Chances are, if you grew up in the late 90s/early 2000s or had a kid around the time, you’ve owned Pokemon cards at one time or another.
With over 800 different Pokemon species and millions of fans around the world, there’s no doubt that Pokemon is one of the defining shows and card games of multiple generations.
Plus, with thousands of cards and a variety of different sets and expansions, the world of Pokemon trading cards has a pretty insane amount of depth to it…and a ton of monetary value.
Some Pokemon cards are worth nothing, some are rare, and some are extremely valuable.
In fact, if you can get your hands on cards like a first edition, perfectly rated Charizard, you might be looking at over $300,000 in value with just that single card!
Imagine finding that in your old card collection!
The point is, the world of trading Pokemon cards is insanely valuable, and many collectors view Pokemon cards as both a piece of history and lucrative investment opportunity.
So, if you have any cards saved up from when you were younger or if you still collect, you could potentially be sitting on hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Of course, there’s a lot you should know in order to avoid undervaluing your Pokemon cards.
Where do you sell them? How do you price them? And what else can I take advantage of?
Stick around until the end to find the answers to all those questions including the best place to sell Pokemon cards!
What Influences Pokemon Card Prices?
Before we get into the best places to sell Pokemon cards, we have to go over how Pokemon cards are valued and what makes expensive cards have such ridiculous price tags.
Generally, Pokemon cards are influenced by a few different factors:
- Condition.
- Rarity.
- Edition.
- Overall Demand.
Each of these 4 factors can have a dramatic effect on the pricing of the cards, with condition being the overarching factor that can obviously destroy your chances of ever selling a card.
Image courtesy of Professor Oak
Condition is determined by a few things such as scratches, creases, wear, tear, and liquid damage. You can view a more detailed guide here.
Rarity is determined by the symbols and numbers displayed on the bottom right corner of the card or the bottom right corner of the picture (depending on version of card).
Circles or diamonds aren’t worth much, while stars and first edition symbols can be very rare.
Edition is determined by special types of cards that were made as part of a unique set. First edition cards are amongst the rarest Pokemon cards in the world.
Overall demand is pretty self-explanatory. If there is an abundance of a specific card, then it obviously won’t be worth much. This somewhat ties in with the rarity of the card.
Ultimately, the goal is to find Pokemon cards that are first edition, rare, and have the highest grade possible: PSA 10 Mint, which basically means it’s a card that went straight from pack opening into a protective sleeve and has never been handled.
The Best Places to Sell Pokemon Cards (Online)
There are a few different places to check out in order to sell your pokemon cards online.
I highly recommend you begin your process of finding places to sell Pokemon cards by looking through your collection first to look for possible first edition or old cards that might be more valuable.
Next, separate out cards that are incredibly worn since these are unlikely to sell.
Once you have a pile of cards you think have some value, you’re ready to find a place to sell your Pokemon cards!
1. Ebay
If you want to have the most control over selling your Pokemon cards, it’s hard to match eBay for online options.
eBay is a clear choice for anyone who wants to sell multiple Pokemon cards at once or even list some of their rarest collections.
There is a huge marketplace on Ebay that people utilize to auction cards in order to get the most value from them.
Ebay won’t really help you figure out the price of your card and it’s worth, so use a site like Pokemon Prices to help you determine the pricing.
All you have to do is enter the card or set name and Pokemon Prices will spit out an estimated price for your card.
Pokemon Prices is an excellent resource no matter which site you decide to sell on and it can help you keep track of your cards and their value while you organize your collection!
Plus, you can even track the historical prices of cards and view pricing trends to see if a card is trending upwards or downwards in value:
If you find some of your cards have value, you can then list them individually on eBay or as a collection for potential buyers.
Just be sure to take quality pictures of the cards from all angles and even close-ups to see any blemishes and marks that may be on the card.
2. Troll and Toad
Troll and Toad is a massive card marketplace that sells individual cards, rare packs, and even training boxes.
While Pokemon is their largest sector, they also sell other cards from Yugioh to Dragon Ball.
The best part about selling Pokemon cards online with Troll and Toad is that they accept both bulk selling and individual cards.
However, to sell cards on Troll and Toad, you need to have a card worth a minimum of $30 as a personal seller. Additionally, if you’re selling more than $5,000 worth of cards, you need to contact them.
Troll and Toad is somewhat strict, and you should consult the seller’s guide if you want to sell to them to learn the ropes.
However, if you want a reliable place to sell Pokemon cards or to take advantage of their 35% store credit bonus that you can take as payment instead of cash, Troll and Toad is worth considering.
Your card will be found much easier compared to eBay and your card value could be worth more too!
3. Card Market
Card Market is a European online card marketplace that makes selling Pokemon cards extremely easy.
After creating an account, all you have to do is click on sell cards and you will be prompted with a fillable list that helps you with autogenerated search.
Meaning, when you type in the word “Pikachu”, you will get a drop down list of all the different versions of a Pikachu card. From there you can select the proper match and continue filling out your listing as normal!
You set your own price, but you will also be given averages for similar cards that have already been sold on Card Market.
You have to grade your cards using Card Market’s grading guidelines, but this is common for selling Pokemon cards online, so get used to judging your own cards!
