Local card shops are a good option for selling baseball cards, especially if you have a lot of common/uncommon cards. Most local card shops will buy collections outright or allow you to trade cards in for credit toward new cards or supplies. They likely won’t give you top dollar but it’s a convenient option that doesn’t require shipping or fees. Local shops are also good if you want to slowly sell cards over time as you visit the shop. Be sure to call ahead or check their website to get an idea of what they are looking to buy and their payment/credit policies.
Online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon are great places to get the most money for rare and valuable baseball cards but require more time and effort. On eBay, you can set up an account and start selling individually or in lots. Be sure to take high quality pictures, write detailed descriptions including stats on the back of cards where applicable, and research recently sold cards to set a competitive starting price. Careful packaging is important to avoid damage in transit. eBay and PayPal both take a cut of final sale prices but you have access to millions of potential buyers worldwide. It may take time for rare cards to sell but this is likely where you’ll get the best prices, especially for vintage cards or stars in mint/gem mint condition.
Sports card auction houses like PWCC and Goldin Auctions are good options to potentially get top dollar for especially valuable vintage/rookie cards but you’ll pay high consignment/seller fees ranging from 10-20% plus shipping costs. These companies authenticate, professionally photograph, and market your cards to their large database of serious collectors and dealers worldwide. High-end cards can sell for thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars on their auction blocks. This is best for one-of-a-kind cards in impeccable condition rather than common players or lower end cards. Be prepared to potentially wait months for big auction events which are planned well in advance.
Facebook groups are a decent option depending on the cards you have. There are many sport/hobby specific groups with thousands of members where you can post photos of your cards and take offers. Be sure to read group rules beforehand. This is lower pressure than eBay but you’ll get less exposure than a dedicated marketplace and may take longer to find buyers. Some groups also allow you to request references for larger deals to avoid scams.
Directly contacting collectors is an option if you have a few highly valuable vintage/rookie cards to sell. Search websites like SportsCollectorsDaily and twitter to identify serious collectors interested in specific players, teams or types of cards you have. Reach out with photos and your price to try and broker a private sale. This takes more legwork but cuts out fees and the cards will likely end up in the hands of someone who truly appreciates them. You’ll need to earn buyers’ trust without the protections of an established marketplace.
In person sports/card shows are another option on weekends or some evenings depending on your local events. These are good for moving collections more quickly than online with the ability to negotiate prices face to face. Costs are just a table rental which is often $20-50 depending on the size of show. Have well organized piles of cards sorted by sport, set, year or condition with prices clearly shown. Be prepared to bargain and consider taking payments via PayPal/Venmo at the show for convenience. These take effort to attend regularly but are low pressure sales without shipping costs.
So in summary – for convenience and quick sales of common cards, start with local card shops. For best prices especially on high-dollar vintage and stars use eBay or sports card auction houses. Facebook groups are decent mid-ground, and contacting collectors or shows are best for large valuable collections or one-of-a-kind pieces. Research typical sales comps on each platform to get a feel for where different cards/sets may sell for the highest amounts. With some research and effort, you can get top dollar for your baseball card collection while avoiding fees by matching the right cards to the most applicable selling method.
