Selling your baseball card collection can be a great way to make some extra cash, especially if you have cards from the 1950s-1990s when values were highest. Finding a trustworthy buyer who will give you a fair price can sometimes be difficult. That’s where businesses that buy baseball cards come in.

Companies that specialize in buying collections have the expertise to properly value cards and are usually able to pay more than what you may receive if trying to sell items individually on auction sites like eBay. When looking to sell your cards, it’s important to do your research to find a reputable buyer. Ask around hobby shop owner or collector groups for recommendations. Also check reviews online.

Here are some tips for selling to businesses that buy baseball cards:

Sort your cards beforehand. Having everything organized by sport, year, player, etc. will make the buying process quicker and easier. Consider putting holos, rookies, and higher value cards in protective sleeves to keep them mint.

Pricing guides and conditions matter. Companies use references like Beckett, Helmer, and Ebay sales to assign values. Make sure valuable cards are in the best condition possible to receive top dollar. Even minor flaws can dramatically affect price.

Look up recent sales comps. Do your own research on recently sold listings of key cards to get a sense of current market value. Armed with this data you’ll have a better idea of fair offers when dealing with buyers.

Consider selling subsets separately. Selling complete rookie/vintage sets as a unit may get you a premium versus individuals. But very large collections are sometimes bought by weight which favors individuals.

Get estimates in writing. Reputable outfits will provide paperwork detailing estimated values and their offers. This prevents disputes down the line.

Ask how payment works. Most provide checks or PayPal promptly after pickup. A few may issue store credit instead of cash which is less ideal.

Inquire about their sources. Larger buyers have connections to distributors, auction houses, and individual wealthy collectors to resell cards at a margin. Ask where your collection would ultimately end up.

Of the many companies that purchase baseball card collections, here are some highly reviewed options to consider:

Burbank Sports Cards (California) – One of the largest and oldest purchasers, they pay top dollar and have extensive expertise grading and pricing items fast. Minimum collection size is 1000 cards. Allow shipping or dropoff.

Da Card Word (New Jersey) – Specializes in vintage pre-1980s cards. Very knowledgeable buyer who travels for large collections. Check website for pricing guides and recent past sale prices to compare offers against.

Cardex Collections (Texas) – Family owned outfit that has been in business for decades. Excellent reputation and will provide condition sensitive appraisals. Strong network of dealers to move inventory.

Steiner Sports Memorabilia (New York) – More of an auction house than dedicated buyer, but worth contacting for larger vintage collections over 5000+ cards. Connects sellers directly to high end clients.

Sportscard Forum (Pennsylvania) – One of the most established online marketplaces. Members can list entire inventory for exposure to collectors or have staff appraise/purchase outright. Large transaction protection in place.

Dave and Adam’s Card World (Ohio) – Large physical card shop that purchases entire collections on site daily. Strict condition/value guidelines but very fast payment and pickup. Prefer customers located within driving distance of shops.

When selling to these companies, be prepared to have cards inspected and sorted. It may take a half day or more to fully appraise very large inventory. Reputable buyers pay their money upfront too so there is no risk of fraud or non-payment. Ideally find someone to evaluate your collection in person if it contains many valuable vintage cards. An expert eye can catch subtleties affecting rarity/condition grades that photos may miss. With a bit of homework, the right buyer business can provide a straightforward transaction and reasonable payment for your entire baseball card collection. Just be sure to thoroughly research potential buyers first to find a trustworthy transaction partner.