Few markets are as broad as the sports card market and as a result, knowing the best places to buy sports trading cards from can be a little tricky.
Whilst the days of popping into the local newsagent to pick up a pack of cards and stickers have long gone, there is still plenty of intrigue and suspense surrounding the sports card industry and they are now more accessible than ever before.
As with most commercial industries, the sports card trading market has moved heavily online, with the way in which people buy products becoming more accessible and convenient by the day.
Not all markets have enjoyed the transition to the online marketplace but sports card have certainly been a beneficiary, with more cards, sellers and buyers than ever before able to connect instantly.
However, this boom in the market has also brought about a huge number of different platforms, from which sports cards can be traded and not using reputable sports card trading services can have disastrous effects.
Issues such as wholesale forgeries, overpricing and undelivered cards are all common within the sports card marketplace but they are not explicit and a relatively small bit of research into the sports trading card marketplace can hugely assist sellers when they are looking to buy from genuine retailers.
Here is a rundown of some of the best places to buy sports cards:
1. eBay
Although it is by no means a new player on the sports trading card market, eBay remains the go-to place for most buyers and sellers when it comes to sports cards.
The USP for eBay on the market is the sheer volume of cards available to buyers, making it more convenient than ever for users to move their cards around.
In addition, eBay doesn’t discriminate against the budget of the user, with a range of cards available at every collectors disposal, making it a real vortex for those chasing sports trading card bargains.
eBay also dominates the marketplace when it comes to the flexibility of options it gives to buyers, making it easy for all those looking to buy cards through eBay to negotiate with the seller and it presents a real guarantee for a buyer, should the product not reach the selling standards required.
Users can also opt to engage in the infamous eBay auction when looking to buy their sports cards through eBay, adding to the potential to pick up bargains or they can make the plunge and purchase their chosen card through the ‘Buy it Now’ feature.
Whichever option the buyer goes for, eBay look to protect the rights of every buyer and for sports card purchasing, that is somewhat of a godsend.
2. Amazon
Amazon were a bit late to the party when it comes to sports trading cards, but they have lifted their game in 2022 and they now have a solid range of cards to buy.
The main benefit of Amazon is their fast postage, so if you need your cards in a hurry – Amazon is an excellent choice.
However, just don’t expect to find any rare and valuable singles for sale. The range of sports card singles is limited on Amazon and they are currently on the lower end of the market – but we expect this to change fairly quickly.
3. ComC
Finding a platform that is both reliable and informed can be a real struggle for buyers within any industry but ComC bucks the trend in the sports card trading market.
Statistical analysis of the card in question is the USP for ComC, who present detailed such as the sales history, price checking for similar cards and multiple buying options, making it a real haven for sports card collectors.
There are some limitations with ComC, principally being the lack of lower value sports cards currently available on the platform but for collectors with higher financial aspirations, ComC is a vortex of opportunity.
4. Facebook
The pitfalls of buying any product through Facebook are instantly there for all to see and the horror stories associated with buying and selling through the Facebook marketplace have been well documented but in the sports trading card world, it is a viable option for most levels of collector.
First and foremost, whilst the sports trading card world is growing, it remains relatively small in the grand pantheon of markets available to users, meaning those who are looking to trade within it are generally pretty well informed.
In turn, this is hugely helpful for buyers, as it regulates many of the buying and selling prices available to users and the personal nature of Facebook, in many senses holds users to account in terms of over inflation of buying or selling price and any potential forgery issues on the sports trading card market.
Limitations of buying through Facebook are mainly found in the lack of hugely rare cards, a turn off for high end collectors, but as a resource to keep a collection ticking over, especially if collectors are releasing their collections in bulk, it is a great option at a collector’s disposal.
5. Box Breaks
Sports card breaks have become a big deal over the past few years for collectors, with the element of gambling proving to be hugely appealing for collectors, regardless of their current haul of cards.
Box breaks are sports card trading in a gambling format, where collectors buy in to a break and then get allocated a set of cards, should they happen to be released in the break.
Risk and reward dovetail here, as collectors can end up buying in to a break that gives them nothing they need, or they can stumble across a break that yields an incredible return.
Relinquishing control when sports card collecting is always a risk but for those chasing a bit of excitement within their sports card collecting, box breaks can be a viable option.
6. Hobby Shops
Hobby shops have long been a mecca for buyers and sellers in the sports trading card market and there remains a place for them on the market today.
As mentioned, being able to buy sports cards online has now become the way to go about things for most sellers but there is a burgeoning hobby shop industry available to buyers, which can often yield bigger profits if utilised correctly.
7. StarStock
One of the newest players on the game is StarStock – a specialist in the rookie sports trading card industry.
It is a very user friendly market place for buyers, as they look to move cards on for hefty prices, but it is emerging as an online selling platform, and it isn’t fully equipped for all collectors looking to pick up a bargain.
For buyers looking for investment cards however, StarStock has a proven track record, specialising in rookie card trading.
8. StockX
Having originally burst onto the scene in the sports apparel market, StockX now trade sports cards online and they are a decent option for buyers.
Being able to identify a card and directly negotiate with the seller is hugely appealing with StockX and their status within the sports trading card world is growing rapidly.