Advice: Selling Sports Cards

[Danny]

I have quite a hefty sports card collection from when I was a kid growing up. Probably a by the book value of 25 grand or so. Of course, I wont get anywhere near even half of that, but I am looking to sell off what I can.

Back when I collected becket.com used to be really good for selling off cards, but their system seems to have changed a lot. So, basically, what are all the possible avenues I can pursue? And what would be your recommendation? Links to websites, auctions, and all advice is appreciated.

[Bee]

Ebay

[JonInMiddleGA]

I would second the eBay recommendation.

edit to add: With the caveat that you plan carefully how to break up the collection into lots so that you don't get killed on the seller's fees.

[timmyw3]

Depends on what you have and specifically what years. If it's post-1985, it's for the most part worthless and you'd be lucky to get 5 cents on the dollar. Pre-85, well pre-1980 anyway, you'd probably do pretty well through Ebay.

Another avenue is a site called Naxcom. But that would be if you wanted to list cards individually instead of selling them in lots.

[cubboyroy1826]

The biggest question as stated above is what era the cards are from and wha kind of condition they have been kept in.

[molson]

I did pretty well selling mine as a "collection" on ebay, highlighting some of the value cards, but not giving too much detail. People take the chance they'll get some kind of rare card or something. If you try to break it up too much, your cards will be scrutinzed much more closely for condition, ect.

[Arctus]

I've done a fair amount of sports card buying and selling on eBay.

I would recommend listing cards with low serial numbers and "game used" cards separately. These tend to sell from 25% to 125% of Beckett's high price. I would add football rookie cards and some baseball rookie cards in this category as well.

Everything else I would bundle as team lots (of 100 cards maybe?), and highlight the star players that are represented in the lot. You'll probably get 5% to 15% of high book value for these cards.

[Ksyrup]

I have some unopened Fleer packs with Ben McDonald rookie cards on the top. How much you wanna give me for them?

[rkmsuf]

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5682/ripkengd9.png

[Desnudo]

I'll give you my collection of Alf Pogs for that

[Ksyrup]

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5682/ripkengd9.png

It must really have killed him how much better Cal was than him.

[Hammer755]

I'll give you my collection of Alf Pogs for that

Remember Alf? He's back, in Pog form!

[Danny]

Unfortunately most of it is from the 1990-1997 time frame, though I do have some from the 60's and 70's. Some good advice so far, thanks guys.

[wade moore]

Unfortunately most of it is from the 1990-1997 time frame, though I do have some from the 60's and 70's. Some good advice so far, thanks guys.

Yeah, i went through my cards from the late 80's to early 90's and realized i might as well use them as kindling. Just glance at a becket in the bookstore and you'll see what I mean.

[Buccaneer]

The best thing to do with 80s and 90s cards is to donate them - you get more as a tax deduction than you could from selling them on ebay. I think 5-cents on the dollar is way too high (unless they are one of those shiny shit cards).

As far as the vintage stuff, if they are ungraded, you would get about 30% of book (at the condition) on ebay which for low-to-mid grades, would be very little. For example, I just sold a complete 1974 ungraded set a couple of weeks ago, with most of the cards in the EX-NM range, for only $150. I am in the process of selling my 1963 Topps graded partial set and doing pretty well. I have done about $30k worth of buying and selling in past couple of years - mostly on ebay and it certainly an art to it all. Good luck and let me know if I can help appraise the 60s and 70s cards.

[cuervo72]

Ack, if a 1974 set only went for that, I should be checking your store more. :)

(ok, I really don't need to be buying any right now...but that still sounds like a good price)

[Buccaneer]

Ack, if a 1974 set only went for that, I should be checking your store more. :)

(ok, I really don't need to be buying any right now...but that still sounds like a good price)

Well, I did present it very nicely as you can see here http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&item=330029995579&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESO%3AIT&rd=1

1970s cards have been falling in the past year or so and for a set like this, cards would have to grade at PSA 8 or higher just to be worth it. Unfortunately, I didn't have too many of those in this set I completed in the 80s because back then, I didn't know or cared much about condition.

I do have complete 1976 and 1977 sets available (just haven't gone through them yet), if you're interested. ;)