Online Marketplaces:
eBay – eBay is one of the largest online marketplaces and is a great place to both buy and sell individual cards or complete sets. There is a huge volume of activity on eBay every day for baseball cards of all eras and levels of interest. Buying through eBay provides access to a huge inventory from sellers around the world, and selling allows you to potentially get top dollar by auctioning cards off to the widest possible audience. The fees are reasonable.
-COMC (Cardboard Connection) – COMC is an online marketplace that specializes exclusively in trading cards like baseball cards. Sellers provide scanned, graded images of each card so buyers know exactly what they are getting. COMC charges monthly or annual membership fees for sellers but takes a smaller cut of final sales than eBay. It can be a good choice for larger collections.
Local Card Shops:
Almost every city with significant interest in baseball cards will have one or more local card shops that specialize in buying and selling cards. These tend to be smaller, independently owned shops that cater more to collectors in their region. The advantage is being able to physically examine cards in person before buying. Shop owners also tend to have deep knowledge of the regional market and what certain cards are worth. Inventory selection may be limited compared to online options.
Conventions & Expos:
Major card shows, conventions, and expos are scheduled throughout the year, usually in different cities. These multi-day events gather hundreds of vendors together in one place to buy, sell, and trade cards. It’s an opportunity to find cards you may not see listed anywhere else due to the sheer number and variety of sellers present. It does require traveling to the show location.
Directly from Other Collectors:
-Platforms like Twitter and specialty collector forums online have active communities always looking to buy or sell cards among their members. There are also local collector clubs or Facebook groups in many cities specifically for this purpose. Selling directly lets you avoid marketplace or shop fees but may involve more legwork to find interested buyers on an individual basis.
In Person at Sport Card/Memorabilia Shops:
Local shops dedicated just to new and used sport collectibles like jerseys, autographed items, etc. in addition to cards are another option, especially for high-end rare cards. They often pay well for extraordinarily valuable vintage cards due to the appeal to their clientele. But again, selection depends on whatever inventory they happen to have in stock at a given time.
Auctions:
Reputable auction houses that regularly sell collectibles will periodically hold live and online auctions featuring selections of baseball cards up for bid. High-profile auctions offer a special viewing experience and means to sell one-of-a-kind reserve collection items before a broader audience than a local shop. But you’ll pay an auction commission/buyer’s premium on top of the final sale price.
Regardless of where cards are bought or sold, it’s always recommended to thoroughly research latest prices, closely examine condition details in photos/person, understand return/refund policies, and confirm authenticity for rare/valuable pieces. With diligence, any of these common marketplace options provide viable ways for collectors to steadily build/liquidate their holdings over time. Knowledgeable sellers can maximize profits, while careful buyers find hidden gems within their budgets.
