Buying and selling postcards on ebay

Tips for Buying Cards

When doing an initial search on Ebay for cards, do not limit yourself to only looking within the postcard section. Sellers often list postcards under the category they are representative. To exemplify this, do an open-ended search of postcards to see what is available in the market. Type the word postcard in the search box of Ebay's home page. This will open up listings in categories such as Collectibles, Sports Memorabilia, and Entertainment Memorabilia. Sub headings of these categories will be even more varied with listings in Transportation, Historical Memorabilia, Photographic Images, Militia, Animals, Advertising, Religious, Cultural, and many more. Browsing these categories will draw attention to such a huge assortment, you could easily spend hours just browsing through the listings.

If you have a particular card or subject in mind, add related keywords to the initial search field to help narrow it down. If this does not provide a match, do try alternative keywords. For example, a photographic postcard of an Alaskan whaling scene was listed as a vintage boat photo, with no mention of the Alaskan whaling scene whatsoever. Maybe the seller thought that by being vague they would draw more people to the auction. Attempting different keyword combinations will increase your chance of a successful search.

Tips for Selling Cards

When listing cards for sale on Ebay, be as specific as possible in the title. For the card noted above, ideally the title would have included the addition of the words Alaskan and whale. It could also have included the word ethnic, or been triply listed under the sub headings of Postcards & Paper, Photographic Images, and Cultures, Ethnicities. Do be careful not to overspend on listing the card though. Your goal when selling anything on Ebay is to make a profit.

Condition

One advantage of buying postcards on Ebay is that nearly every listing includes a photo of the actual card. This is extremely important as a card's condition can vary greatly from one to the next. When buying or selling postcards, condition is a top priority.

When selling, include a directly scanned or photographic image of the actual card. Note any stains, creases, or tears in the auction's description. If there is any writing or postage on the card, include this information. If you have any special knowledge of the postcard's topic or origination, include it in the description.

When buying, be upfront and ask any questions prior to bidding. If the image shows a stain or other markings that would change you mind on whether to bid or not, and nothing is stated in reference to it in the description, inquire. It may be possible that the scanned image is slightly different from the actual image.

Shipping and Charges

With an item like a postcard, shipping can weigh heavily on whether it is worth purchasing or not. If you are the seller, and are listing several postcard auctions at once, offer to combine shipping charges. If listing only one or two at a time, keep the charges fair. Buyers are much more likely to bid if shipping charges are reasonable. One exception would be if you are buying or selling a card that is rare with a price to match. Insure it as you would any other item of expense.

If you are a buyer, inquire how cards are to be shipped before bidding. Cards should be protected between cardboard sleeves or other stiff packing material. Small boxes work well also. If you are the seller, take care when packing the cards. Oftentimes, because the item is -just paper- not as much care to packaging is given as should be.

Be careful when creating your listings that your costs are not so high that any profits gained are immediately lost. Because cards often are sold for only a few dollars a piece, listing them under several headings and adding additional photos beyond the initial one is not usually cost effective.

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