Selling Pokemon Cards On Ebay The Haul
My wife was at one particular yard sale with a couple Pokemon young reader books for sale. My son had a quick look at them, and they decided to buy them. Shortly thereafter, the man at the yard sale pulled my wife to the side. Would you be interested in buying this box full of Pokemon cards? he asked. He didnt want to offer her the box where my son could hear. He was going to give her an entire adult sized shoe box full of Pokemon trading cards for only $5! My wife decided to buy them because she knows how much he likes Pokemon.
Best Places To Sell Pokemon Cards For Money
With a huge following and a large number of card species, there is bound to be a huge market for Pokemon cards where some rare first edition cards can be worth over 100 thousand dollars.. The cards number: Believe it or not, some Pokemon cards are just worth more because of the number on the card.. The cards condition: Cards in pristine condition will always be worth more than cards that have been played with and have visible wear and tear.. This includes everything from the set the card is from, to the condition of the card, and how many you have of that particular card.. Basically, there are Pokemon cards that have a code on them and if you havent redeemed those cards online, you can still sell them on a place like Card Cavern.. Card Cavern also has a very user-friendly system where you can sell individual cards on top of code cards and other special edition Pokemon packs.. Decide where to sell your cards: Once youve priced your cards, its time to decide where to sell them.. Price your cards competitively: When pricing your cards, be sure to check out what similar cards are selling for.. The value of a Pokemon card depends on a number of factors, including the rarity of the card, the condition of the card and any special features or characteristics it might have.
First Edition Pokemon Cards Vs Holographic
Before you sell Pokemon cards on eBay, I want you to be aware of a few things. Well talk about what holographic cards are and what the first edition refers to.
1st Edition
In case you notice the 1st edition logo printed on it youve hit the jackpot. The card with this print came from the first pressing, which is why it is more valuable.
However, all print runs of Machamp, the main set, featured this logo. Even though some novices believe the opposite, that belief does not hold much weight.
Holographic
Do you have a shiny or, should I say, holographic card? This would mean its card makes, it more valuable and desirable in comparison to other cards.
Holographic cards are usually the rarest card in any set. In general, each pack only contains one rare and it isnt always holographic.
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Best Places To Sell Pokmon Cards For Real Cash
We all love our favorite characters from Pokémon, arent we? And the cards that depict our favorite cute little monsters are always a prized asset. But, do you know you can now even sell Pokémon cards and make a grand profit?
Yes, there are now several websites, apps, and even offline marketplaces are also available where you can sell or trade your favorite Pokémon cards and other collectibles. And most of these platforms offer official gradation and valuation as well!
But before we reveal all those tested ways to sell the cards and make a profit out of them, lets clear some basic doubts first!
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The Best Places To Sell Pokemon Cards
There are a few different places to check out in order to sell your pokemon cards online.
I highly recommend you begin your process of finding places to sell Pokemon cards by looking through your collection first to look for possible first edition or old cards that might be more valuable.
Next, separate out cards that are incredibly worn since these are unlikely to sell.
Once you have a pile of cards you think have some value, youre ready to find a place to sell your Pokemon cards!
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Even The Finest Scotch Is Bad When Shipping Cards
One of the most common practices when it comes to shipping cards is placing a piece of tape across the top of a top loader. This is meant to stop the card from slipping out. In theory, this is smart, but there are a couple of things to consider.
Scotch tape is what I see the most. Its what I used to use. However, its wasteful. When I receive a card for my personal collection, I dont want to have it stored with a big piece of tape on the top loader. When I go to peel the tape off, theres usually some goop left behind. Not only does it look bad, but it can lead to top loaders sticking together. Worse still is when Im able to get some of the tape off easily, but not all of it. Now theres a mix of goop, tape and stickiness.
I also get a lot of cards that have stronger packing tape across the top loader. This has the same issues as Scotch tape and more. Scotch taped top loaders is pretty easy to get into. Most of the time you just have to tear into it and it opens right up. Packing tape is different. I need a knife or scissors to open it. Theres a little added risk that the knife can slip and end up leaving a nasty nick in the top of the card.
Rather than using Scotch tape or packing tape, consider masking tape. Its plenty strong but when its peeled off, it doesnt leave a sticky residue. Its also easier to peel off.
