Ultimate Guide To Facebook Sports Card Transactions

Many people buy their cards from eBay, more card-specific websites like StarStock, or even hobby shops and breakers. However, Facebook is an important and venue for the card business. Facebook has large groups of sports card collectors who constantly buy, sell, and even trade cards throughout the day. To help you make the most of the platform, here is your guide to Facebook sports card transactions.

Using Facebook correctly requires some thought (look for Facebook guides on Amazon).

Advantages To Facebook Sports Card Transactions

Selling on Facebook has several perks. Here’s a list.

No eBay Fees

Assuming you don’t like giving up 12+ percent of your sales to eBay, Facebook is a great alternative. eBay fees, as you know, can add up quickly. However, you can dodge them altogether by selling on Facebook.

Cards Move Quicker

Because there are no eBay fees, you can sell cards for a little less and potentially make greater profits. This factor helps cards move more quickly than they would as BIN options on eBay.

Razz Friendly Platform

If you have a card that won’t sell on eBay, a Facebook Raz might be the way to go. While the rules change from group to group, they usually work like this: you list a $100 card for 10 sports at $10 apiece. Once members of the group purchase all ten spots, a group moderator randomizes the names, and the winner gets the card. Often people are more likely to buy a chance to win a nice card than pay full price to buy it outright.

Better Deals

The comments from above apply here: you might not get the most out of your cards as a seller, but you’ll be able to get better deals as a buyer. But, of course, it’s easier to haggle and create combo deals on Facebook, too.

Facebook is a great place to get lots and deals (look for card lots on eBay)

You Can Make Specific Requests

This move is a favorite of mine. On Facebook, you can post a “looking to buy…” post in your group. Or, even, “Show me the best Nickeil Alexander-Walker cards I can get for $100.” Many people jump at the opportunity to put together a lot and move cards in bulk, so sometimes the deals can be as much as 30%-40% off eBay comps.

Disadvantages To Facebook Sports Card Transactions

Here are a few drawbacks to selling your cards on Facebook.

Usually Below Comps

When your buyers are aware you’re not paying eBay fees, they ever offer you eBay comps. Sometimes the offers are laughable. So don’t expect to get the same as you would if you sold BIN on eBay.

Ghosting

There’s no review system to keep people honest. Therefore, some people confirm they want to buy your card and then disappear, never to be heard from again.

More Scammers

Scamming is the worst problem of using this platform. Facebook deals are done on the honor system. There’s no buyer protection like eBay provides. So if you spend $5,000 on Tim Bryan (fictional name used to illustrate a point), Lamar Jackson rookie, and Tim Bryan (apologies to actual Tim Bryan’s) turns out to be a scammer, you’re out of luck. Adios, $5K.

Most of the groups, however, ask for vouches. Indeed, it’s never a bad idea to ask for vouches from a seller. Before doing a transaction, make sure other members in the group will vouch for the potential seller. If that’s the case, you’re probably good.

(Writer’s Note: I’ve made dozens of Facebook transactions and never been scammed, but the threat is still genuine and very possible. Therefore, treat Facebook deals with more caution than others.

Fewer Steals

While you can get great deals on Facebook, you can rarely get “steals” or purchases where you can make MAJOR returns. Why is this? On eBay, people occasionally know nothing about cards and find them at an estate sale, etc. Or even terrible listing allows for great prices. However, most people in card Facebook groups know all about cards. Also, if you buy a raw card hoping to grade, there’s usually a reason the Facebook seller hasn’t graded it either.

The Guide To Facebook Sports Card Transactions: Tips

Facebook card shopping is an incredible opportunity for great prices if you know what you’re doing. Here are a few tips to help you navigate the world of Facebook sports cards.

If you do your research, you can find amazing things on Facebook

Know The Group Rules

All groups have house rules, and they can vary significantly. For example, no razzes, sealed products, graded cards, Prizm cards, etc. Before making your first sale, read the group’s rules and ask the mods if you have any questions. You always want to make a good first impression!

Do Your Research

Don’t buy from anybody without doing your proper sleuthing. Channel your inner “I’ll check what my ex is up to” and poke around the Facebook of a potential sale partner. Try to figure out if they actively sell on the group, if they have a history of successful sales, and if they’re trusted.

Use PayPal Carefully

PayPal is not made for Facebook groups. I’ve dropped it entirely after reading the terms and conditions. I’d recommend not using it at all for these transactions and instead of using something like CashApp. Some sellers will ask for PayPal friends and family, but that’s a MAJOR risk.

Guide To Facebook Sports Card Transactions: Best Groups

There are a lot of card groups, and a lot of them are specifically made for the cards you’re seeking: soccer groups, Optic groups, etc.

Here are a few that I’m part of and recommend. If you hop in, drop me a note and say hi.

SICK SPORTS CARDS

This group is the mac-daddy. Great admins, lots of sassiness and fun, and a group that, in many ways, feels like a family. HIGHLY recommend.

Panini Sportscards

A group of basically all basketball and football cards.

There are groups tailored to most collectors on Facebook

Panini Prizm Sports Cards

ONLY looking for Prizm cards? This group is for you.

Panini Prizm Optic Mosaic Chronicles And Illusion

This one used to be exclusively for optic-chrome products and then expanded. I’m not sure how it differs from Panini Sportscards, but it has different members.

The Iron Lion Sports Card Breaks

Not exactly a card group, but this is my favorite sports card page on Facebook. Therefore, it’s only fitting to mention The Iron Lion. They have the BEST release day prices, and when they say “Iron Lion family,” they mean it. Very close-knit group.

Bottomline Of The Ultimate Guide To Facebook Sports Card Transactions

Facebook selling and buying is an excellent opportunity if handled with care. However, take more precautions because there are no built-in protections like you have on eBay.