By hearing from both sides, identify the best method to buy and sell cards on Facebook. It starts with proper research, preparation, and understanding the risks/rewards of doing it.
This article goes In-depth on where to buy sports cards on Facebook, such as which groups are friendly, safe from scammers, and worth your time.
Also, it goes into what to look for when buying or selling cards within Facebook groups or communities.
Lastly, this article explains what to avoid when buying or selling on the Facebook marketplace.
Introduction to Purchasing Sports Cards on Facebook
The best way to purchase sports cards online is by creating an online presence on Facebook. Once you have a Facebook created, you can start making connections and building relationships with the card community:
Joining a Sports Card Buy, Sell, and Trade Group
One of Facebook’s best buys, sells, and trade groups are the Sports Card I Sell and Trade group.
Here, you can buy cards from other people, sell your cards, and even make trades. The group is free to join, and many people often post, making it easy to build a reputable name for yourself quickly.
Here’s our top list of the best sports collector card groups on Facebook:
1. NFL Football Cards – Buy/Sell/Trade/Breaks | Facebook
This group is for NFL fans who love trading cards. Members can buy, sell, and trade cards with each other.
You can expect members to be respectful and of the highest integrity. Also, have fun, and good luck with your trades!
2. Buy/Sell/Trade All Sports Cards | Facebook
You can post any cards or sports memorabilia in this group. There are no restrictions on which cards to post, whether baseball, basketball, or football. It’s perfect for those who enjoy a mix of sports cards and memorabilia.
3. Trading Card Investor Breaks | Facebook
If you follow ‘Trading Card Investor’ on social media, you’ll want to join this community. He announces breaks and has great admins.
TCI Breaks offers a chance to hit high-value cards at a fraction of the cost of a hobby box.
The breaks build a community of collectors looking for the best-priced breaks on Facebook. Robert Iuliani, known as @TradingCardInvestor, hosts the breaks and provides a high-energy experience.
Customers can expect first-time buyer rewards, occasional reimbursements for unsatisfactory pulls, regular giveaways, and entertaining live breaks.
4. Sports Cards Nonsense | Facebook
A community focused on the Sports Cards Nonsense Podcast discusses examples of sports card collectors overspending or doing ‘nonsense’ within the hobby. If you enjoy a laugh or a fun time with other like-minded collectors, you’ll enjoy being a part of this community.
5. Collectors Corner: Elevate Your Collecting Success | Facebook
We put together a small private Facebook group to create a safe environment for new collectors, as the hobby can be overwhelming for those just starting.
Collectors Corner is a Facebook group community dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming space for collectors passionate about improving their skills and achieving success in sports card collecting.
Our group members come together to share their latest pickups, offer advice and support, and learn from each other in a positive and encouraging environment.
Whether you are just starting or are a seasoned collector, we are committed to helping you elevate your collecting game and reach your goals.
Find and Purchase Cards for Under Value Prices on Facebook Marketplace
Before jumping onto the Facebook marketplace to sell sports cards yourself, these five questions must be prepared and ready for the next step.
- Did you research card authenticity, condition, and value?
- Are you using Card Ladder, Market Movers, or eBay for valuation?
- Which negotiation strategy will be fair for both parties?
- Do you have a pricing strategy for finding common ground?
- Where will you plan to meet up to do the exchange?
To find and purchase cards on Facebook, look at the photos the seller’s post. You can filter through all the photos and find the cards you want. Also, decided on if you’ll buy a raw or graded card as this will help you determine the budget you’ll stay within.
If you want to buy a card, you can message the seller directly or leave a comment on their post. However, avoid spamming people as it can be irritating.
1. Know What You’re Looking For
Avoid impulsive buys and make informed decisions by thoroughly researching the cards’ authenticity, condition, and market value. Start by using Card Ladder, Market Movers, or eBay to search for the value of the cards you are interested in.
2. Know What it’s Worth (To You and The Buyer)
When you negotiate for the card, you are looking for, you want to leave enough room for both parties to be happy and for the deal to feel fair. The idea is to get as close to an agreement or understanding as possible.
For example, if you are selling a Tom Brady rookie card and you want $155, then start by asking for $175. If the buyer knows it’s not worth $200 but also worth at least $145, then meeting at $155 sounds fair to both parties.
Decide to Flip Cards by Selling on Facebook
To sell cards on Facebook, post with the card you’re selling.
If you’re looking to trade cards, post a message saying you’re interested in trading and provide a time to message you. It’s straightforward and only takes a few minutes to do. It boils down to two simple steps.
- Step 1: Be sure to include a coin or post-it notes in the picture to show that it’s accurate and that you own the card. Coining photographs helps validate that you still have the card in your possession. Also, scammers use Photoshop card conditions, which helps prevent that.
- Step 2: Include your Asking Price. You can do this over Direct Message or put it on the Facebook post itself. Either way, offering a starting price gets the negotiation moving forward.
What To Expect When Selling on Facebook Marketplace
One of my personal experiences was when I was thrilled to list a rare Josh Allen rookie card for $85 on Facebook Marketplace. It was my first time moving a big card and trying Facebook Marketplace.
My excitement grew when I received a $60 offer from a fellow collector. We exchanged messages discussing the card’s condition, rarity, and value, building a connection over our love for sports cards.
Finally, we agreed to meet at a local sports card shop to finalize the sale, where we chatted about our collections.
He had this Patrick Mahomes RPA I couldn’t believe I got to see in person.
After some friendly negotiation, we settled on a final sale price of $70, leaving me with a satisfying profit margin of $25 as I had acquired the card for $45.
It was a memorable experience, and I was happy to pass on the card to another collector who would appreciate it as much as I did.
Of course, it would have earned me much more if I held onto that card for a bit longer since he’s been performing well in the recent football seasons.
However, it was a learning experience, and I could profit from a nice bonus.
Avoid Scammers Who Take Advantage of New Collectors
Joining these Facebook communities, it’s an excellent opportunity for sports investors to make money.
They are making purchasing sports cards online and flipping them even easier. These groups are full of real people selling and trading cards, which makes it better to build a reputable name for yourself.
However, every Facebook community has lurkers who take advantage of newbies.
Be sure to follow the rules of the group and avoid spamming people. For example, if a group has a rule requiring all prices to include shipping, but a member consistently posts listings without including shipping costs, stay away.
It’s essential to read the rules when you don’t want to. The rules are there to protect you and others from getting scammed. The last thing you want is to get scammed or kicked out of a community because you didn’t read the rules.
Here’s a list of red flags to look out for when first entering a new Facebook community:
- Lack of responsiveness
- Pressure to make quick decisions.
- Unclear photography
- Suspiciously low prices
- Non-reputable sellers
If no one knows who that seller is and there are no vouchers or their offer seems too good to be true, then you should avoid doing business with them. While misspellings happen and people may need to improve at communicating all the time, if you see a lack of respect and responsiveness, you should also avoid it.
For example, I’ve had sellers ghost after showing interest but come back as if nothing happened. It’s a red flag either way!
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Sports card hobby enthusiast (originally from New York) who can’t resist ripping cards and eating donuts on the weekends. Passionate about all collecting, have been collecting football cards and other memorabilia for half a decade. Enjoys going to card shows, visiting card shops and getting to know other collectors. Owner of NOWCollectibles a collectible e-commerce business – online card shop for buying affordable cards helping connect sports fans with their favorite teams and players. Follow my personal IG to see PC: @NowCollects See my latest articles here: NowCollectibles Articles (thinksportscards.com)
