Thinking About Selling Your Collection? Start Here.
If you're sitting on a collection of comics or cards and thinking, “Should I sell some of this?” — this post is for you. I’ve been there.
I started by selling some duplicates and things I didn’t care about anymore. But after that? The real challenge was figuring out how to keep inventory fresh, profitable, and fun — without burning out.
Let’s break it down.
Start With Your Goals
Are you trying to clear space and make a little cash, or are you thinking long-term business?
Casual Selling
Low pressure, fewer responsibilities
Less concern about taxes or licenses
Slower growth, but less risk
Full-Blown Business
Takes more time, energy, and consistency
Involves taxes, business accounts, and strategy
But there’s also way more potential for growth
You don’t have to commit one way or the other on day one. But knowing your direction helps with every decision after.
Website? Instagram? eBay? Where Do You Sell?
My first idea was to start a website and sell directly. That way, I could avoid eBay fees and have full control. I also looked at Instagram — I saw a lot of people moving collectibles through their pages.
But then I stepped back and thought about it from a buyer’s perspective. Would I buy from just any website with comics or cards? What would make me trust them? Would I get what I ordered? The same went for Instagram — yes, there are legit sellers, but there are also scammers. And building a following takes serious time and energy.
In the end, eBay won me over.
The fees aren’t fun, but the exposure is unmatched. And once you start to build up your store, get consistent, and earn positive feedback, you can qualify for Above Standard or even Top Rated Seller status — which lowers your fees.
Other Selling Options (That I Tried or Considered)
CollX: I tested this app for a bit — it's designed to let you scan cards and list directly from your phone. It sounds great on paper, but personally, I didn’t like the experience. It felt clunky, and the marketplace side didn’t give me the control or traction I was looking for.
Instagram Consignment: Some IG sellers will consign your cards for a cut. This can work if they have a strong following, but again, trust is key.
Local Comic/Card Shops (LCS): Some offer consignment options for higher-value items. It’s more hands-off for you, but you’ll give up part of the profit.
MyComicShop.com: A great option for comic consignment — you can auction or list at fixed prices and they handle fulfillment.
What I Learned Once I Actually Started Selling
I had sold before, but doing it consistently required a new system — especially with a full-time job and family. To stay organized, I started applying better business practices: tracking what I owned, what I wanted to keep, and what I was ready to let go.
Comics vs. Cards: Emotional Inventory
Letting go of comics was harder for me. I’ve collected them for all kinds of reasons: weekly pulls, variant covers, favorite artists, storylines, spec buys. Logging my entire collection through the CLZ app was a game-changer. If you're into comics and don’t have CLZ, you need it. It helped me browse through what I had, spot duplicates, and identify books I no longer felt attached to.
Cards were a bit easier. Aside from a few PC Lakers, I was mostly game to sell. But tracking cards turned out to be its own challenge. I created a spreadsheet, but keeping it updated takes time — especially when you're ripping hobby boxes. I tried CollX, hoping it would work like CLZ, but it didn’t work well for new cards, and manual entry was a pain. Now, I just list directly on eBay and only add it to the spreadsheet once it sells.
See more in my post: Figuring Out Inventory as a New Seller →
Listing and Routines
With limited time, I squeeze in what I can. During my bus commute, I brainstorm blog topics or do market research. After work, when my kid goes to bed, I’ll list cards or prep orders. On weekends, I carve out a couple hours to update QuickBooks, post inventory, work on my website, or just knock out whatever needs attention.
Photos vs. Scanning: What I Learned
When I first started selling, I used my phone and a well-lit cabinet to take pictures. Honestly? The photos looked great — but it took a ton of time. Positioning the card, getting the lighting right, editing the glare, uploading manually… it was a process.
I now only do that for very valuable cards or anything bulky like patch cards that can’t go through a scanner.
For everything else, I use a sheet-fed scanner, and it changed the game.
Why I Switched to Scanning
Batch scanning saves me hours. I can load up a stack of penny-sleeved cards and scan them all at once.
Clean, consistent images. No glare. No shadows. No weird angles.
Speed. I go from card to image in seconds — which matters when you're listing 50+ cards.
I use the Epson WorkForce ES-400 II. It handles sleeved cards well (I never scan them raw), and the quality is perfect for eBay listings.
Affiliate disclaimer: If you click and buy, I might earn a small commission — at no cost to you.
And if you're curious, this YouTube video helped sell me on it:
Watch the scanner setup walkthrough →
But It’s Not Perfect
Like anything, scanning has pros and cons:
Prizm, silver foil, and holo cards don’t scan well. The reflective finish tends to get flattened by the scanner’s lighting, and that “rainbow effect” collectors love? You won’t see it on most scans.
Some cards just don’t look as good scanned. In those cases, I’ll still take the time to photograph them — especially higher-end pieces or thick patch cards that can’t be scanned at all.
You won’t get dramatic lighting or gloss unless you use a camera and good lighting — but that’s more of a branding and presentation decision.
Photo vs. Scan: Real Examples
Sometimes a scanner nails it. Other times… not so much.
Here are a few side-by-side comparisons so you can see the difference for yourself:
Prizm Card – Photo vs. Scan
On the left is a scan from my Epson scanner. On the right is a phone photo of the same card taken in my lighted cabinet.
Notice how the rainbow foil pops in the photo, but gets lost in the scan.
Standard Card – Photo vs. Scan
Left: A card scanned through my Epson scanner. Right: A patch card that had to be photographed — it's too thick to scan.
This is where the scanner shines — clean lines, true color, and way less editing.
Bottom Line
Scanning isn’t for every card — but for me, it’s been the most efficient way to handle high volumes without burning out. It’s not about perfection; it’s about balance.
I might write a full post about scanning best practices in the future, but for now — if you’re serious about selling consistently, this is the scanner that got me going.
Shipping Was a Wake-Up Call
I used to ship everything in bubble mailers — but that didn’t work for lower-end cards. No one wants to pay $5 shipping on a $3 item.
That’s when I learned about PWE (Plain White Envelope) shipping. It made my listings more appealing and helped me stay competitive.
Check out my full PWE shipping guide → (coming soon)
Pricing Is an Art and a Science
At first, I comped every card and priced right at market value. But people will still send offers — always. I started getting a feel for demand and adjusted over time.
And yes, I’ve underpriced before — I sold a card for $10 and saw it flipped for $40. Now I aim high if there are no comps and adjust down later.
eBay Fees in Real Life
People love to bash the fees, but once I hit Above Standard status, I started to feel the benefits.
Example: I Sold a card for $23 → Took home $19.21 after fees.
Not bad, especially when you factor in the exposure and buyer protection eBay offers.
Try the calculator here →
Advice for Collectors Ready to Sell
1. Know what you have.
Sort through everything first — keys, bulk, and what you’re ready to part with.
2. Don’t sell your best stuff first.
If you can wait, hold off until your fees go down with experience and seller level.
3. Price smart.
Know fair market value and check comps — but be flexible.
4. Think about your time.
Lots are faster, but singles bring better margins if you have time.
5. Build a system.
Spreadsheets, SKUs, anything to help you stay consistent and save time.
One of the first systems I put in place was using SKUs to stay organized. If you're new to that, here’s how I started tracking my inventory →
One Last Thing: Take Your Time
You’ll make mistakes and learn as you go — that’s part of it. The most important thing is to start. List a few things, watch what happens, adjust, and keep it moving.
Got your own experience or tips to share? Drop a comment — I’d love to hear what’s working for you.
