Sportscards Plus – This is perhaps the best known and most established baseball card and sports memorabilia shop in Seattle. They have three locations around the city including in Ballard, West Seattle, and Bellevue. Sportscards Plus offers cash or store credit for cards and will evaluate your collection to provide you with a fair price based on the current market values. They buy collections of all sizes. Given their reputation and size, you can feel confident you will get a fair deal when selling to Sportscards Plus.
Dugout Sports Cards – Located in Shoreline, just north of Seattle, Dugout Sports Cards is another great local shop to sell your baseball cards. They have been in business for over 25 years and are well known among collectors in the area. Like Sportscards Plus, Dugout will appraise your entire collection and make you a cash offer. They specialize in vintage cards from the 1950s-1980s as well as modern rookie cards. Dugout pays competitively and is a reliable buyer.
Rain City Sports Cards – For those in the greater Seattle area, Rain City Sports Cards in Federal Way is a good local option. While smaller than the above shops, Rain City is owned and operated by experienced and knowledgeable collectors. They will purchase individual cards or complete collections. Be sure to call ahead to discuss what you have and get an estimated value before visiting their store. Rain City strives to offer fair prices.
Seattle Card Show – For those looking to get top dollar, consider waiting for one of the popular Seattle Card Shows that happen a few times a year. Held at the Tukwila Community Center, these shows bring in dozens of professional card buyers from around the region. With higher volumes of cards changing hands, buyers will be more likely to pay top market value versus a retail shop. There is no guarantee of a sale at the show. You’ll need to do your homework and get cards in top condition to attract serious buyers.
Online Selling – Selling online through platforms like eBay or through group on Facebook is another option that can potentially net more money compared to a local shop, but it requires more work on your part. You’ll need to take high quality photos, write detailed listings including conditions, and handle shipping. It may take time for cards to sell as well. For common or less valuable cards, a local shop offer may be preferable to the hassle of online selling. For rare cards with high values, the effort could be worthwhile. Just be sure to carefully research recent sold prices.
Local Card Shows – Smaller, local card shows, seminars, and conventions held around Puget Sound can also connect collectors directly with buyers. Examples include the Kent Collectors Show, Tacoma Collectors Expo, and the Willows Lodge Sports Collectors Convention. Competition won’t be as strong as a huge national show, so research is needed to find serious buyers and maximize value. But they provide an opportunity for a potentially better return than a shop if your cards warrant high asking prices.
Pawn Shops – As a last resort, pawn shops in Seattle like Eagle Rare Coins & Jewelry, SuperPawn, or Premier Gold & Silver Exchange may purchase baseball cards, especially if looking for a quick sale. They often offer significantly less than fair market value since they aim to quickly resell the items. Consult with other options above first if time allows for potentially getting a much better price.
For maximum return on baseball card collections in the Seattle area, the top options are usually either the large dedicated sports card shops like Sportscards Plus or Dugout Sports Cards, a local card show, or taking the time to sell individually online. Pawn shops should really only be considered if an immediate sale if needed at a lower value. With a collection of considerable worth, the highest prices can often be found through some thorough shopping around.