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Ebay Will Verify The Authenticity Of Cards Over $750
Announced in a press release, eBay has now launched a verification system for trading cards, including “Pokemon” cards, to be used if an individual card is being sold for more than $750. This system was already in place for sneakers, watches, and handbags. This verification process currently applies to single ungraded cards, but “will expand to include graded, autograph and patch cards sold for $250+.” While this new system probably wouldn’t have saved Logan Paul , it does lower the risk of getting a fake card.
According to the press release, “Pokemon” card sales in the first half of 2021 were up 536% over the same period in 2020. “Our trading cards business has been growing for the past six years, and the recent surge speaks to the immense cultural significance of the category,” said VP of Collectibles, Electronics and Home at eBay Dawn Block.
Again, this system does not cover any boxed or packaged cards, so anyone looking to buy some “Pokemon” cards in bulk on eBay needs to be wary of shady sellers.
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How To Make Money Selling Pokemon Cards
Before we start, we must get a couple things out of the way. First off, the real money-makers right now are from the 1999 original Base Set. If you dont already have these cards tucked away from your childhood, getting your hands on these collectibles is next to impossible.
To put things into perspective, a booster box from that set can go for $34k all the way up to $375k . The truth is, these items are not only in extremely short supply, but investors worth millions have been snatching them up.
This guide will cover selling cards for new collectors, as well as those that may already have cards but arent sure what they are worth. Its important to keep expectations in check, and to understand that it takes a lot of work and research.
The Best Place To Sell Your Pokemon Cards Online: Ebay
The main marketplace is for sure going to be eBay, Pratte says. Even if youre someone who just stumbled upon your childhood collection, its really easy to take a couple of pictures make a decent listing.
Why eBay? Its home to several high-profile deals, and it also caters to the $20 and $30 transactions. In short, eBay is the perfect meeting ground for nostalgic buyers and sellers and those whove been wheeling and dealing Pokemon cards since the 90s.
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Ebay Launches Mandatory Card Authentication Service For Pokemon And Other Tcgs
eBay has announced a mandatory new authentication service for all ungraded trading cards sold on its platform. The service launches today in the United States.
When a buyer purchases a single ungraded card for over $750, the seller will be required to ship it to eBays authentication partners. This includes known grading companies like CGC. These third-party companies will check if the card is authentic and ensure it matches the condition in the listing.
Once the card is authenticated, they will put it in a special packaging along with a tamper-proof sticker and a QR code that links to its authentication history. The card will then be shipped to the buyer in discreet packaging and require a signature upon delivery. According to CGC, cards will arrive to buyers 7 to 10 days after the purchase is made.
If the cards condition or any other aspect of the card does not match the listing, the buyer will be refunded and the card will be returned to the seller. If the buyer ultimately returns the card, the card will be shipped back to the authenticators so they can verify its the same item that was sold. It will then be shipped back to the seller.
eBay has also announced they plan to do this for cards worth over $250 by mid-2022.
eBay also provided statistics about TCG growth on its platform, once again showing how the pandemic has increased overall interest in hobbies:
What Influences Pokemon Card Prices
Before we get into the best places to sell Pokemon cards, we have to go over how Pokemon cards are valued and what makes expensive cards have such ridiculous price tags.
Generally, Pokemon cards are influenced by a few different factors:
Each of these 4 factors can have a dramatic effect on the pricing of the cards, with condition being the overarching factor that can obviously destroy your chances of ever selling a card.
Condition is determined by a few things such as scratches, creases, wear, tear, and liquid damage. You can view a more detailed guide here.
Rarity is determined by the symbols and numbers displayed on the bottom right corner of the card or the bottom right corner of the picture .
Circles or diamonds arent worth much, while stars and first edition symbols can be very rare.
Edition is determined by special types of cards that were made as part of a unique set. First edition cards are amongst the rarest Pokemon cards in the world.
Overall demand is pretty self-explanatory. If there is an abundance of a specific card, then it obviously wont be worth much. This somewhat ties in with the rarity of the card.
Ultimately, the goal is to find Pokemon cards that are first edition, rare, and have the highest grade possible: PSA 10 Mint, which basically means its a card that went straight from pack opening into a protective sleeve and has never been handled.
