Need advice on selling raw cards on ebay

Ichiro51fan

Up until now, I have sold almost exclusively PSA-slabbed cards with relatively decent success. However, I am getting to the point where a lot of my remaining collection is probably not worth grading (ie: a lot of cards between $1 and $10 value). My question is, what are your top suggestions for how to go about doing this.

Things I already plan on doing:

- for vintage baseball ('58-'80) I plan on scanning at least the front and possibly the back for some cards
- will be posting larger photobucket photos of these cards in my auctions so customer can see good detail of cards.
- for more recent cards (81-90), I will probably group together by player and sell as lots. May scan and post pic of key cards only, but not all.

Some of my biggest questions:

- I usually scan cards that are either slabbed or in card savers. For raw, should I scan them naked (with no protection? This is what I've seen a lot, probably because it's sometimes hard to see corners and edges well if card is in card saver. If yes, how do you avoid damaging cards when taking them off the scanner bed?

- I usually start my PSA auctions at .99 cents because I know there will be enough demand to drive the price up. I am a bit hesitant to do that with these cards though because I have a feeling the demand will be less than for PSA. Should I still list at .99 cents and just take my chances?

- Finally, should I provide an estimate for what condition the card is in? I'm really hesitant to do this in relation to the PSA scale because I don't think that I am expert enough to judge that well. However, I'm not sure making no mention of percieved condition is the right answer either. Can I get away with just saying "See scans", assuming they are nice, big, clear scans? Or do I need to make some attempt at assessing condition?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

JeremyDie1

Yes take cards out of the sleeves. Much easier to see card. Use tongs to pick them up from the scanner bed. You should give a grade based on your opinion.I would not give it a numeric grade though. If the card looks mint, alot people say nr mint to mint. Just be honest of condition and try to describe it to the best of your ability.Leave the part out of I'am not a professional grader. I think everybody assumes that already. If there are flaws try to describe them. Creases,bent corners,photo specs,centering,etc. Good luck!!

lostdart58

I recently started selling off my raw '59 Topps set. Sold almost 200 raw cards. Many buyers have had high praise in their feedback left for my "grading and description"....not one complaint.

I keep it simple and to the point: For example here is a description from a recent auction:


SET BREAK 1959 TOPPS #264 CHICO CARRASQUEL

This card grades EX-NM

Unless noted all cards are crease, wrinkle and mark free.

ALL CARDS GRADE TO PSA STANDARDS WITHOUT REGARD TO CENTERING


See scan for centering.

Link to auction

lostdart58

tongs on the scanner bed??

....and don't forget when you use the tongs to be wearing rubber gloves and a surgical mask.

Ichiro51fan

lol... I do work for Intel. Maybe I should take them into a clean-room and wear a bunny-suit

JeremyDie1

I only said tongs because he seemed paranoid. Hey I'am a coin guy,and we use tongs.

BobaFett72

you can also wear those cotton gloves the coin guys wear or slip a very very thin piece of paper under the card to flip it up (no need to use fingernails)