Sell trading cards online, from bulk singles to graded slabs

1. 01

   List singles with set, number and condition

   Put set, collector number, language and finish (foil or not) in the title, and make condition, such as Near Mint, Lightly Played or Moderately Played, an option with its own price and stock.

2. 02

   Treat graded cards as one-offs

   Photograph the actual slab front and back, name the grading company and give the certificate number. Each graded card is its own product with a stock of one.

3. 03

   Sell sealed product with preorders

   For a new set, switch on “sell when out of stock”, state the release date, and post on time. Players remember the shop that delivered on release day.

4. 04

   Bring in singles in bulk

   Typing in hundreds of singles takes days. On the Growth plan, import products from a spreadsheet with set, number, condition, price and stock, then spot-check before you publish.

5. 05

   Ship cards the way collectors expect

   Penny sleeve, top loader, team bag, then a rigid or bubble mailer, with tracking for anything valuable. Say on your shipping page exactly how you pack.

6. 06

   Run events as tickets

   Weekly tournaments and prereleases become products with the date, format and seats as stock. Checkout stops when the event is full.

• Counterfeits and proxies

  Fake cards circulate, especially for high-value singles. Check cards before you buy them in, and never sell proxies or reprints as originals.

• Release dates for sealed product

  If you buy sealed product through a distributor, follow the street date in its terms. Selling or posting early can cost you your allocation.

• Game names and artwork

  Use game names to describe what you sell and photograph the real cards, but don’t use the publishers’ logos or card art as your own shop’s branding.

General information to help you get started, not legal advice. Rules differ by country, state and product, so check the ones that apply to you.