Sport Cards Knoxville – This is widely considered one of the best stores in Knoxville for selling baseball cards and other sports cards. They have been in business for over 30 years and have built a strong reputation among collectors. Their knowledgeable staff can provide guidance on specific cards and current market values. They pay cash for collections on the spot. Selling to a store like this provides convenience and assurance that the cards are going to an experienced buyer. You likely will not get top dollar as the store needs to resell at a profit. They are located at 4019 Kingston Pike Ste A.
Card shows and conventions – Several times a year there are larger card shows and conventions that take place in the Knoxville area where you can set up a table as a dealer and directly sell cards to collectors. These events draw hundreds of buyers and sellers. They are great places to possibly get top dollar for rarer cards since serious collectors will be there looking to add to their collections. You need to invest in a dealer’s table, bring the cards to sell, and haggle with buyers on prices. Upcoming shows include the Knoxville Sports Card and Memorabilia Show in January and June at the Rothchild Conference Center.
Online marketplaces – Websites like eBay and Mercari provide opportunities to sell cards online to a large national or even global buyer base. You can list cards individually, in lots, or full collections. Taking good photos and providing thorough descriptions will help sell items. The benefit is access to many potential buyers. Downsides include paying transaction fees of 10-15%, shipping costs, and waiting for items to sell which could take weeks or months. You need experience taking/editing photos and listing items properly to maximize prices.
Local Facebook groups – Several local sports card trading and buying groups exist on Facebook where you can post photos of items you have for sale and potentially find local buyers. This keeps the transaction within the community and saves on shipping costs. The pool of buyers may not be as large as websites. You need to post engaging ads with visible photos and fair listing prices to attract initial interest. And still have to arrange secure payment and meet up for the handoff.
Store consignment – Some Knoxville card shops like All Star Sports Cards will take cards on consignment where they display and market the items for a set period of time with an agreed upon percentage of the final sale price going to the store as a commission, usually 30-50%. This frees you from directly selling but results in less money per card since the store takes a cut. It may still be a good option if large quantities don’t seem to be moving elsewhere after some time on your own for sale.
Local card shows, online marketplaces, Facebook groups and consignment through stores all provide viable supplemental options beyond just selling directly to a card shop, but each comes with their own costs and time commitments that require weighing against potential profits made. For any sizable baseball card collection, using a combination of local in-person and online nationwide exposure is often the best approach to maximize sales and income realized.
