Disclaimer: This post reflects my personal experiences and opinions on buying and selling sports cards. This is not financial advice—always do your own research before making a purchase.
The Real Cost of Buying & Selling Cards
Many collectors focus heavily on what a card is “worth” based on recent eBay sales, but the true key to making money in sports cards isn’t just picking the right cards—it’s buying them at the right price. With all the fees involved in buying and selling (taxes, shipping, marketplace fees), even a seemingly good deal might not actually be profitable.
This article breaks down why purchase price is the most critical factor, using my recent experience buying a LeBron James 2003-04 Topps Chrome PSA 8 as an example.
Case Study: LeBron James 2003 Topps Chrome PSA 8
I recently bought a LeBron James 2003-04 Topps Chrome PSA 8 for $675 on Arena Club ($680 after transaction fees). Recent sales on eBay have ranged from $645 to $770, putting $675 on the lower end.
However, if I wanted to sell this card today, here’s what I’d need to sell for just to break even:
- Selling on Arena Club: 10% seller fee → I’d need to sell for at least $756
- Selling on eBay: 13.25% fee + $0.30 per transaction + $5 shipping (estimated) → I’d need to sell for at least $785
Even though I bought at a seemingly good price, I’d either need to sell at the higher end of comps or wait for the card to appreciate significantly to make a profit.
Why Short-Term Flips Are Especially Hard
For collectors looking to flip cards quickly, seller fees make buying at the right price even more critical. If you’re trying to make a profit in the short term, you must:
- Find cards at a big discount, or cards that have the potential to appreciate significantly (much more than just a few percentage points)
For long-term holds, there’s more flexibility, but you still need to buy smart. High-end cards may appreciate if the market stays strong, but even then, the price you buy it for is the single biggest factor in determining potential future profits.
How to Buy at the Right Price
1. Set a Firm Maximum Price Before Bidding or Buying
Before making an offer, decide the absolute highest price you’re willing to pay. If a card goes above that, let it go—there will likely be more opportunities.
2. Lower Your Caps to Account for Fees
If you typically set your max bid based on comps, consider adjusting it down to leave room for selling costs. What seems like a small margin now can add up when it’s time to sell.
3. Be Selective About the Cards You Buy
Some cards rarely appear for sale; for these, you might have to pay a premium to secure them. But for widely available cards that sell often, there’s no reason to chase—just keep bidding at the right price until you land a good deal.
Final Thoughts: The Long-Term View
In my opinion, the current system of high marketplace fees and shipping costs isn’t sustainable. At some point, technology and logistics will likely improve and make it cheaper to sell cards. If sports cards go the same way as seemingly every other industry, as technology improves, the barrier to entry should get lower. Think of what happened in stock trading once Robinhood introduced zero commission trading, and major brokerages had no choice but to respond or risk losing customers. All it takes is for one new entrant to come up with a new model that reduces the current low double digit selling fees into the low-to-mid single digits, and it would be much easier to make selling cards. There is so much room for disruption, especially if the shipping problem can be solved (either with cheaper, more reliable shipping options, or with a solution like Arena Club using blockchain to transfer ownership of the card, but not the card itself). This is one reason I am bullish on sports cards long-term, but mostly focusing on buying cards that I am not trying to sell anytime soon.
What Do You Think?
Have you ever bought a card at what seemed like a good price, only to realize fees ate into your potential profit? Drop a comment and let me know—I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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