This chapter will take you through the different options for buying single cards and their pros & cons.
Where to buy baseball cards
Best place to sell sports cards
Sell sports cards near me
Where can I sell sports cards near me?
Where can I buy baseball cards?
Where can you buy baseball cards?
There’s many options when it comes to buying sports cards ‘singles’ (an individual card) - each with their own pros and cons. In this section we’ll go through each option so you can decide what’s right for you.
eBay
I’d be shocked if you hadn’t heard of this one… but eBay has the largest range of sports cards and sport card products for sale.
Pros
Largest range of sports cards and products for sale.
Can buy cards from anywhere at any time.
Feedback system allows you to vet sellers.
eBay support can assist in dispute resolution.
Promotions and discount codes to make purchases cheaper.
Some purchases are covered under eBay’s authenticity guarantee.
Partnerships with other platforms - COMC, Goldin auctions.
Cons
Purchases sent via post - it’s possible they may be lost in transit.
Facebook & Instagram
I’d be surprised if you hadn’t heard of these ones either, but Facebook and Instagram allow buyers to connect with sellers.
Facebook specifically is a great place to buy cards - specifically in sports card related Facebook groups and on Facebook marketplace.
Pros
Large range of cards available for sale.
Some cards will be cheaper as there are no fees associated with purchasing and/or selling.
Cons
No protection from the platform (Facebook or Instagram) for purchases.
Purchases sent via post - it’s possible they may be lost in transit.
Local card shops (LCS)
A local card shop or LCS is a traditional brick-and-mortar retail establishment. It is common for LCS’ to carry both single cards and sealed products for sale. You may also find fellow collectors trying to sell/trade their cards.
Pros
In-person deals eliminate the risk of cards being lost in transit.
Can inspect cards in-person before buying.
Can bundle various cards together to get better deals - the more you buy, the cheaper the price per card.
Cons
More difficult to keep track of what you purchase.
Smaller availability of products for sale compared to online marketplaces.
Live selling platforms - Whatnot and Fanatics Live
Live selling platforms allow sellers to sell cards and products on a live stream. Viewers of the live stream are able to bid on items in an auction style format. Live selling platforms are more interactive than typical online marketplaces - allowing viewers to ask questions and interact with the seller on the live stream.
The main two live selling platforms are Whatnot and Fanatics Live.
Pros
Offer credit for first time users.
More interactive than other online marketplace platforms.
Live selling platforms can assist in dispute resolution.
Cons
More prone to impulse purchases or paying a higher price for an item.
Only able to bid on one item at a time on a live stream.
Card Hobby
Card Hobby is similar to eBay - it’s a marketplace to connect buyers and sellers - however it is based in China.
As Card Hobby is a marketplace platform based in China - shipping costs can begin to add up for packages being shipped outside of China. Card Hobby offers a personal warehouse space where your cards are stored until you are ready to ship them to yourself - allowing you to ship multiple purchases at once to save on shipping.
Pros
Access to many cards not available on other platforms.
Personalized warehouse space to hold purchases - allowing you to save on shipping costs.
Card Hobby support can assist in issue resolution.
Cons
Platform can be difficult to navigate as it’s a Chinese marketplace.
Processing times for shipment requests (requests to ship cards from your personal warehouse to you) adds additional time to receive your cards.
COMC (Check Out My Cards)
COMC is a marketplace platform located in the United States. COMC is a consignment service - meaning sellers ship their cards to COMC, COMC will log the cards into their system and sellers can then list cards for sale on COMC. Similar to Card Hobby, COMC offers a personalized warehouse space for your purchases until you are ready to ship them to yourself.
Pros
All cards listed on COMC are in possession of COMC - reducing the risk of purchasing cards.
Personalized warehouse space to hold purchases - allowing you to save on shipping costs.
COMC support can assist in issue resolution - including a Live Chat service.
Cons
Processing times for shipment requests (requests to ship cards from your personal warehouse to you) adds additional time to receive your cards.
Auction houses - Goldin, PWCC, Heritage Auctions
Auction houses facilitate the buying and selling of trading cards through auctions. Auction houses normally specialize in more expensive cards and products.
Access to high-end cards and products not available on other platforms.
The auction house (should) have the item prior to it being listed - reducing the risk of buying.
Cons
Some auction houses will charge a buyers premium - a fee for purchasing an item through their service.
Mercari
Mercari is a Japanese marketplace similar to eBay.
Pros
Access to many cards not available on other platforms.
Cons
Platform can be difficult to navigate as it’s a Japanese marketplace.
Trading card shows
Trading card shows were the original way for collectors to scratch that itch… an old fashioned in-person event where dealers (sellers) will set up to sell cards and products.
Trading card shows also allow you to trade with other collectors who also attend the show.
Pros
In-person deals eliminate the risk of cards being lost in transit.
Can inspect cards in-person before buying.
Can bundle various cards together to get better deals - the more you buy, the cheaper the price per card.
Cons
More difficult to keep track of what you purchase.
Card shows can be crowded and are generally less convenient than buying online.
Some card shows will charge an admission fee to attend.
Beckett Marketplace
Marketplace site operated by BGS (Beckett Grading Services) allowing users to buy and sell cards to one another. The Beckett marketplace is similar to eBay - there is no personal warehouse space to store your purchases.
