Consignment is how most card collections above a few hundred dollars end up actually selling. You hand over the cards, the shop lists and sells them, and you get paid when they move. It trades speed for money, and for most collections above $500 or so, the math is clearly in favor of consignment over outright cash offers.
This page is the overview. It covers what consignment is, when it’s the right move, how ORB’s program works, and the specific fee structure you’ll pay. For the deep dives, see the specialized guides linked throughout.
What Consignment Actually Is
When you sell your cards outright, you hand them over and walk out with cash the same day. The shop takes the risk and the upside. Outright offers are typically 50 to 70 percent of market.
When you consign, you still own the cards. The shop lists and sells them on your behalf, takes a percentage when each card sells, and pays you the rest. You give up speed. You keep upside.
Which one is right for you depends on the collection, your timeline, and whether you want to deal with logistics yourself. For a full walkthrough of the consignment process step by step, read our beginner’s guide to consigning sports cards.
When Consignment Makes Sense
Consignment works best when:
- You have graded cards. PSA, BGS, or SGC slabs carry a market premium. That premium disappears if you take a cash offer at 60 cents on the dollar.
- Your collection is worth $500 or more. Below that number, consignment fees can leave you with less than a cash offer would have. Above it, the math consistently favors consignment.
- You don’t want to run an eBay operation. Photography, titles, pricing research, shipping, disputes, feedback monitoring. That is a real job for a real collection.
- You want exposure to multiple marketplaces. A card on one eBay listing reaches one audience. A card listed across multiple channels at once reaches many.
If you’re trying to decide between consignment and running eBay yourself, the consignment vs. eBay breakdown works through the full fee and time math on a realistic $2,000 collection.
Good vs. Bad Consignment Material
Right for Consignment
- Graded cards (PSA, BGS, CGC, SGC)
- High-value singles ($50 and up individually)
- Vintage cards in gradeable condition
- Modern numbered parallels and autographs
- Sealed vintage or short-print product
Better Sold Outright
- Bulk commons
- Damaged or heavily played cards
- Low-value raw cards under $20
- Anything you need cash for this week
ORB’s Consignment Fees
We keep the structure simple.
- 10 percent on items $1,000 and above
- 15 percent on items under $1,000
No ingestion fees. No storage charges. No hidden add-ons. For a $2,500 graded card, that’s $250 to us and $2,250 to you, with zero listing or logistics on your end.
Those rates are competitive against national services, but the structure looks different depending on what you’re selling. If you’re weighing ORB against Fanatics Collect, COMC, Probstein, or MySlabs, the card consignment fee comparison puts all of them side by side with real dollar examples and explains who each service actually fits.
What Makes ORB’s Program Different
The number one complaint collectors have about consignment is not knowing what’s happening to their cards. Did it sell? For how much? Is it even listed yet?
We built OmniList to fix that. When you consign with ORB, every card goes into the system. You get a real-time consignor portal showing:
- Every card listed under your account
- Which platform each is listed on
- Current listing price
- Sale status and payout timeline
OmniList also pushes each card to six or more sales channels at once: our Shopify store, eBay, Whatnot, TikTok Shop, and more. That’s not one listing reaching one audience. It’s one drop-off reaching every major secondary market at the same time.
How the Process Works
- Intake appointment. You bring in your cards. We go through the collection with you, authenticate, and assess condition.
- Agreement. Fee structure, any floor prices you want to set, and payout method are documented. You keep a copy.
- Pricing. We research recent sold comps and set listing prices. A good shop explains how they got to the number. If you want to see the math and process in detail, the step-by-step consignment guide breaks down each phase.
- Listing. OmniList pushes your cards to every channel simultaneously.
- Sale and payout. When a card sells, you see it in your portal. Payouts via ACH, check, PayPal, or Venmo on our regular cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my cards don’t sell?
We’ll discuss repricing or return. No storage fees, no hassle.
Can I set minimum prices?
Yes. During intake we discuss floors. Just note that very high minimums slow sales.
How long do cards typically take to sell?
High-demand items often sell within days of listing. Niche and high-value items can take longer. Multi-channel listing via OmniList typically speeds this up compared to single-platform setups.
When and how do I get paid?
After sales clear, on our regular payout cycle. ACH and check keep the most money in your pocket. PayPal and Venmo have processor fees (2.99% + $0.49 and 1.9% + $0.10 respectively).
Do you take out-of-state consignors?
Our program is currently set up for local and Pacific Northwest collectors who can drop off in person. Drop-off is part of how we authenticate and document intake accurately. If you’re outside the area and have something significant, reach out and we’ll discuss options.
Ready to Consign?
If you have graded cards, a collection worth $500 or more, or you just don’t want to turn eBay into a part-time job, consignment through ORB is the right call for most people.
ORB Trading Cards
1900 McLoughlin Blvd, Suite 127, Oregon City, OR 97045
(503) 389-5404 | 11am to 7pm, 7 days a week
Start your consignment request