Online Marketplaces:
eBay – eBay is one of the largest and most popular sites to sell sports cards online. They have a huge user base of buyers looking for cards. As the biggest platform, eBay gives you access to the most potential customers. Listing on eBay is free, though you will have to pay seller and listing fees for each sale. Photos and detailed descriptions are important to get top dollar. You can set minimum prices or use an auction format.
Comc.com – ComicConnect.com (COMC) is a major online marketplace focused specifically on collectibles like cards. They have a large database of prices to help value cards. You send your cards to COMC to have them graded and authenticated if applicable, then they list and store the cards for you. They take a cut of each sale but handle the transactions. This reduces risk of scams or issues compared to individual sales.
130point.com – 130point.com bills itself as the largest peer-to-peer sports marketplace. Similar listing features to eBay but targeting the sports collecting audience. Lower fees make it appealing for individual card sales.
Buy/Sell Groups on Facebook:
Sports collecting communities have many active buy/sell/trade groups on Facebook. The largest, like Sportscardforum Marketplace or Baseball Card Exchange have hundreds of thousands of members. These groups allow individuals to post photos of individual cards or full collections for sale. Buyers often prefer to purchase directly from collectors rather than stores. You’ll need to negotiate shipping and payments yourself though.
Direct to Local Stores:
Local comic book, collectibles and card shops often buy collections and individual high-value cards directly. Stopping in with a shoebox of cards may yield quicker cash than online sales. Stores are familiar with current market values and demand for local teams or players. You won’t get top recent eBay prices usually but no fees and immediate payment. Call ahead to check store policies and purchase limits.
Card Shows:
Regional hobby shops, stadiums and convention centers host weekend card shows bringing together hundreds of vendors, dealers and collectors. You can peruse tables for singles, meet collectors and get a sense of current prices. With a box of organized cards, you can try hawking them table to table to find the right buyer. Brining a small inventory makes it worth the time and entrance fees. Networking is key for future buyers too.
Online Grading & Consignment:
Professional grading companies like PSA, BGS, and SGC don’t buy cards outright but offer consignment services. They’ll grade and authenticate desirable vintage orstar rookie cards for a fee. Then include the now-slabbed card in their online auctions getting top recent sale prices. With options for minimum auction prices, you reach far more qualified buyers than small individual sales. But it involves upfront costs and waiting periods that aren’t viable for common bulk cards.
For a large collection or higher end individual cards – consignment, eBay, Facebook groups and card shows provide highest potential returns. Local stores are best for quicker bulk unloading of common cards. Research is needed to understand market values and platform/service fees to make the most profitable choice. With the right presentation and research, motivated sellers have many good outlets available.