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Practice Safe Shipping Use Some Protection
You would think that itd be obvious that even the newest collector shipping cards for the first time would think to use some sort of protection on their cards. Yet, there have been a few times where Ive received cards that are simply tossed in an envelope and left to the graces of the postal gods. And while these cards have made it to me, they often show signs of a long, tough journey.
Without something as basic as a penny sleeve and a top loader, youre leaving yourself open to easy damage and unhappy buyers and trading partners.
What Factors Determine The Worth Of A Pokmon Card
Before you know how to sell Pokémon cards online, you need to know how to evaluate your card to sell at the right price.
Otherwise, it is possible that you may get a rate much below the industry standard! And there are three primary parameters.
- Type: While standard Pokémon cards fetch a lower rate, holographic and special-edition cards are extremely expensive.
- Availability: Scarcity makes anything valuable, such as the original base set from 1999. A complete set of that deck can fetch as much as $10k.
- Condition: Mint or near-mint conditioner cards fetch the best value. It is even better if you have the outer package intact.
Besides these three, several other factors, such as the version, origin, and color grading, can also be crucial factors to determine the actual worth of these cards.
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Become Familiar With Promotional Methods
Platforms like Mercari and eBay have robust seller tools for getting extra exposure on your listings, often for a very reasonable cut. If youre flipping cards, it may be of interest to offload quickly as market conditions are changing.
Sometimes its better to take less profit than holding and taking a loss, especially if you have cash flow concerns. Furthermore, Mercari even has free promotional options that enhance exposure without them getting a hand on the final sale price. Take advantage of any option you can find that gets your listings in front of more relevant buyers.
Other Places To Sell Your Pokemon Cards
- Cardmarket: a German-based online marketplace that caters to trading-card-game hobbyists.
- Troll and Toad: a hub for all things gaming-related, including video games, table-top games and trading-card games.
- TCGplayer: an e-commerce marketplace that allows stores and hobbyists alike to buy and sell trading cards.
- : a free tool connected to your Facebook profile that allows you to buy or sell almost any physical item locally.
- Local comic book or hobby shops: a great alternative to Facebook Marketplace if you want to buy or sell Pokemon cards without the hassle of shipping.
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Find The Set The Card Belongs To
If there is no logo on the right side, its Base. Every other set has an indicator.
When looking into what set a card belongs to, make sure to see if there is any logo on the right side, just underneath and to the right of the illustration. If there is no symbol, the likelihood is that its a Base set card.
There have been error cards that do not have a symbol, so make sure the year matches with the set.
Organize Your Card Collection
Buyers will always want as much detail about the cards as possible, including the set the card came from, its symbols , and the value. That means you will have to do a bit of organizational work.
Grab your box of Pokémon cards from under your bed and look through them to find the high-value cards: those with stars on the bottom right corner, are shadowless or have a holographic illustration. And if you have a card with three stars on it, protect it with your life, as that is a super rare card and could be worth loads of money.
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How Should You Tape The Cards
Use Painters Tape, not scotch tape
A common practice when shipping trading cards is using a piece of tape over the top loader.
Most resort to scotch tape.
While scotch tape does protect the card from slipping out.
It can ruin the top loader and the experience for the buyer.
See collectors dont enjoy having tape on the cards when storing them.
It doesnt look appealing & can cause many top loaders to stick together.
And when removing the tape, it leaves residue.
And can be a pain to remove.
Instead of scotch tape, use painters tape.
Its easy to remove
And there is no residue left behind.
Fold the Tape
To make removing the tape even easier for the buyer.
Fold the tape over so there is a small tab.
That way the buyer wont have to use a fingernail to remove the tape if it gets stuck.
Dont over use Tape
Everyone understands the need of protecting a card.
But please, do not overdo the tape on the card.
A buyer shouldnt need to use another tool to take the tape off.
So please make it easy and add the tab.
The worst thing to do is have a collector ruin the card because of overprotection.
The 7 Steps To Sell Pokmon Cards
When selling Pokémon cards, here are the main steps you should try to stick to.
Although theres no guarantee that every card will sell well, you can help a card sell with timing and perseverance.
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