Considering Selling Baseball Card Collection – Best Options
BloodMan
Posts: 1,835 ✭✭✭✭✭
I am considering selling my baseball card collection. I posted images with some of my best examples.
High Res Front
High Res Back
What would be the best (most profitable) way to sell such a collection, Ebay, local dealer, card show, etc?
Would it be better to sell them raw or have them professionally graded? If so, what grading service?
Anyone care to comment on any specific cards?
Thanks in advance for the help.
High Res Front
High Res Back
What would be the best (most profitable) way to sell such a collection, Ebay, local dealer, card show, etc?
Would it be better to sell them raw or have them professionally graded? If so, what grading service?
Anyone care to comment on any specific cards?
Thanks in advance for the help.
0
Comments
Lee
on some of them; but, still worth the tiny money to get them
in a PSA holder, IMO.
The cards, mostly, look like they have been "enjoyed and
played with." That will keep the grades down. Still, some
relatively expensive stuff. They will not fund your retirement,
though.
eBay is the best "cheap venue." Stay out of "card shops,"
unless you will settle for a "song." Big card shows with lots
of retail traffic are great, but expensive to set up.
Grade 'em, throw 'em up on eBay, and price 'em at the
lowest price you will accept on the first go around. If you
do not get enough action, you can relist.
good luck !
storm
added: maybe not.. is that a giant stain?
<< <i>the payton looks worth grading...
added: maybe not.. is that a giant stain? >>
No stains on the Payton card, but a small crease below the chin on the Killebrew. Does that change anyone’s mind about that card.
I am surprised that nobody recommends grading the Mantle.
Storm is right about the card being enjoyed.
Thanks for the candid advice.
Minnie Minoso Master and Basic
1967 Topps PSA 8+
1960's Topps run Mega Set
"For me, playing baseball has been like a war and I was defending the uniform I wore, Every time I put on the uniform I respected it like the American flag. I wore it like I was representing every Latin country."--Minnie Minoso
If some-one want to do the math, figure the SMR's for the 3 key cards at what you think they would grade out at
ie: Killebrew PSA 5 (OC)
Mantle PSA 4
Payton PSA 6
Figure cost of getting them graded vs the $50-$75 they are worth each. Ungraded they would possibly sell slightly less, but you don't have to factor in the cost of grading. Just MHO
MY GOLD TYPE SET https://pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/complete-type-sets/gold-type-set-12-piece-circulation-strikes-1839-1933/publishedset/321940
grade the Killerbrew only..................( but I know nothing about the Payton)
The rest are best sold raw.......
1955 Bowman Raw complete with 90% Ex-NR or better
Now seeking 1949 Eureka Sportstamps...NM condition
Working on '78 Autographed set now 99.9% complete -
Working on '89 Topps autoed set now complete
<< <i>The Mantle is in such condition that you would lose the grading fee getting it graded...........you could probably get between $70- $90 raw on a good day but the same for a PSA 4.....
grade the Killerbrew only..................( but I know nothing about the Payton)
The rest are best sold raw....... >>
I agree with you lostdart about the Mantle raw, but if that grades a 4, I would be more than happy to give $70-$90 for it.
MY GOLD TYPE SET https://pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/complete-type-sets/gold-type-set-12-piece-circulation-strikes-1839-1933/publishedset/321940
Forget blocking him; find out where he lives and go punch him in the nuts. --WalterSobchak 9/12/12
Looking for Al Hrabosky and any OPC Dave Campbells (the ESPN guy)
are you already a PSA member? (or GAI or SGC?)
how much did you buy these cards?
are you willing to take the time to sell these cards one by one?
answering the above questions will help you determine how you should go about selling these cards. If you're already a PSA member (SGC or GAI), then grading is definitely something you should consider....grading of your star cards (kilebrew, mantle and payton in your scans) and cards that could possibly net you a 7 or above). If you dont have PSA/SGC/GAI membership, then grading shouldnt be something to consider given the membership fees and the fact that you're selling off your collection and will never use grading again. Having someone send the cards to PSA for you is an option you might consider. if you do this, make sure you clearly understand how much they are charging you for sending in your cards. i know some dealers who charge insane prices.
Do some research on the cards you are selling....mainly and especially the cards you consider to be your best. Determine how much profit you will make when selling these raw vs graded. Since these cards are not especially rare (relative to pre war), you have a good amount of data on ebay (past 30 days of auction should net you at least a dozen data points, if not more). If you bought these cards a long time ago, you are bound to make a good profit even if you sold these raw. If you bought these cards recently, then you may want to consider grading to increase profit. looking at only the past 30 days of sales isnt the most ideal way to gauge the market value of your cards...but, it's the best you have available.
just looking at the scans, none of these cards are a worthwhile sell on big auction houses. your only route is selling through ebay. sell as a collection vs. one by one? most collectors will say to sell one by one. and i have to agree. BUT, if you're not willing to spend the time to list these cards individually on ebay, sell it as a collection and take some loss on your potential profit. One route may be to sell just your top cards individually...and then sell the rest as a collection.
hope this helps.
This might not be an option, but I think it's your best avenue - Simply keep the cards and enjoy them. There's a nice cross section of years and HOFers, but card grading really killed the value on this type of lot. Grading the cards is going to seriously cut into any money you might take in and the cards won't sell unless authenticated. Keep the cards in sleeves and share them with kids, grandkids, friends' kids, etc... There's an overabundance of these examples in mid-grade and they're going to get lost on Ebay. You could take them to a flea market and see what happens, but entering a dealer's shop is death. he'll pay you 25% of their value. Maybe you can barter with someone else holding an object you are looking for?
However, if you are set on selling the cards, you always do better selling individually rather than as a group. See if a friend has an Ebay account with decent feedback. This will lend some credibility and start the cards at a low reserve. Any money picked up should be considered a "good" sale. This type of material falls through the cracks and top guys like Fritsch and Kit Young have warehouses teeming with like examples.
Best of luck,
JLC
"I have one word for you, Ben... Spastics. Got it? Good. Enough said."
I am a member of PCGS, the coin grading service. Does this allow me to submit cards for PSA grading or is a separate membership required?
I'll chime in too and say you might want to get the Killebrew graded (though the crease does give me some pause) and the Mantle, because its Mantle. The others are too much off-grade to bother with the cost of grading. I would say sell all individually on eBay, and though it may seem a pain, have oversized and well-detailed scans of each. This will go far in communicating to the eBay buyer you're not interested in anything but a completely honest description, and it may discourage any "unhappy returns" because "i didn't see this or that", etc.
Good luck!