promote listings on subreddit forums like r/baseballcards. Consistent marketing is key.
Accepting Payments. On eBay,payments are handled automatically through the platform. But offer other payment options too like PayPal, Venmo, and physical checks/money orders for off-platform sales. Only ship cards once payment is fully cleared to avoid disputes. Consider building a payment system on your own website if sales increase significantly.
Shipping and Fulfillment. Properly package cards for shipping is important to avoid damage. Use penny sleeves, toploaders, and bubble mailers. Weigh out packages and affix correct postage. Print labels from your platform or retailer of choice. Offer lower cost basic shipping and more expensive tracked/insured options. Speedy shipping leads to happy customers and good reviews.
Repeating the Process. As cards sell, reinvest the profits into acquiring more inventory to continue the cycle. Attend local card shows and conferences to network, move inventory, and stay knowledgeable in the hobby. Consider expanding to vintage cards, memorabilia, and other sports as your business grows over time. Offer buying and consignment services too to bring in extra revenue streams. With dedication and savvy operations, selling sports cards can become a successful small business.
With strategic planning and execution of the key steps above, anyone can start a business reselling baseball cards online and in-person. Building a consistent inventory, properly pricing and promote listings, focusing on the customer experience, and continual learning are essential practices for long term success selling sports cards. With a blend of hustle, hobby passion, and strong fundamentals, reselling cards presents an exciting entrepreneurial opportunity.
