Determine the value of Magic cards: Tips for selling

If you want to monetise your own Magic card collection, there are a few things you should consider before putting it up for sale. Since the value of the collection to be determined is influenced by various criteria

Determining the value of Magic cards – General review of cards

Before you think about selling, you should check the Magic cards in general for their condition. Already here there are various criteria that can give you an indication of the expected selling price.

• Generally, it should not be surprising that cards in better condition also fetch better prices. However, many do not think to fully inspect the card for defects.
• Not only the front of the card, i.e. the image and the text, should be checked for scratches, discolouration and other signs of use, but also the corners of the cards and the back should be inspected. If there are even the smallest scratches or blemishes, this can affect the price.
• Similarly, production defects such as poor print quality and print lines affect the price.
• It often happens that you surf the internet and read about high sales sums for Magic cards. Often, however, these are very rare cards that meet certain criteria. The most relevant thing for you is whether your cards are so-called reprints, i.e. cards that are a reprint of a card from an older set that was reprinted for a more current card set.
• As a rule, the language on the card or the territory for which the set was produced also influences the price. Cards with German text, for example, are usually worth less than cards with English text.
• If you think your cards are in particularly good condition, it is worth using the services of so-called grading companies such as PSA or Beckett. These companies check your cards very carefully for any blemishes and give them a rating. The card is placed in a hard plastic tray on which the rating can be read off.
• If you have had your cards officially graded using PSA or Beckett, it is also easier to determine a price.

Determining the value of Magic Cards – how to sell your collection

Especially as a layman, it is important to use the right service to sell your Magic cards to avoid being taken in by scammers and losing your precious collection.

• For most, the first thing that pops into your head is the selling platform eBay. However, if you have little to no knowledge of selling cards or don’t sell much on eBay in general, you should be very careful. In many cases, eBay will take the side of the buyer when it comes to disputes, and without good protection on your part, you make it easy for scammers to cheat you out of your cards.
• Platforms like TCGPlayer and Cardmarket specialise in selling trading cards and allow anyone to offer their own cards there. The advantage is that you reach the right target group directly via these services and since the sites specialise in trading cards, the process of listing the cards on the site is also more intuitive than if you were to sell them on eBay.
• Another advantage of these two platforms is that you can also search there in advance for the cards you plan to sell and are able to determine your own selling price based on the prices quoted there by other sellers.
• If you want to make as little effort as possible, you can go to your local trading card or hobby shop. They often buy cards from private stocks. The advantage here is that you can talk directly to the person and also negotiate without delay.