IS YOUR CARD
WORTH MONEY?

Learn exactly what collectors and investors look for — before you scan a single card.

🌟✨💎🃏

THE 4 PILLARS OF CARD CONDITION

Condition is everything. A Charizard in poor condition is worth a fraction of one in mint.

🎯

CENTERING

Borders should be even on all sides. Off-center cards lose value fast — 55/45 is fine, 60/40 starts to hurt the grade.

📐

CORNERS

Sharp, crisp corners = higher grade. Any rounding, fraying, or whitening drops the grade. Always check under good lighting.

🔲

EDGES

Run a finger along the edge — chips, nicks, roughness. Edge damage is common from binders. Clean edges are a must for PSA 9+.

✨

SURFACE

Scratches, print lines, staining, dents on the face or back. Holos are especially prone to micro-swirl marks.

RARITY SYMBOLS

That little symbol in the corner tells you a lot.

⚫
CIRCLE — COMMON
Usually worth cents unless it's a vintage first edition.
♦️
DIAMOND — UNCOMMON
Still usually low value unless from early sets.
⭐
STAR — RARE
Worth examining more closely.
⭐
STAR (HOLO) — HOLO RARE
Holographic pattern. Worth grading if condition is good.
⭐⭐
TWO STARS — ULTRA RARE
Usually $10–$100+ raw. Always worth grading if clean.
⭐⭐⭐
THREE STARS — SECRET RARE
Can be worth hundreds or thousands.

WHAT MAKES A CARD VALUABLE

Rarity + condition + demand = value. Here's what collectors actually chase.

SHOULD YOU GRADE IT?

Grading isn't free. Here's the quick math before you commit.

✅

YES — GRADE IT

  • ►Raw value is $75 or more
  • ►Card grades 8+ on self-assessment
  • ►Corners and surface look clean
  • ►Vintage, holo, or special illustration
  • ►Could be PSA 9 or 10

At ~$38 avg grading cost, a $75 raw card that hits PSA 9 can become $150–$300.

🤔

MAYBE — RESEARCH

  • ►Raw value is $30–$75
  • ►Condition looks good but not perfect
  • ►Modern set with high print runs
  • ►Check the PSA pop report first

Use the profit calculator on the scan page to run exact numbers before deciding.

⛔

SKIP — NOT WORTH IT

  • ►Raw value is under $25
  • ►Visible corner wear or off-centering
  • ►Common card from a modern set
  • ►Grading fee would exceed any value increase

Sell raw or trade. Save your submission budget for cards that can 10x.

HOW TO SELL YOUR CARDS

Once you know what a card is worth, here's where and how to actually turn it into cash — and how to avoid getting burned.

EBAY

BEST FORSingle cards $20+, graded slabs, vintage holos.

FEES
~13% final value + payment processing.
SPEED
Auctions 1–10 days · BIN listings sell when listed.

▲ Biggest buyer pool — best for true market price discovery.

▼ Fees and chargeback risk. Pack carefully or get scammed.

▶ VISIT EBAY ↗

TCGPLAYER

BEST FORModern raw cards, bulk lots, anything with a SKU.

FEES
~10.25% + $0.30 per order (Pro sellers lower).
SPEED
Usually sells in days if priced at market.

▲ Hobby-focused buyers, automated pricing tools, easy bulk listing.

▼ Lower ceiling than eBay on chase cards.

▶ VISIT TCGPLAYER ↗

PWCC / GOLDIN AUCTIONS

BEST FORGraded cards over $500, vintage grails, sealed product.

FEES
10–20% seller's premium (varies by tier).
SPEED
Monthly weekly auctions — payout 30–60 days after close.

▲ Big-money buyer base, professional marketing, max ceiling.

▼ Long timelines, minimum value requirements.

LOCAL CARD SHOPS & SHOWS

BEST FORSelling a whole collection, bulk, or when you want cash today.

FEES
Shop pays 50–70% of TCGplayer/eBay market.
SPEED
Instant cash, no shipping.

▲ No fees, no shipping, no risk of scams.

▼ You leave money on the table vs. selling individually.

FACEBOOK GROUPS & WHATNOT

BEST FORModern singles, live break audiences, midrange chase cards.

FEES
Whatnot ~8% + payment. FB groups: free but PayPal G&S fees.
SPEED
Live shows sell in real time; group sales typically hours–days.

▲ Lower fees than eBay; built-in collector communities.

▼ Smaller buyer pool. Must establish reputation first.

THE 5-STEP SELLING PROCESS

1

PRICE IT

Check recent SOLD listings on eBay (not asking prices) and TCGplayer market price. For graded cards, look up PSA/BGS sales comps for the exact grade.

2

PHOTOGRAPH IT

Bright, even lighting. Show front, back, and close-ups of corners. Place the card on a plain background. Bad photos cost real money.

3

DESCRIBE HONESTLY

Note any whitening, scratches, or off-centering. Honesty builds reviews and avoids "item not as described" claims that hit your account.

4

SHIP IT RIGHT

Raw cards: penny sleeve → toploader → team bag → bubble mailer. Cards $20+: tracked. Cards $50+: signature required. Cards $750+: USPS insured.

5

GET PAID

PayPal Goods & Services or platform payouts only — never F&F from buyers you don't know. Wait for funds to clear before mailing high-value items.

⚠ DON'T GET SCAMMED

  • ►Never accept PayPal Friends & Family from a buyer — you have zero recourse if they dispute.
  • ►Always ship to the address on the order. Shipping anywhere else voids seller protection.
  • ►Record a video of you packing the item for shipments over $500 — your insurance against "empty package" claims.
  • ►Don't ship internationally on high-value items unless you understand customs and chargeback risk.
  • ►Watch for buyers who immediately ask to take the deal off-platform. That's the #1 scam signal.

FIND OUT WHAT YOUR CARDS ARE WORTH

Scan any card and get an instant AI grade + ROI in seconds.

▶ START GRADING FREE