Selling Baseball Cards in New Hampshire – An Overview

New Hampshire has a rich tradition of baseball and many avid collectors of baseball cards residing within its borders. If you have a collection of baseball cards you’ve been itching to sell, the Granite State provides several good options. To get top dollar for your cards, it’s important to do your research, understand the market, and choose reputable buyers or selling venues. In this article, we will explore the various methods for selling baseball cards in NH and provide tips to help you maximize profits.

Pricing Your Cards

Before putting your cards up for sale, the first step is to properly assess the value of each one. Taking the time to research recent sales of comparable cards on platforms like eBay can give you a good sense of current market value. Things that affect a card’s worth include its condition or state of preservation, the player featured, the year it was printed, whether it is part of a rare subset, and if there are any special attributes like autographs.

The Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide is considered the industry standard for establishing estimated card values. It’s important to reconcile guide prices with real-world sale comps, as certain cards may be appreciated more or less depending on current collector demand. Proper grading by a reputable service like PSA or BGS can also unlock significantly higher prices by assuring buyers of a card’s condition.

Local Card Shops

If you live in a more populated part of NH, check if there is a local collectibles or comic book shop in your area that buys and sells sports cards. Places like Past Times in Manchester or Nashua Comics are a convenient option for doing business face-to-face in your community.

While local shops aim to be reasonably competitive with online market prices, they have physical overhead costs that prevent matching top dollar eBay sales. They also need to make a profit for their business. As a result, expect to get perhaps 80-85% of estimated market value from a local transaction. The benefit is immediate payment and not having to deal with shipping. Always shop around and get quotes from multiple shops if possible.

Consignment with Specialty Stores

For rare or high-end cards valued at $100 or more, consider consigning them to a national sports memorabilia or card business that specializes exclusively in those types of items. Companies like Steiner Sports, Grey Flannel Auctions, or Heritage Auctions enable your cards to reach a wider collector base while only taking a small commission (generally 10-20%) if the piece sells.

This exposure allows the true market to determine value. It means waiting potentially months before a sale is made and a check is cut. Consignment only makes sense for unique items unlikely to sell locally in a reasonable time frame otherwise potentially tying up capital. Cards valued at under $100 are usually not worth the consignment fees.

Selling Online

Ebay is by far the largest online marketplace for sports cards. With millions of collectors browsing daily, you have the ability to reach buyers worldwide. Condition is especially important here as even small flaws can significantly impact sale price. Take top-notch photos showcasing every angle and feature.

While easy to list, expect final eBay fees to average around 13% of the final sale price once listing costs and PayPal processing are accounted for. For rare six-figure cards, specialized auction houses may again net better cuts than online markets. Card collectors also trade actively on Twitter, Instagram, and message boards like Blowout Cards – allowing face-to-face transactions at card shows to be set up. This more personal touch helps build reputation.

Consignment With Auction Houses

Reserving consignment for true rarities valued over $1,000 (preferably $5,000+), the major sports auction houses provide top exposure and legitimacy but also take the highest commissions. Houses like Heritage Auctions, Goldin Auctions, or SCP charge around 20% plus additional buyer premiums, eating significantly into profits compared to other sale options previously discussed. They hold huge card-focused auctions periodically that set market price records.

Where to Sell in NH

In the Granite State, options like online auctions, local card shops, memorabilia stores, and shows provide many viable ways to sell baseball cards. The route taken depends on the overall value, uniqueness, and time horizon of individual collection pieces. With research, careful pricing, and choosing a sales method best aligned to maximize value recovery, collectors can recoup top dollar right in New Hampshire.

Let me know if you require any clarification or have additional questions!