Disclaimer: This post reflects my personal research and opinions on sports card marketplaces and payment fees. I am not affiliated with or sponsored by any of the platforms mentioned. Fees and policies are subject to change, so always verify directly with the marketplace before making a purchase. This is not financial advice—do your own research before making financial decisions.

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Introduction

When buying sports cards online, I would prefer to use a credit card because of its convenience, purchase protection, and ability to earn rewards. However, on some platforms, I choose to pay directly from my bank account instead due to high credit card fees.

This article breaks down how eBay, Fanatics Collect, and Arena Club handle credit card payments, how their fees compare to ACH/bank transfers, and when paying with a bank account is the smart decision.

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eBay: No Credit Card Fee

One major advantage of buying on eBay is that there are no extra fees for using a credit card.

Recommendation: Always pay with a credit card on eBay, assuming that you pay your card off in time to not accrue interest. It is easy to find credit cards nowadays that offer 2% cash back on all purchases, which can be significant depending on much you spend on eBay.

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Fanatics Collect: 2.9% Credit Card Fee vs. Free Bank Payments

Fanatics Collect charges a 2.9% fee when using a credit card, but no fees when using a bank account (ACH transfer). This makes credit card payments a much more expensive option, especially for higher-value purchases.

Recommendation: If we assume that an average credit card gets 2% cash back, this means that you are paying 0.9% for every purchase on Fanatics Collect (2.9% fee minus 2% cash back). Unless you have a credit card offering 3%+ cash back (which is rare) or highly prioritize the convenience and protection purchase of a credit card, using a bank account is generally the smarter choice to avoid fees.

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Arena Club: 2.9% + $0.30 Credit Card Fee vs. 0.8% ACH Fee (Capped at $5)

Arena Club has a 2.9% + $0.30 fee for credit card purchases, but they also charge a 0.8% ACH fee capped at $5 per transaction.

Recommendation: If we assume that an average credit card gets 2% cash back, this means that you are paying a bit over 0.9% for every purchase (including the $0.30 fee) on Arena Club. Unlike Fanatics Collect though, there is also an ACH fee of 0.8%. While it is technically “cheaper” to pay with ACH, there is an argument to be made that in some cases it would be better to pay with a credit card.

Once the price exceeds $625 though, ACH becomes the clear better option since the fee is capped at $5, while credit card fees continue to scale up. For these types of purchases, ACH is likely the better option unless you value the convenience and purchase protection of using a credit card.

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Credit Card vs. ACH Fee Comparison Table

The table below shows how much extra you’ll pay when using a credit card vs. ACH/bank transfer at different price points.

Price	eBay (Credit Card)	Fanatics Collect (Credit Card 2.9%)	Fanatics Collect (Bank Transfer)	Arena Club (Credit Card 2.9%)	Arena Club (ACH 0.8%, max $5)
$10	No extra fee	$0.29	No extra fee	$0.59	$0.08
$100	No extra fee	$2.90	No extra fee	$3.20	$0.80
$500	No extra fee	$14.50	No extra fee	$14.80	$4
$1,000	No extra fee	$29	No extra fee	$29.30	$5
$5,000	No extra fee	$145	No extra fee	$145.30	$5
$10,000	No extra fee	$290	No extra fee	$290.30	$5

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Final Thoughts

If you’re using a credit card to buy sports cards, it’s important to understand where it does and doesn’t make financial sense.

• eBay is the best place to use a credit card, since there are no extra buyer fees.
• Fanatics Collect and Arena Club both charge a 2.9% credit card fee, which can quickly add up—making ACH/bank payments the smarter choice, especially for larger purchases.
• Arena Club’s ACH fee (0.8% with a $5 cap) makes it a far better option than a credit card once you’re spending over $625.

While fees shouldn’t be the only factor in choosing a marketplace, eBay’s lack of credit card fees gives it a meaningful advantage —especially when comparing similar listings across platforms.