Selling Sports Cards on eBay: Don't Just List the Stars

A majority of my card sales on eBay come from players who are more niche, or who might not be the most popular names in the hobby. A lot of people only want to list the stars: your LeBrons, your Mahomes, your Bradys. That's great, and a lot of times those cards will sell. But in my own eBay store, the sales I make the most profit margin on come from the lesser known guys. My name is Chris, and I'm a low end card seller. You can watch the video above or read the breakdown below.

What sports cards sell on eBay? Don't just list the stars

Stars sell, but they aren't the only cards that sell. In my store, the players who get overlooked because they're not "stars" are where a lot of my sales and my best margins come from. The best place to find the collector who will pay for those cards is usually eBay (and CollX). So if you're sitting on lesser known players, take the time to list them.

What is a niche or lesser known player card?

By a niche or lesser known player, I mean anyone who isn't one of the household names everyone is chasing. Think role players, guys whose best years were a while ago, or newer players who haven't become the face of the hobby. Plenty of people skip these when they list, but somebody out there collects that player or that team, and they're usually searching eBay for him.

Which lesser known players have sold in my eBay store?

Here are a few that sold recently:

• Andrew Van Ginkel 2026 Topps 35th Anniversary Auto, Blue /150. Sold for $20 ($19.99, through a promoted listing).
• Roy Williams 2011 Panini Limited Silver Spotlight /50. Roy Williams, the receiver from the mid 2000s. Sold for $7.
• Abdul Carter 2025 Panini Prizm Fireworks Purple Power rookie. Sold for $10.

None of these are the cards people think of first, and all of them found a buyer.

Why list lesser known players on eBay instead of selling them on a live stream?

I understand that eBay has fees, and it takes time to list cards. But look at that Andrew Van Ginkel auto. If I had put it on one of my eBay live streams, it might have gone for $5 or $10 at most. By listing it in my eBay store instead, I sold it for $20.

The point is (and sometimes I have to remind myself of this too): take the time, list things appropriately, and list them on the marketplace they belong on. For a lesser known player, that's usually eBay, because that's where the collector who's searching for that exact player will find it. If listing a big stack of cards sounds like a lot of work, here's how I bulk list sports cards to eBay and CollX.

How to sell sports cards on eBay that you think won't sell

If you're out at card shows or digging through collections and you find somebody who isn't the hottest or biggest name, there's still a ton of value in taking the time to list that card. Even if you don't think it's going to sell, or you think it might take a while, you'll be surprised. eBay always surprises me. Sometimes I'll look at a card and think, "This might take a while. Who knows if anyone is ever going to search for this player?" Those are usually the cards that sell immediately.

That fits with what I've seen about who buys low end cards in general. Most collectors are buying cards under $10, which I wrote about in selling low end sports cards. Just make sure your price still makes sense after fees and shipping. Here's why I never list a card below $2.50.

Selling lesser known players on eBay FAQ

What sports cards sell best on eBay?

Stars sell, but in my eBay store most of my sales, and the sales with the best profit margin, come from niche and lesser known players. Collectors of those players search eBay for them, so don't skip them when you list.

Is it worth listing cards of lesser known players on eBay?

For me, yes. There are fees and listing takes time, but I recently sold an Andrew Van Ginkel auto for $20 in my eBay store that might have gone for $5 or $10 at most on a live stream.

Should I sell lesser known players on eBay Live or list them in my store?

Both have their place, but for a niche player, a store listing gives the collector who's searching for that exact player a chance to find it. That's usually where you'll get the premium.

How do I sell sports cards on eBay that I don't think will sell?

List them appropriately and on the right marketplace, and give them a chance. In my experience, the cards I expect to sit for a while are often the ones that sell right away.

Where is the best place to sell cards of niche players?

In my experience it's eBay, and I list on CollX as well. Those are the places where you'll usually find the collector who will pay a premium for a lesser known player.

Quick takeaways

• Don't only list the stars. A majority of my eBay sales come from niche and lesser known players.
• Those lesser known guys are often my best profit margins.
• The collector for a niche player is usually on eBay, so a store listing can beat a live stream sale.
• Take the time to list cards appropriately, on the marketplace they belong on.
• Cards you think will sit are often the ones that sell immediately.

Have you found the same thing in your own store? Let me know on Instagram or TikTok.

Looking for low end inventory to help stock your store?

Our pre made value boxes are full of the kind of low end cards and lesser known players I'm talking about here. Every box comes with a video, so you can see exactly what's included before you buy.

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