When it comes to selling graded baseball cards, there are several reputable options available to collectors. With the growing popularity of sports card collecting and investing, third-party grading services like PSA, BGS, SGC, and HGA have helped standardize the market and give collectors peace of mind in the authenticity and condition of their cards. Here are some of the top places collectors can look to sell their graded baseball cards:
Online Auction Sites:
Ebay is likely the largest and most well-known marketplace for collectors to sell graded cards. With millions of active buyers and sellers, Ebay gives collectors access to a massive potential customer base. Selling on Ebay does require paying listing and final value fees, but the volume of traffic makes it worthwhile for many collectors. Some tips for selling graded cards on Ebay include taking high-quality photos, thoroughly describing the grade and any flaws, starting the auction reasonably, and providing fast shipping with tracking.
Another popular auction site is Heritage Auctions. While they don’t have the same volume as Ebay, Heritage is well respected within the collecting community. They are known for facilitating some record-setting card sales. The fees are higher than Ebay at around 13-15%, but Heritage buyers tend to be more serious collectors. Consignment options are also available through Heritage.
Collectors can also try their hand at auction sites like Goldin Auctions or Robert Edward Auctions for a chance to reach dedicated collectors looking to spend top-dollar. Volume isn’t as high as Ebay, but big spenders frequent these auction houses.
Online Marketplaces:
Two of the largest online sports card marketplaces are eBay’s subsidiary, Collectors Universe-owned PWCC Marketplace and the Blowout Cards marketplace. Both platforms allow collectors to list cards at fixed prices rather than auctions. This gives sellers more control over the selling process. Listing fees are lower than auction sites too, usually a small percentage of the sale. PWCC and Blowout also have robust buyer databases to pull from.
For higher-end vintage cards, the premium marketplace for consignment is SportsCardForum. SCF’s consignment program is overseen by industry experts and is an ideal way for collectors to maximize value on their rare cards. SCF also has an active buy/sell/trade marketplace.
Facebook Marketplace and Twitter are emerging as places where collectors can sell individual cards directly to other enthusiasts. It’s a less structured environment than dedicated marketplaces, but can be convenient for moving single cards quickly.
Local Card Shops:
While they may not offer the largest potential customer base, local card shops are still a viable graded card sales option for some collectors. Selling to a local shop offers convenience and immediate cash-in-hand. Shops need to make a profit, so collectors can expect to receive 60-80% of market value depending on demand, condition, and the shop’s business model. Some top local card shop chains open to consignments include Sports Card Collectibles, The Card Vault, and Dale’s Sportscards.
Graded Card Dealers:
For collectors wanting an easy transaction, selling directly to a graded card dealer can be attractive. Dealers like PWCC, SportsCardGallery, and Burbank Cards specialize in buying collections and will make competitive offers factoring in volume, condition, and their own profit margins. Sellers sacrifice top dollar but have a guaranteed sale without any listing/selling fees. Dealers are also interested in buying individual high-end cards.
Online Consignment Services:
Services like Collectors Universe’s Consignment Manager and BGS Consign make the consignment process seamless online. Collectors fill out submission forms, ship their cards, and sit back as the service facilitates grading, listing, and sales on their behalf through various marketplaces like eBay and PWCC. Consignment fees are deducted from final sale prices. This full-service model removes all hassle from the seller but also means paying higher fees than selling directly.
So in summary – for maximum exposure and competition on rare cards, auction sites like eBay and Heritage are great options. PWCC and Blowout are top fixed-price marketplaces. Local shops are handy for quick cash-in-hand sales. And graded card dealers or online consignment services provide easy turn-key transactions at the cost of potentially lower sale prices. With some research into market trends and values, collectors have many avenues available to turn their graded baseball cards into cash.
