eBay – eBay is likely the largest online marketplace for selling baseball cards. Some key things to know about selling on eBay:
Listing items is free but eBay charges an insertion fee anytime an item sells, usually around 10% of the final selling price. For higher priced cards, insertion fees can add up.
eBay has a large, active userbase of collectors searching for cards. If you price cards competitively, they can sell quickly on eBay. Be sure to thoroughly describe the card condition, year, player, etc.
For valuable, rare cards over $100-200, eBay might not get the highest price possible since fees eat into profit. For common/uncommon cards, eBay provides good exposure and the potential for a quick sale.
When listing, take excellent photos showing all card surfaces clearly. Ship cards safely in semi-rigid toploaders or sleeves within a thicker envelope or box. Provide good buyer communication.
Consider offering returns for less than $50 sales to build buyer confidence but require returns on more expensive cards to deter speculative bids.
Sportlots – Sportlots is a marketplace specifically for sports memorabilia like cards. Selling on Sportlots:
Insertion/final value fees are lower than eBay at 8% with a monthly fee if items don’t sell. Buyer/seller protection is provided on transactions.
Traffic and number of users is lower than eBay so selling times may be longer unless you price cards very competitively to grab attention.
They do specialize in sports memorabilia so buyers should be more serious collectors than on eBay. Photos and descriptions are very important.
Consider using their consignment program – Sportlots handles the sale and takes a higher commission (20-25%) but you avoid fees and can get advice on pricing rare items.
Payments are processed through the site for protection on both sides of the transaction. Shipping remains the seller’s responsibility.
Twitter – Many collectors and buyers actively seek out cards on Twitter using hashtags like #sportscardsales. To sell on Twitter:
Create inventory posts with high quality photos showing cards clearly. Provide your asking price and ways to contact you (email, phone).
Engage with others in sports card conversations and build your followers. Respond to any questions about your posts.
Potential buyers will direct message you to discuss negotiations, payment methods and shipping. Only ship once payment is received through a secure method like PayPal.
Selling on Twitter is best for moving mid-range cards $20-1000 quickly as collectors browse feeds daily. Use it to supplement listings on marketplace sites.
Collectors store/forums – Consider contacting local collectibles shops, card stores or joining forums/groups related to your sport. Some stores will:
Take cards on consignment and display/promote them in their physical store or website to reach customers in their area. Rates may be 15-30%.
Card forums allow you to create a “FS” (for sale) post with photos and details, pricing and your contact info. Interact with others to keep your listings visible.
Selling to a shop or individual collectors through forums/groups ensures the cards go to serious buyers. The overall reach may be less than sites like eBay.
EBay provides the largest auction marketplace but also fees that eat into profit margins. For rare cards especially, using seller tools on Sportlots, networking on Twitter or forums, and consignment through local shops can help maximize prices. Photographs and description quality are equally important across all sites to get buyers’ attention and closed sales.