Buylisting is a popular way for trading card game (TCG) players and collectors to sell their cards directly to game stores and online retailers. Instead of selling cards individually to other players, buylisting allows you to sell your entire collection or specific cards in bulk to businesses that specialize in buying and reselling TCG cards.
How Buylisting Works
The buylisting process is straightforward:
- Get Prices: Retailers list the current buying price, which often varies by set/printing/edition, foil, and card condition
- Build your cart: You build your buylist using a shopping card - like online shopping, but in reverse
- Ship Your Cards: After checkout, you ship your cards to the retailer (often with free shipping on orders over a certain amount) according to their instructions.
- Get Paid: After the retailer verifies the condition and authenticity of your cards, you receive payment
Benefits of Buylisting
Quick and Convenient
- Sell large quantities of cards at once
- No need to photograph, list, or manage individual sales
- Avoid dealing with multiple buyers and shipping logistics
Guaranteed Sales
- Get immediate cash offers rather than waiting for buyers
- No/low risk of non-paying buyers or payment disputes
- Professional retailers handle all payment processing
Fair Market Prices
- Competitive pricing based on current market demand
- Transparent pricing that reflects real-time market conditions
- Often better than what you’ll get from online marketplaces or local gaming stores
What Cards Are Accepted?
Most buylists focus on cards that are:
- In demand: Popular cards for competitive play or collecting
- Good condition: Near Mint to Lightly Played condition typically preferred
- Authentic: Only genuine cards are accepted
- From supported games: Each retailer specializes in specific TCGs
Common TCGs that have active buylists include:
- Magic: The Gathering (MTG)
- Pokémon
- Yu-Gi-Oh!
- One Piece
- And many others
Tips for Successful Buylisting
Condition Matters
Be honest about card condition. Most retailers have strict grading standards, and overgrading can lead to price adjustments or rejected cards. The store with the best price for a Near Mint (NM) or Lightly Played (LP) card might not be the same! Check out our card condition guidance for tips.
Research Multiple Buyers
Different retailers may offer different prices for the same cards. Comparing offers will maximize your return. Optimizing across multiple stores will often net 20% or more.
Understand Buylist Fluctuations
Buylist prices change frequently based on market demand, tournament results, and inventory levels.
Read the Fine Print
Each retailer has specific terms regarding:
- Minimum order values
- Shipping requirements (removing from sleeves, packaging)
- Sorting/ordering cards before shipping
- Payment methods (check, Paypal, Zelle, store credit)
- Return policies for rejected cards
Retailers will often charge return shipping or deduct egregious errors from your payout, so be honest and diligent.
Finding the Best Buylist Prices
CardRouter helps you compare buylist prices across multiple retailers to ensure you’re getting the best value for your cards. You can see which stores are currently buying specific cards and at what prices.
Currently Supported TCGs and Buylists →
Getting Started
Ready to start buylisting? Here’s what you’ll need:
An accurate inventory of your cards
Typically: Name, Set/Edition, Collector number, Foiling, Quantity
Honest assessment of card conditions
Shipping materials for sending your cards
Buylisting is an excellent way to turn your TCG collection into cash quickly and efficiently, whether you’re looking to sell a few high-value cards or liquidate an entire collection.