Quick Answer
You have a collection of Pokemon cards. Maybe hundreds, maybe thousands. You want to sell them. Where do you start? See current prices at /cards/pokemon.
You have a collection of Pokemon cards. Maybe hundreds, maybe thousands. You want to sell them. Where do you start?
The difference between a well-executed collection sale and a poor one is significant in dollar terms. This guide walks through the full process.
Step 1: Sort Before You Value
Do not try to value every card as you go through the collection. This takes forever and burns out most sellers before they finish.
Sort into categories first:
Pile A: holofoils, ex, V, VMAX, full arts, rainbow rares. anything with a special treatment or obvious rarity Pile B: rares without special treatment (standard rare symbol) Pile C: uncommons Pile D: commons
This sort should take 1 to 2 hours for a collection of 500 to 1,000 cards. Do this before touching a price guide.
Step 2: Value Pile A First
Pile A contains the money. Go through each card in Pile A and check the current price on eBay AU sold listings (filter: Sold Items).
Sort Pile A further:
Pile A1: cards worth AU$5 or more. these get individual eBay listings Pile A2: cards worth AU$1 to AU$5. these can go in a bulk lot or low-price individual listings Pile A3: cards worth under AU$1. these go with your bulk
Cards worth AU$5+ are almost always worth individual eBay listing. Cards worth AU$1 to AU$5 are borderline: the time investment in listing must justify the marginal return over bulk.
Step 3: Know Your Bulk Rates
Piles B, C, and D are "bulk." They sell differently:
Reverse holo bulk: typically AU$5 to AU$10 per 100 cards (or AU$0.05 to AU$0.10 per card) to other collectors and game store buylists.
Holo rare bulk: typically AU$0.25 to AU$1 per card to buylists.
Common/uncommon bulk: typically AU$3 to AU$8 per 1,000 cards to buylists. Mass retailers and TCG stores take bulk at per-thousand rates.
Do not list bulk commons and uncommons individually on eBay. The time investment far exceeds the return.
Step 4: Choose Your Selling Method
For the High-Value Cards (Pile A1)
eBay AU: best net return for cards AU$10+. Requires listing, photographing, packaging, and posting each card. Time-intensive but maximises revenue.
Local sale (Facebook Marketplace, local buy/sell groups): no fees, immediate payment, buyer picks up. Best for collections of moderate total value (AU$100 to AU$500) where you'd prefer cash in hand and less hassle. You'll typically sell at 80% to 90% of eBay market price.
For the Mid-Value Cards (Pile A2)
eBay lot listings: group similar cards (same set, same era, same rarity tier) into lots. A lot of "20 Pokemon V cards from Sword and Shield era" is easier to list than 20 individual cards and may net similar total returns.
For Bulk (Piles B, C, D)
Local game store buylist: bring the sorted bulk to your nearest LGS and ask about their buylist rates. Payment is typically cash or store credit on the day.
Online bulk buyers: some online TCG retailers accept bulk lots by post. Check their current buying rates on their website before shipping.
Step 5: Grading Considerations
For any single card worth more than approximately AU$80 to AU$100, professional grading through PSA or Beckett adds significant value if the card is in gem mint condition. Graded copies of popular Pokemon cards sell for 2x to 5x or more of ungraded equivalents in top grades.
Grading fees and turnaround times vary. PSA's bulk services are the most accessible starting point.
Do not grade cards worth under AU$50 in raw form: the grading fee will not be recouped in most cases.
Step 6: Track What You Sell and For How Much
Use the free C3 collection tracker to log what you've sold and at what price. This is important for understanding your actual return versus your estimate, and for tax purposes if you're selling at significant volume.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Selling an entire collection as one lot without sorting: you'll receive 30% to 50% of what the valuable cards are worth individually. Always pull the valuable cards out first.
Misjudging condition: what looks NM to you may look LP to a buyer. Grade conservatively. it's better to be pleasantly surprised than to deal with returns.
Not knowing the current market: Pokemon prices move quickly. A card worth AU$30 in January may be worth AU$12 in June if the meta shifted or reprints arrived. Check current sold prices, not prices you remember.
The C3 Take
The decisions you make with your TCG collection matter more than most guides suggest. Whether you are buying, selling, or holding, the difference between a good outcome and a poor one almost always comes down to checking current AUD prices before you act. Use the live data at /cards/pokemon to make price-informed decisions every time.
What to Read Next
- Browse Pokemon card prices at /cards/pokemon
- Find your Pokemon archetype at /quizzes/pokemon-archetype
- Calculate booster box expected value at /tools
Frequently Asked Questions
Is eBay or a buylist better for selling TCG cards in Australia?
eBay returns more money per card but takes more time and has fees of roughly 13-15% all-in. Buylists pay less (typically 30-50% of market value in cash) but are instant. Use eBay for individual valuable cards. Use buylists for bulk lots where eBay effort is not worthwhile.
What fees does eBay charge for selling TCG cards in Australia?
eBay Australia charges approximately 13.5% final value fee on the total sale price including postage. Factor in postage costs and packaging before pricing your cards. See our full eBay fee breakdown.
How do I know what my TCG cards are worth in Australia?
Check eBay AU completed listings (filter to sold listings) for the most accurate local pricing. The C3 Card Vault also shows live pricing from eBay AU sold data across multiple TCGs.