Selling vintage baseball cards can be a great way to make some extra cash if you have cards dating back to the early 1900s or prior. With the large variety of buying options available today, it’s important to do your research to find reputable places willing to pay fair prices. Below is an in-depth overview of some of the top options for selling old baseball cards and getting them into the hands of enthusiastic collectors.
Local Card Shops – While they may not offer the highest prices, local card shops are very convenient if you want a quick sale. Dropping cards off in-person allows the shop owner to quickly appraise the condition and value of each card. Be prepared for most shops to offer roughly 50-60% of what the card may sell for online. Still, for common vintage cards under $50, a local shop purchase provides an easy transaction. Just call ahead or check online directories to find shops in your area.
Online Card Sites – Selling cards on websites like eBay or Sportlots.com allows you to reach a much larger collector base and potentially get closer to each card’s true market value. You’ll need to photograph and describe each card yourself as well as deal with shipping. eBay charges final value fees of 10% on baseball card sales, while fee structures are a bit lower on specialty auction sites. Be prepared to wait weeks or months to find the right buyer on any online platform.
Card Shows – Scouring collector shows, often held on weekends, gives the ability to make connections with many buyers in a single day. Card show vendors typically have deeper knowledge of rarer vintage specimens and may cut better overall deals than online sites. Attendance fees usually apply, and travel is required to find the largest regional shows. Be cautious selling to unknown parties at smaller local shows versus more established national conventions.
Collectibles Stores – Larger collectibles stores like ComicConnect.com and Heritage Auctions specialize in appraising and auctioning high-value vintage sports memorabilia, including rare baseball cards. They have the expertise to properly assess condition issues that impact a card’s collectibility and are generally trustworthy options for consignment sales potentially worth thousands. Acceptance is selective, and their commission percentages are normally in the 30-40% range.
Independent Dealers – Reputable full-time baseball card dealers travel to shows or have online presences and are willing to make cash offers sight-unseen based on photos you provide. This allows selling cards quickly without lots of work listing individually. Check references and transaction history carefully before shipping valuable cards to an unfamiliar buyer. Ask upfront about grading procedures and the dealer’s return policy as well. Legitimate dealers are the safest option online if you find a reputable individual.
Phone/Mail Appraisals – As a last resort, you can try sending detailed photos and descriptions of your best cards to major grading companies like PSA or Beckett to get professional appraised values for insurance purposes. While they don’t directly purchase, an expert appraisal letter establishes official estimated worth that can then be used as a baseline when shopping cards around. Grading services usually charge $10-20 per card for verbal appraisals over the phone.
Properly researching the above baseball card buyer types helps ensure valuable vintage cards are sold safely and for fair prices. Local shops provide easy transactions but may not deliver top dollar. Online marketplaces reach more bidders but require work listing individually. Shows give broad access to serious collectors. And specialty stores or independent high-end dealers are worth contacting for especially rare specimens from storied early eras of the game. With diligence, selling old baseball cards can pay off for collectors ready to part with pieces of history.
