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What Is A Sports Card Razz?

attractive girl in jacket and hat playing poker in casino

“Razz it.” If you’ve spent any time in a Facebook sports card group, you’ll have undoubtedly heard that phrase before. But what is a sports card razz?

But many new collectors have never experienced the highs – and lows – of a razz. So let’s look at the favorite lottery tool of collectors and take an in-depth dive into best practices and strategies for razzing.

What Is a Razz?

A razz is what card collectors call a raffle or lottery. It breaks down the cost of one card/box/lot into multiple spots, and one winner takes home the prize.

For example, a $100 card might be broken down into 10 spots at $10 each. When all the spots fill, the razz is run, and the lucky winner gets the card while the rest go away empty-handed. So you can buy one place or eight sports – there’s still risk and reward at play.

Where To Find a Sports Card Razz

Razzes are typically found on Facebook groups. eBay does not allow for such a thing for obvious reasons: when you buy an item on eBay, you expect to get an item. With a Razz, odds are you probably won’t. Of course, unhappy losers could complain and open cases.

Razzes, for now, are pretty low-tech, too. On Facebook, they involve the poster editing the original post and plugging in names as buyers pay for a spot.

Fortunately, Cardlines has a friend of the site that is working on Razz software. While we don’t want to say anything too much, we’re confident that it could be a significant win for the hobby!

The razz is a Facebook specialty (look for Facebook products on Amazon)

How to Price a Card for a Razz

Price a card for a Razz like you’d price it as a typical transaction: look at recent comps and come up with a number that feels fair. Don’t try to sell it for 20% more than comps just because it’s a razz—that’s a quick way to lose out on potential customers.

Some Facebook groups require you to post pictures of recent comps along with the item you’re razzing as a way to justify or prove your price is on point with the rest of the market.

Reasons to Enter A Razz As A Buyer

Entering a razz as a buyer has several benefits. First, it’s a way to potentially get a big card for only a fraction of the price—the keyword, however, is “potentially.”

A razz is even riskier than opening packs. With packs, you’re guaranteed to get something. You might not get a Herbert Rookie, but a Justin Jefferson is nice, too. With a razz, often, you leave empty-handed.

That said, if you have extra spending money that you can live without, razz’s are a fun way to have a chance at nice cards. Just be smart about it.

How to Enter a Razz

A razz post will typically look like this:

LeBron Topps Chrome 2007-08 Card. 10 @ $20.

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

Etc.

There will be a picture of the card, and the original post will have all the spots to fill. Sometimes there are 10 spots. Sometimes it’s 100. There are no set rules.

To claim a spot, comment mentioning the number of the spot you’d like to buy. The razzer will edit the original post and add your name, and when the spots fill, the razz will be run, and you’ll see if you won. Sometimes, the winners pay for shipping, so be looking for that, too.

Reasons To Razz A Sports Card As A Seller

Razzing as a seller is easy; it just requires a bit of leg work. The advantage, though, is that it’s easier to find ten or so people who are willing to pay some money for a chance at a big card than pay more for certain ownership.

Plus, some people enjoy the thrill of having a chance at a home run. But, of course, we’re a hobby full of collectors that unwrap packs and hope for a big hit, so it only makes sense, right?

How To Run A Razz

Go to the Facebook group you’re looking to razz your card in, coin your card (take a picture of your card and a post-it with your name and the date), come up with your price, then use the Razz template from above.

Some groups will have to approve your razz before it is posted, and others have specific house rules. So be sure to follow the directions closely.

Finally, once the razz spots fill, tag one of the video runners to run your video. Note: you do NOT run your own video. Somebody trusted by the group runs the video, and you’ll tip that approved runner a few bucks for their time. Then, tag the winner, work out details and addresses, and send the prize away.

If you are going to razz, make sure you know the group rules.

What Is A Sports Card Razz? The Razz Do’s and Don’ts

Razzes are a great tool if used correctly, but they’re also easy to screw up.

Here are a few crucial dos and don’ts to make sure you pull off your first razz seamlessly.

Do Communicate Clearly

Be sure to communicate your expectations clearly. If the buyer is paying for shipping, say it. If you want buyers to pay AFTER, all spots are full, say that. Don’t rely on assumptions.

Do NOT Use PayPal

Do NOT use PayPal for a Razz. This can’t be emphasized enough. Why? Because the lottery-nature of the razz violates PayPal service agreement, and the company has the right to lock down your account if it suspects you’re doing razzes (spoiler alert: 10 payments of exactly $20 within thirty minutes might raise some red flags). Worst still, PayPal doesn’t have to release your funds back to you if you break their rules. So do NOT use PayPal for a razz.

Do not use PayPal for a Razz (get PayPal products on Amazon)

Do NOT Post A Razz In Multiple Groups

For now, Razzes can only be run within on Facebook group. It’s too much work and confusion trying to keep them updated between two groups.

Do Understand The House Rules

Every group has different rules. Always read and understand them before attempting to razz.

The Fatal

Lastly, The Fatal is another form of Razz worth mentioning. Typically, a fatal is a razz with four sports for a mid-value card. After randomizing, the top number wins the card and tips the video runner, while the bottom number pays the entirety of the asking price for the card.

The Bottomline: What Is A Sports Card Razz?

If you’re taking your cards to the razz game, follow these rules, and you’ll experience smooth selling and good experiences without paying eBay fees!

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Jesse Haynes

Jesse Haynes

Jesse Haynes is the co-founder of Solaro Shades, an Amazon #1 Bestselling novelist, and a lifelong sports card collector. His nonfiction work has been featured in Forbes, Inc., MarketWatch and more. At CardLines, Jesse’s specialties are basketball and football cards, not to mention making informative video and Instagram content.

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Important: When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.