4. TCG Player
TCG Player is a massive marketplace for collectible gaming, including games like Magic the Gathering, Yugioh, Cardfight, and Pokemon cards.
Like other vendors, you can also sell your Pokemon cards to TCG Player if you want to get them off your hand for some extra cash.
The set up process is no risk because you don’t have to pay any fees to list items.
Plus, your account includes assistance with thousands of images, descriptions, and rarity levels to help you market your Pokemon cards extremely easy.
TCG Player even has a card scanner with their pro level subscription which literally scans your cards and knows exactly which card it is (including price estimates)!
You have to basically be a business or have a massive collection to qualify for a pro-level subscription, so keep this in mind.
However, even individual sellers can benefit from features like:
- Live pricing data for cards.
- Instantly list thousands of cards with pre-created info.
- Level up your seller account as you sell and get more positive feedback (which makes future selling easier).
Consider using TGC if you have an excessive amount of Pokemon cards because their software is going to be the best for uploading a lot of cards quickly.
Extra Reading – The Best Place To Sell Yugioh Cards.
5. Card Cavern
Card Cavern is an online Pokemon code marketplace that specializes in PTCGO codes, which are online codes for”Pokemon the trading card game online.”
Basically, there are Pokemon cards that have a code on them and if you haven’t redeemed those cards online, you can still sell them on a place like Card Cavern.
The process is digital, assuming you are only selling the code on there and that you’re agreeing to send it over email.
This is a bit different than selling physical cards, of course, but the idea is the same: you can profit by selling Pokemon codes you don’t plan on using.
Card Cavern also has a very user-friendly system where you can sell individual cards on top of code cards and other special edition Pokemon packs.
While this is a more niche way to sell Pokemon cards for cash, it’s certainly one of the best options if you have PTCGO codes to sell.
Where to Sell Pokemon Cards Near Me?
If you have a card collection but don’t want to go through the hassle of selling your cards online, you still have options!
In fact, even in my own city, there’s plenty of places that buy Pokemon cards near me that would be an easy way to turn my cards into cash.
Just remember, make sure you check the price of your valuable cards before you try and sell to ensure you don’t get ripped off!
Anway, here are a few common places that buy Pokemon cards in your area.
1. Pawn Shops
If you have a pawn shop near you, chances are that they’ll take Pokemon cards there or at least consider the idea, especially if you have some rare cards and the owner knows anything about Pokemon.
The process is fairly simple as long as you’re confident in your pricing and know how to properly negotiate to get your cards true worth.
Doing a quick Google search for “Pokemon cards pawn shops” will most likely yield a decent amount of shops nearby that accept/offer card selling and trading.
If I were you, I wouldn’t check out any pawn shops that don’t mention card selling. They usually don’t buy cards because they don’t know anything about them.
2. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist
Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are other options to find people buying Pokemon cards in your area.
Not only will the buyer be able to see the card in-person to help you sell quicker, but you can probably find buyers who are interested in collections and box sets, so bulk selling is fast.
Another great thing about these marketplaces is that you can set a specific radius from your house so you don’t have to go out of your way to sell at a far distance.
Keep in mind that pricing isn’t easy when you sell through Facebook or Craigslist, so you have to do some research to know the value of your collection.
3. Comic Book Stores
If there’s one reliable bet for places that buy Pokemon cards near you, it’s comic book stores.
Comic book stores almost always sell their own cards, so buying cards from local players helps them expand their inventory.
Now, the only downside to this method is that comic book stores need to make a profit too, so they’re probably going to low-ball you.
However, the advantage is that you can probably offload your cards quickly and you know the store is likely interested.
I highly recommend going to a few stores and getting an offer from each one before making a decision on who to sell to. You might be able to maximize your profits.
What Option Is Best?
If you’re not sure about whether or not you should sell Pokemon cards online or in-person, hopefully this explanation will help you understand the difference…
If you have very valuable cards that are worth a lot, you may want to consider selling online through a trusted site listed above.
Additionally, selling online will be a longer process as orders don’t come in immediately. However, you will have a much higher chance of getting your card sold at full price.
If you are selling in bulk and have full packs that you can organize together, in-person selling might be a better option for you.
Sometimes people just want to get rid of their entire collection altogether and selling in-person is a really easy way to do so.
Organize your cards in value, rarity, packs, editions, etc and see which ones fit the proper selling type.
Chances are, you’ll have to sell online and in-person if you have a large enough collection.
Final Word
Pokemon cards brought us a ton of joy when we were younger and even now. they can create some fun once again with the aspect of trading and selling.
Selling your collection now could potentially make you hundreds or even thousands of dollars if you know what you’re doing and where to sell.
However, the best place to sell Pokemon cards is not a set in stone thing.
Every seller will maximize their profits by selling through different marketplaces.
Make the most out of it by doing your research on each card (especially if it’s a valuable one) and eventually you’ll get the hang of price estimates.
Who knows… you might end up having a ton of fun diving back into the nostalgia of it all and start selling Pokemon cards as a fun side hustle!
Daniel is a 20 year old blogger from Los Angeles with a huge love for everything entrepreneurship, finance, and investing. When he’s not blogging at Modern Teen, you can catch him playing volleyball, shooting archery, or finding new ways to make money.