How to Sell Your Sports Cards or TCG Cards (and Get the Best Value)

Selling your sports cards or Pokémon/TCG cards can feel like a minefield. With so many platforms, fees, risks, and different buyer types, it’s hard to know which path actually puts the most money in your pocket — or keeps you safe from scams.

This guide breaks down the best ways to sell your cards, the pros and cons, the fees you need to expect, the risks you absolutely must know about, and where Urban Empire Collectables fits in if you want fast, safe, no-hassle selling.

1. Selling on eBay

eBay is the world’s biggest marketplace for sports cards, Pokémon singles, slabs, and sealed products.

Pros

  • Massive buyer pool.

  • Auction or Buy It Now options.

  • Excellent sold-comp history helps with pricing.

  • Great platform for high-end singles and slabs.

Cons

  • Fees:

    • eBay final value fee: ~13–15%

    • Payment processing: 2.9% + 30c

    • Shipping on top of that

  • Fraud risks:

    • “Item not received” claims

    • False “item damaged” complaints

    • Chargebacks that usually favour the buyer

  • Time-consuming to photograph, list, pack, and ship.

Best For:

Sellers chasing maximum value and willing to take on risk and workload.

2. Facebook Marketplace & Trading Groups

A quick, fee-free way to move cards.

Pros

  • No seller fees.

  • Quick local cash sales.

  • Great for bundles, bulk, or mid-tier singles.

Cons

  • High scam risk:

    • Fake payment screenshots

    • PayID reversals

    • “Card arrived damaged” lies

  • Time-wasters and no-shows.

  • No seller protection at all.

Best For:

Lower-value items and trusted local buyers only.

3. Whatnot and Live Selling Platforms

Whatnot is huge for TCGs, especially in Australia.

Pros

  • Fast auctions and live sales.

  • Fun, engaging format drives impulse bids.

  • Great for modern singles, slabs, and sealed.

Cons

  • Fees around 13% total.

  • You need a following to succeed.

  • Sorting, packing, and shipping takes time.

Best For:

People who already have a community or want rapid turnover.

4. Selling to a Hobby Store (Urban Empire Collectables)

By far the safest and fastest way to sell cards in Australia.

Pros

  • Instant payment on the spot.

  • No fees, no scams, no chargebacks.

  • Move hundreds or thousands of cards at once.

  • Professional valuation on singles, slabs, bulk, and sealed.

  • Perfect for people wanting a clean, stress-free sale.

Cons

  • You will not get full market price.
    Stores typically offer 60–80% of market value depending on demand, condition, and volume.

Best For:

Anyone selling:

  • Large collections

  • Slabs

  • Bulk boxes

  • Vintage singles

  • Modern hits

  • Sealed product

  • Or anyone wanting zero stress

Why Sell to Urban Empire Collectables?

Urban Empire is one of Australia’s largest sports card and TCG stores — and the safest buyer for private sellers.

What We Offer

  • Instant cash — no waiting.

  • Fast collection buying — we sort everything for you.

  • No fees, no messages, no shipping.

  • Zero risk of fraud or damage claims.

  • Volume buying (hundreds or thousands of cards at once).

What You Trade Off

You won’t get full eBay value, but you get:

  • No 15% in fees

  • No scams

  • No “item not received” cases

  • No packing or shipping

  • No time wasted

  • Your entire collection gone in one simple transaction

For many collectors, that’s worth far more than the extra 10–20% they would have made selling online.

Which Selling Method Is Best?

Want maximum value? → eBay
Want no fees but accept risk? → Facebook
Want fast turnover? → Whatnot
Want instant cash with zero risk? → Urban Empire Collectables

If you’d like a valuation or you’re ready to sell now, bring your cards into Urban Empire Collectables — we’ll walk you through the whole process and make you an offer on the spot.

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