Online Marketplaces – There are several large online marketplaces where you can sell baseball cards in bulk. Some good options include eBay, COMC (Collectors Universe), and CardCash. On eBay, you can create a large auction lot with several hundred or thousand cards and let buyers bid it up. Make sure to get good photos showcasing the varieties of cards included. On COMC, you list each card individually but they handle photography, grading if desired, and shipping for a fee. CardCash allows you to sell bundles of cards for a guaranteed price based on certain conditions like year, sport, and average condition.
Online Card Shops – Various online-only card shops will make offers to buy collections of cards in bulk. Sites like CardboardConnection.com and SportsCollectorsDaily.com have “we buy collections” sections where you can send in photos and descriptions of what you have to receive acquisition offers. Expect much lower prices per card compared to individually selling but it eliminates the work. Be wary of any shop that won’t provide a guaranteed offer up front or wants to only make an offer once they receive your items.
Local Card Shops – Search on Google for “sports card shop near me” to find local brick and mortar stores. Call ahead to schedule an appointment to bring your cards in for review. Since they can physically examine the items, these shops may offer better bulk prices than online-only routes. Selection will only be regional so unique high-end cards may fetch more elsewhere. Plus local shops need to then resell items so margins will be tighter. Have realistic expectations on price.
Trading Card Shows – Scour event calendars and schedule notifications on sports card Facebook groups and websites for upcoming trading card/memorabilia shows nearby. These are often on weekends and provide access to many buyers under one roof. Similar to local shops, in-person assessment allows for fair offers but now you have competition. Consider breaking your collection into smaller themed lots to appeal to different subsets of collectors rather than one giant bulk lot. Come prepared with prices in mind.
Consignment Sales – As an alternative to a cash sale, you can opt to consign your cards through select shops or larger resellers like AuctionNation and sellcards.net. They’ll list your items for a set period, handle customer service/shipping, and only charge you a percentage (usually 30% or so) if/when the items sell. This route provides exposure to more buyers than going it alone but a portion of profits is ceded to the consigner. You hope to earn more overall through the volume they can generate versus a straight bulk sale to one party.
When pricing bulk card collections for any of these sale options, research recent eBay “sold” listings for approximate fair market values of key pieces then apply discounted rates as the condition/value of the cards broadens out, taking into consideration the realities of selling in bulk. Be flexible, but always get at minimum a guaranteed floor offer before letting go of your items to avoid low-ball offers. With some planning and marketing, selling baseball cards in bulk can help collectors liquidateduplicate collections for solid returns.
