Online Marketplaces:
eBay – This is likely the largest online marketplace for selling individual sports cards. Whether you’re selling common cards or rare vintage cards worth thousands, you’ll find buyers on eBay. You’ll need to take clear, close-up photos of the front and back of each card and provide accurate descriptions of any flaws, signatures, autographs, etc. Pay a small final value fee once the item sells.
COMC (Cardboard Connection) – This site specializes in sports cards and allows you to sell individual cards or bulk common cards. You send your cards to them, they photograph and list them, then store/fulfill orders. They take a percentage of each sale but handle shipping and transactions. Great for liquidating large collections.
Sportscard Forum/COMC – Similar to eBay but specifically for sportscard collectors and enthusiasts. A bit smaller audience but also charges less in fees.
Brick and Mortar Stores:
Local card/hobby shops – Search your area on Google for “sports cards” or stop by local hobby/game stores to see if they buy collections. Shops need to make a profit so they’ll typically only offer 40-60% of the estimated resale value. Cash payment on the spot.
National chains (Card Shops, LCS’s etc.) – Larger regional/national chains like Card Shops, Mile High Cards, LCS’s etc. have locations across the country. Call ahead to schedule an appointment and get the store’s buylist prices to get an idea of what they’ll offer. They provide quick cash but lowball amounts.
Online Buy/Sell Services:
BlowoutCards, Sportscards4sale – Sellers here don’t list individual cards but send in their full collection to be valued, sorted, and sold by Blowout/Sportscards4sale’s online storefronts and distributors. They take a larger cut (around 30-50%) but handle the workload of grading, listing, fulfillment.
Consignment/auction – Sites like eBay Gempack or 401kards allow you to consign your higher value (> $100) cards and get a percentage (10-20%) when they sell at auction. Auction sites create collector competition driving bids higher than straight “buy it now” listings.
Card Shows:
Local/regional card shows – Search “baseball card show [your city]” or contact local card shops to find out when popular traveling/regional card shows visit sports memorabilia/toy conventions near you. These multi-table events allow face-to-face selling to many buyers at once. Bring priced cards and allow haggling. Many serious collectors attend.
For quick cash your best options are local card shops or national chains, which offer immediate payouts. For maximum profit especially on rare cards worth $100+, your best options are consignment sites, auctions, or regional/national card shows. eBay remains tops for volume sales on common cards due to its enormous audience. Just be sure to carefully pack, ship, and communicate with buyers to avoid issues. With some research and effort, you can earn top dollar selling your baseball and basketball card collections.
