If you have played trading card games for any length of time, you have almost certainly accumulated cards you no longer need. A TCG buylist is the most straightforward way to turn those cards into cash or store credit without the effort of listing them individually on eBay.
This guide explains exactly what a buylist is, how the process works in Australia, and what you need to know before submitting your first one.
A TCG buylist is a public list published by a card store showing which cards it wants to buy and what it will pay for each one. In Australia, major stores including Good Games, TCG Singles, Gameology, and Ronin Games all run active buylists. You submit a list of cards you want to sell, the store checks their current buylist prices, and pays you either in cash or store credit — with store credit almost always paying 20 to 30 percent more than the cash rate.
What Is a TCG Buylist?
A TCG buylist (also called a buy list or trade-in list) is a document or online tool published by a trading card game store that lists the specific cards it is currently willing to buy, alongside the price it will pay for each card in a specific condition.
Buylists exist because card stores need a constant supply of singles to sell to other customers. Rather than waiting for walk-ins, stores publish their buying prices publicly so sellers can check whether their cards are wanted before making a trip or posting cards in.
The buylist price is always lower than the store's selling price for the same card. The difference is the store's margin. A card selling for AU$20 on a store's website might have a buylist price of AU$10 cash or AU$13 store credit. That spread is normal and expected — it is how stores operate.
How the Buylist Process Works in Australia
The process is broadly the same across Australian stores, with minor variations.
Step 1: Check the store's buylist. Most Australian stores with active buylists use an online tool (commonly BinderPOS or a similar platform) where you can search for specific cards and see the current buying price. Good Games, TCG Singles, Gameology, and Ronin Games all have searchable online buylists.
Step 2: Build your submission list. You search for each card you want to sell, select the condition (Near Mint, Lightly Played, etc.), and add it to your list. The tool calculates your total offer in real time.
Step 3: Submit and confirm. Once you submit, the store reviews your list and sends a confirmation. This is also when they lock in the price — some stores note that prices can change between submission and processing.
Step 4: Send your cards or drop them in. Most Australian stores accept mail-in submissions for any location, and in-store drop-off for local customers. Cards should be sent unsleeved, unsorted to match your submission list, and with your buylist reference number included.
Step 5: Get paid. Once the store verifies your cards against your submission, they pay you via bank transfer (cash option) or issue store credit. Most stores process within 2 to 5 business days of receiving your cards.
Cash vs Store Credit: What Is the Difference?
Every Australian buylist offers two payment options and the gap between them is significant.
Cash (bank transfer): The lower rate. You receive Australian dollars deposited into your bank account. The typical cash rate is 40 to 60 percent of a card's current market value, depending on the store and the card.
Store credit: The higher rate. You receive credit to spend in that store's online or physical shop. Store credit rates are typically 20 to 30 percent higher than the cash rate for the same card. A card with a AU$10 cash offer might carry a AU$13 store credit offer.
Store credit makes sense if you are an active buyer at that store. Cash makes sense if you want to move on from the hobby entirely or use the money elsewhere.
Condition Requirements
Every Australian buylist specifies a minimum card condition. Near Mint (NM) is the standard accepted condition at most stores. Lightly Played (LP) is accepted at some stores at a reduced rate. Moderately Played (MP) and below is typically rejected.
Before submitting, read the store's condition guide carefully. Most stores publish photo examples of what they consider Near Mint versus Lightly Played. Submitting cards in worse condition than stated will result in either a price reduction or rejection of those cards — and some stores charge a processing fee if a significant portion of your submission does not match your stated conditions.
What Cards Are on a Buylist?
Not every card in existence appears on every buylist. Stores list cards they actually need for their inventory based on customer demand. High-demand singles from current and recent sets are almost always listed. Bulk commons and low-value cards are typically bought in bulk by weight rather than individually.
A card missing from a buylist does not necessarily mean it is worthless — it may simply mean that particular store has enough copies in stock already. This is one of the core reasons why comparing buylists across multiple stores matters.
The Problem With Checking One Buylist
Australian TCG sellers typically check one store's buylist and accept whatever offer they see. This leaves money on the table.
Buylist prices vary significantly between stores for the same card. One store might be paying AU$8 cash for a specific card while another is paying AU$14 for the same card in the same condition, simply because the second store has higher demand for it at that point in time.
Without checking multiple stores, you have no way of knowing whether the offer you have received is competitive. This is the problem that a buylist aggregator solves — pulling prices from multiple Australian stores into one view so sellers can see the best available offer for each card without visiting every store individually.
Free: Download the C3 TCG Collection Tracker Catalogue your cards before you submit a buylist. Knowing exactly what you have makes the process faster and ensures you do not miss valuable cards in your collection.
C3 Buylist Aggregator — Coming Soon We are building a tool that compares buylist prices across Australian stores in one place. Join the early access list to be the first to use it when it launches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does buylist mean in TCG? A buylist is a store's published list of cards it wants to buy, with set prices for each card by condition. It tells sellers exactly what the store will pay before they send anything in.
Do Australian card stores buy cards by mail? Yes. Good Games, TCG Singles, Gameology, and Ronin Games all accept mail-in buylist submissions from anywhere in Australia. You submit your list online, receive a confirmation, then post the cards to the store's address.
How long does a buylist take to process in Australia? Most Australian stores process buylist submissions within 2 to 5 business days of receiving the cards. Payment is then made via bank transfer or store credit depending on which option you selected.
Is it better to sell on eBay or use a buylist? eBay typically returns more money per card but requires listing, photography, packaging, postage, and fees. A buylist is faster and simpler but pays less. For large collections or bulk cards, buylists save significant time. For high-value individual cards, eBay usually pays more.
What condition do my cards need to be for a buylist? Near Mint is the standard condition accepted at full buylist price. Lightly Played is accepted at most stores at a reduced rate. Check the specific store's condition guide before submitting — the definitions vary slightly between stores.
Can I negotiate buylist prices? Generally no. Buylist prices are set by the store and apply equally to all sellers. Some stores may make exceptions for very large collections or very high-value individual cards, but this is not the norm.
What happens if the store rejects some of my cards? Rejected cards are typically returned to you at your expense, or you can choose to abandon them. Some stores charge a processing fee on the overall submission if a significant number of cards do not match your stated conditions.