The first step when deciding to sell your baseball card collection is to take inventory of what cards you have. Carefully go through each card and make notes of important details like the player name, year, brand (Topps, Fleer, etc.), condition and any other notable characteristics. Taking a photo of each rare or valuable card is also a good idea. Making an excel spreadsheet or using a sports card inventory app are great ways to organize your collection data.
Once you have your full inventory compiled, it’s time to research the value of your cards. The two main sources for checking baseball card prices are eBay and online price guides. On eBay, use the “Sold Listings” filter to only see what identical or similarly graded cards have actually sold for, not just what people are listing them for. Price guides like Beckett, Cardboard Connection and Sports Card Investor provide average market values for most modern cards in different grades. Take note of any particularly valuable cards worth $20 or more to feature individually for sale.
With your valuable cards identified, you’ll want to have them professionally graded if their condition warrants it. The two leading third-party grading services for sports cards are PSA and BGS. Getting a card graded involves sending it away, paying a fee and waiting several weeks to receive a numeric grade on its state of preservation along with encasement and authentication. Properly graded cards from the big brands can increase in value significantly and also take out the uncertainty of visual grading for buyers.
Now it’s time to start listing your cards for sale. eBay remains the largest and most accessible online marketplace for sports cards. When listing individually valuable cards, take many high quality photos showcasing the fronts and backs in the listing along with a detailed description of condition, brand, year etc. For cards worth under $20, bulk lots are a more efficient sale strategy on eBay. You can bundle together groups of similar vintage commons and uncommons to sell in one auction or as Buy It Now listings.
Along with eBay, there are also online collectible marketplaces like COMC, Blowout Cards and Amazon you can sell on. COMC in particular is great for selling large collections since they store, photograph and manage the inventory for a monthly or percentage fee. Consignment with a reputable local card shop is another option to consider. They’ll feature your cards for sale generating shop traffic and handling financial transactions for a share of profits.
Be sure to package any shipped cards securely in a penny sleeve, toploader or magnetic holder with tracking sent via USPS, UPS or FedEx. Clearly label shipments, provide tracking and communicate regularly with buyers to ensure they receive the purchase and are satisfied. Acquiring a few positive seller feedback ratings early on helps build confidence with future card buyers. And don’t forget to check recently sold prices often to keep your listings competitive and moving cards. With the proper research, presentation and sales channels, you should have no problem finding new homes for your baseball card collection.
