Intro to Sports Cards on Facebook
You’ve heard me discuss selling on a variety of platforms. Whether it is submitting and flipping cards on COMC or StarStock, moving base and inserts on Sportlots, or my approach to selling higher end or more unique listings on eBay, I’ve shared how I use those platforms in an effective way for the types of cards I handle.
However, there is another platform I use which I’ve pretty much only referenced in passing from time to time. It’s loved by some, hated by others, but you can’t argue with it being a significant force in the hobby.
Facebook
Facebook is used in a variety of ways in the hobby and I’m going to discuss a few of them here. Don’t consider this to be the end all be all. There are a ton of different nuances and variations of these things, and more continue to be developed over time. Instead, consider this a primer or an introduction to some of the most popular ways to benefit from Facebook in your collecting journey.
Learn and Be Entertained via Facebook Pages and Groups
Almost every Hobby Content Creator has a presence on Facebook. Some utilize it as their primary distribution platform, and some simply have it as yet another way to get more eyes and ears on their content. There are also some very specific and focused groups which can be invaluable if you want to learn more about a particular brand, product line, or even a specific era of sports cards. There are groups focused on Junk Wax, Vintage, Basketball Cards, Racing Cards, Project 2020, and about every other subgroup of the hobby. Many members are happy to answer questions and point you to additional resources to deepen your knowledge about their area of focus.
Use these Groups to Buy and Sell
In addition to the knowledge that can come from these groups, they often are a pretty decent alternative buying and selling platform. Some groups have a very controlled list of people who can sell on them, but others are pretty much wide open for members to buy and sell as long as you follow the post group guidelines. There are even some breakers who “go live” for their breaks exclusively in Facebook group rooms.
One word of caution would be to steer clear of any group who requires that buyers and sellers use PayPal Friends and Family only. That opens buyers up to scammers, and opens sellers up to account restrictions for violating PayPals terms of service. Buyers should want that protection and sellers should want to operate honestly. I know as of the summer of 2020 there are some modifications to the the PayPal terms of service which may impact some of these buyer and seller protections, but it is still unclear how exactly the new terms will impact card transactions that don’t go according to plan.
From a selling perspective I’ve had the most success in the “Original Junk Era Collectors Group”. I’ve sold large player lots to a variety of people, and I’ve also had success selling flat rate boxes of sealed Junk Era packs and boxes. Typically, when my player quarter boxes get too full, I’ll pull out several hundred cards of a particular player and list them in this group or on eBay.
Facebook Marketplace
I am also a big fan of using Facebook marketplace to move cards. In prior episodes I’ve discussed buying large collections, sorting them into groups to sell on Sportlots, eBay, COMC, StarStock, and in my show boxes. However, there are often a ton of cards left over that don’t fit into any of those categories. I refer to it as “the bulk”. Mainly this is a large lot of mostly commons with some stars and semistars mixed in. These collections aren’t completely worthless, but they do have a pretty low value relatively speaking.
This is the type of lot I sell for about $50 on Marketplace.
The cost of shipping makes these lots difficult to sell in a traditional eBay or Sportlots auction. You really need to find someone local who can just pick them up from your house. This is where Facebook Marketplace comes in!
You create you listing with a description and a few pictures, and then other collectors in your area can see the posting and complete the sale. I probably average at least one of these listing a month. Sometimes more, sometimes less depending on how many and how large my collection purchases have been. I usually bundle up 20,000 or so of these “leftover” cards and move in for $50, often in less than 24 hours. The deals are cash, so no worries about returns or refunds or anything like that.
I’ve also found that many customers love these sorts of lots and ask that I just reach out them directly when I have future lots available. It’s a great way to get value out of what many people consider worthless junk. They’re happy, I’m happy, its a positive all around.
The last thing I’ll mention is that I do all the “business” in the garage. I don’t let the strangers into my house. That has seemed to work out well so far.
As I said, I’m sure the ways collectors will use Facebook will continue to change over time. I’l love to hear how you use Facebook to enhance your collecting experience!
Also, if you haven’t heard, I started a new Podcast called the WaxPackHero Sports Card Minute! It’s available here directly on the site at the Podcast link at the top of the page, or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and TuneIn! Check it out, let me know what you think, and tell your friends!
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