The 7 Best Ways to Sell Sports Cards Locally

It could be a lucky find, a recent inheritance, or unearthing an old box from your childhood in your attic. Whatever the case, you’ve likely found yourself possessing a handful of vintage sports cards. You’ve seen the headlines boasting huge payouts, and you’re thinking to yourself, “Is there anyone who buys sports cards near me?”

Luckily, there are plenty of options available to help you find interested buyers in your neighborhood. Read on to learn the best ways to sell sports cards near you and cash in on your collection.

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Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist Are Easy and Free to Use

Use Facebook or Meetup.com to Find a Local Collector Group

eBay and Mercari Provide Online Payment Tools for Selling Locally

Check If Your Local Sports Card Shops Are Buying

Fans Flock to Events and Conventions

Swap Meets and Flea Markets Draw an Eclectic Crowd of Collectors

Don’t Discount the Good, Old Fashioned Yard Sale

Before You Commit To Selling Locally, Check Out Our Fractional Market

Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist Are Easy and Free to Use

When researching where to sell sports cards near you, it’s important to meet people where they’re most likely to browse, and online classifieds like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist (and Kijiji, if you live in Canada) are still some of the most convenient ways to list your sports cards.

Each platform has its specific quirks, but getting your cards listed is usually as easy as creating an account, finding an appropriate category, taking photos of your cards, writing up a few details, and setting your listing live. Other users will then contact you to negotiate a price and agree upon a way to meet up.

These platforms' open nature makes it easy to find out who buys sports cards near you, but it also comes with a few caveats. Be wary of scammers and exercise your best judgment when agreeing to a sale — if a potential buyer is setting off internal alarm bells, it’s best to walk away before progressing further. Many sellers opt to meet during business hours in public areas, like busy parking lots or in front of police stations, to minimize the risk of robbery.

eBay and Mercari Provide Online Payment Tools for Selling Locally

If you’re comfortable with a more online approach to selling your cards and want to avoid the hassle of dealing with classified ads, eBay’s marketplace is surprisingly the best way to sell sports cards locally, along with up-and-comer Mercari. Each of these typically delivery-only platforms has expanded its purchasing options to include local pick-up.

For eBay, all you need to do when creating your listing is to set “No shipping: Local pickup only” and provide a ZIP code. eBay can even handle payment through PayPal, so you don’t need to worry about dealing with cash, and scanning a QR code with the eBay app will prove that the exchange took place. Mercari provides a similar service and has even partnered with Uber and FedEx to pick your sports cards up and deliver them on the same day.

The cost for this convenience and access to a massive user base comes from a final sale fee. Still, these platforms usually provide seller protection against fraudulent purchases and other issues, which is especially handy when dealing with high-value collectibles.

Check If Your Local Sports Card Shops Are Buying

Finding people who buy sports cards near you is easier when you go right to the source. Independent hobby, collectible, and sports card shops appraise, buy, and re-sell sports cards, and chances are there’s one in your neighborhood that’s more than happy to take them off your hands. You likely won’t make as much money as you would by selling them yourself. Still, a professional can take out the hassle of offloading your collection without worrying about getting mugged during a classified ad meetup.

Visit sites like Beckett to find interactive store locators, filtering results by address, shop type, ratings, and more.

Fans Flock to Events and Conventions

If you’re looking for a larger gathering, check and see if any sports card or collectibles events or conventions are heading to your town. Many local or national shops will set up booths offering appraisal and buying services right on the convention floor. Or, if you have a larger stock of cards you want to sell, consider registering for your own booth space.

Beckett keeps a constantly-updated list of upcoming shows in the United States available on its website to stay on top of anything coming your way soon.

Swap Meets and Flea Markets Draw an Eclectic Crowd of Collectors

You can find pretty much anything at a flea market if you look hard enough, including sports cards. Contact your local swap meet and see what it takes to set up a table or store your wares (usually a small fee), and set up shop among vinyl, antique furniture, and other collectibles and knickknacks. Fleamarketmalls.com is a great resource for finding out where to sell sports cards near you and provides important contact information to start selling right away.

Don’t Discount the Good, Old Fashioned Yard Sale

These days, you can still pull a pretty sizable crowd with a well-advertised yard sale. Contact your local newspaper or put out an ad on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace to let people know what you’re going to have and when it’s taking place. Open up at the crack of dawn and watch the buyers roll in.

Before You Commit To Selling Locally, Check Out Our Fractional Market

Whether you have endless local options or live in a trading card desert, you can get instant access to an exciting new way to sell your cards. Dibbs can transform your physical sports card collection into fractionalized assets, allowing collectors worldwide an opportunity to own a piece of their favorite sports legends.