Resources
Blog
A collector's-eye view on the hobby, with a short post most days on the news, releases, and the habits that keep a collection worth having.
Do You Need Insurance for Your Card Collection?
Most collections are quietly uninsured, or under-covered by a homeowners policy that was never built for cards. Here's how the options actually work and how to decide.
Are Card Breaks Worth It? My Take
Breaks are a fast, social way to open expensive product without buying a whole box. Here's how the economics really work and when they're worth it.
Consignment vs. Selling Your Cards Yourself
Selling cards yourself can help you keep more of the profits, but consignment saves you the work and can reach bigger buyers. Here's how to figure out which one wins for a given card.
When Grading a Card Is Actually Worth It
Grading adds value to some cards and just adds cost to others. Here's the simple math and the checklist I run before sending anything in.
What Actually Lowers a Card's Value When Grading
Two copies of the same card can be worth very different amounts, and condition is usually why. Here's what graders and buyers actually look at.
How to Safely Sell a High-Value Card
The more a card is worth, the more the risk shifts from getting a good price to not getting scammed. Here's how I protect a high-value sale.
Why Cost Basis Is the Number Most Collectors Miss
Cost basis is what a card truly cost you, not the sticker price. Here's why the gap matters and how I keep the number from slipping.
Why I Stopped Tracking My Card Purchases & Sales in a Spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is where almost everyone starts, and for a while it works. Here's where it strained for me, and when a sheet is still the right call.
How to Price a Card Using Comps
A comp is the closest thing the hobby has to a price tag. Here's how I find the right ones and read them without fooling myself.
Topps x Jennie: My Take on the First K-Pop Collab
Topps recently launched a Chrome release for Jennie, marking the first big K-pop crossover in cards. Here's my take on the brand, the market, and the pricing.
Fanatics Collect's 100% FanCash Payout: My Take
Fanatics Collect now pays 100% of the total sale price for Buy It Now & Auctions if you take it as FanCash. Here's why it can be a compelling option for active buyers.
Why Tennis Cards Could Be the Next to Pop
Soccer and hockey have surged, and tennis checks the same boxes. Here's why tennis cards could be the next category to pop, and what could hold them back.
Why eBay Is Still King Despite the High Fees
Even though eBay fees can be brutal, it's still where I sell a lot of my cards. Here's why the buyer pool is worth the cut, when to be selective, and when having an eBay Store pays off.
eBay Fees Explained: Why It's Often More Than 13.25%
Everyone quotes 13.25%, but eBay charges it on shipping and tax too, plus a per-order fee. Here's why your real selling rate is higher than the headline.
What Is MBA Diamond, and Why Some Graded Cards Get a Premium
MBA's Diamond service rates cards that are already graded, so you can tell top examples of the same grade apart. Here's what it is and why some sell for a premium.
On-Card vs. Sticker vs. In-Person Autographs
On-card, sticker, and in-person autographs are valued very differently, even for the same player. Here's how each type ranks in the hobby, and why.
Fanatics Instant Packs vs. EQL: My Take
Fanatics and Topps launched Instant Packs as a direct-buy alternative to the EQL raffle. Here's how it works and my take on what it means for the hobby.
How the Economy Can Affect Card Prices
The economy can have a big impact on the card market: when people have more to spend the hobby heats up, and when it turns, card prices can shrink as well. Here's the connection.
What Factors Make a Sports Card Valuable?
Rookie year, autographs, serial numbers, patches, and print run all shape a card's value. Here are some major factors that make one card more desirable than another.
How to Calculate Real ROI on Cards
The purchase price is often only part of the story. Here's how to calculate the real ROI on a card once shipping, fees, and taxes are counted in your cost basis.
Are Unlicensed Cards Worth It? My Take
Unlicensed cards can look great and feature players you can't get elsewhere, but they carry a stigma that makes them harder to resell. Here's my honest take.
How to Handle a Hot Card Market
When the card market runs hot, everything feels like a winner, which is exactly when it's easy to overpay. Here's how I try to stay level in a hot market.
My Take on Card Grading Right Now
Between backlogs and shutdowns, card grading is shifting fast. Here's my take on what it means for values, and why I care about the card over the grade.
Should I Buy a Few Big Cards or Many Small Ones?
Should you buy a few big cards or many smaller ones? Here are the real trade-offs in upside, risk, and effort, and how I decide what fits my collection.
Auction vs. Buy It Now for Selling Cards
Auction or Buy It Now? I usually lean Buy It Now, but auctions have their place. Here's how I decide which format to use when selling a card on eBay.
How to Get More Views on eBay Listings
Great cards still need eyes on them. Here are the habits that drive more views to an eBay card listing: consistent posting, sharp titles, and promotion.
How to Ship Cards on eBay (eBay Standard Envelope vs. Ground Advantage)
Shipping is where sellers lose money or lose cards. Here's how I choose between eBay Standard Envelope and USPS Ground Advantage based on a card's value.
Why Vintage Cards Are Different
Vintage cards play by different rules than modern. Here's what actually matters: centering, corners, eye appeal, and trusting your own read over the grade.
Using Credit Card Cash Back to Save on Cards
The right credit card can quietly earn cash back on every card you buy. Here's how I think about it, plus the one rule that keeps it worth doing.
PSA vs. BGS vs. Other Grading Companies
PSA, BGS, or another grading company? Here's how I think about which slab to choose, when the label matters for resale, and when it really doesn't.