When it comes to buying and selling baseball cards, there are several great options available both online and in-person. With the popularity of baseball card collecting continuing to grow, it’s more important than ever to know the reputable sources. This article will provide an in-depth look at some of the top places for collectors to purchase or sell their cards.
Online Marketplaces:
eBay – Without question, eBay is the largest online marketplace for buying and selling all types of sports cards and memorabilia. With millions of listings across every sport and category, you’re almost guaranteed to find whatever card you’re looking for on eBay. The sheer volume of listings also makes it a great place to sell cards you no longer want. EBay takes a small commission on final sale prices.
COMC (Cardboard Connection) – COMC is one of the most trusted third-party grading and consignment services in the industry. They have a massive online marketplace where you can browse graded and ungraded baseball cards from a variety of sellers all in one place. COMC takes a small percentage of final sale prices but handles all shipping, grading, and customer service. They also have a money-back guarantee which provides sellers protection.
Sportlots – Sportlots is another popular online marketplace dedicated entirely to trading cards, memorabilia, and other sports collectibles. They have a large selection of both graded and ungraded baseball cards available from individual sellers. Like COMC, Sportlots charges sellers a small commission and handles the transactions, shipping, and customer support.
Facebook Marketplace – While not dedicated solely to cards, Facebook Marketplace has become a go-to place for many local collectors to buy and sell. It allows you to search within your geographic region. Just be sure to only meet sellers locally in a public place for safety.
Brick and Mortar Stores:
Local Card Shops – Most cities will have at least one dedicated card and comic book shop. These local mom and pop stores are great places to browse new releases, latest hot rookies, and trade with other collectors face to face. Be prepared to pay a slight markup compared to online prices.
National Chains – Larger retail chains like Dave & Adam’s Card World and Steel City Collectibles have stores nationwide where you can sell cards to them for immediate cash or do trades. They have huge inventory of new releases to look through as well.
Card Shows – Browse tables from dozens of vendors all under one roof at regional card shows, which are a fun day trip experience. Admission is usually nominal, and you can easily spend half a day digging through boxes of cards.
Consignment/Grading Services:
PSA/BGS – Professional Sports Authenticator and Beckett Grading Services are the gold standard for third-party grading of sports cards. Both allow you to submit your cards to be authenticated, graded, and slabbed to enhance resale value. Turnaround times and costs vary based on service level selected.
Heritage Auctions – A leader in collectibles auctions, Heritage takes consignments of individual cards or entire collections. They handle all aspects of promotion, photography, cataloging, and internet/phone bidding to get top dollar for significant cards.
Robert Edward Auctions – Another top auction house specializing in vintage cards, autographs, and other rare memorabilia. REA is a great option for valuable vintage baseball items to get maximum exposure and competitive bidding.
Local Dealers – Reputable local card shop owners or independent dealers may offer consignment services for selling individual cards or entire collections in their shop case or at shows/events they attend.
Online Forums/Groups:
Sports Card Forums – Websites like Sports Card Forum and Blowout Cards Forum allow collectors from all over to connect, discuss the hobby, and set up deals outside of traditional marketplaces. Just use caution when dealing with unknown members.
Facebook Groups – Dedicated collector groups on Facebook provide a space for discussions, questions, and facilitating private transactions between members who have built some reputation within the group.
Reddit – Subreddits like r/baseballcards are active communities for sharing recent pickups, asking questions, and finding trading partners or buyers for individual cards.
No matter where you choose to buy or sell, do your research on any company, follow recommended safety tips for in-person transactions, and only deal with trusted sources to have the best experience in the baseball card market. With so many viable options, both novice and experienced collectors should be able to easily navigate the buying and selling process.
