eBay Vault Reduces Threshold Requirement for Trading Cards

eBay has unveiled a new offering allowing collectors, investors, and professional sellers to submit graded trading cards valued at $250 or more to the state-of-the-art eBay facility and digital marketplace.

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This service expands the eligibility criteria for the eBay Vault, extending beyond cards acquired directly on the platform to encompass graded autograph, relic, and patch cards.

Recognized as an emerging alternative asset class, trading cards require instant buying, listing, selling, and ownership transfer capabilities to optimize price realization and portfolio growth.

With eBay’s submission service, collectors can conveniently send individual cards or their entire collections to the eBay Vault, benefiting from specialized long-term storage, expert third-party authentication, and streamlined transactions.

Gene Cook, VP of Global Collectibles at eBay, said, “We understand that collectors, ranging from newcomers to professional sellers, seek to manage their high-value trading card portfolios confidently through swift and seamless transactions.”

“Backed by nearly three decades of leadership in the collectibles category, the eBay Vault offers easy and secure buying, selling, and storage solutions, empowering collectors to excel in the fast-paced world of sports collecting.”

This new submission service complements eBay’s advanced array of collecting tools and features, including Price Guide, eBay Collection, Image Scan, and Authenticity Guarantee, all designed to facilitate simpler and more intelligent trading card transactions.

Overview of the eBay Vault Submission Process

The eBay Vault, a world-class facility spanning 31,000 square feet, serves as the home for some of the most sought-after and rare trading cards, such as the 1952 Bowman Mickey Mantle PSA 10 and the Magic: The Gathering 1993 Black Lotus BGS 9.5.

Equipped with robust physical security measures like round-the-clock surveillance, biometric authentication systems, and intrusion detection systems, the vault ensures card owners’ peace of mind, while meticulous temperature and humidity controls preserve the pristine condition of these prized items.

Additionally, all eBay Vault employees undergo thorough background checks at the C-Suite level and possess expertise in handling high-value collectibles.

To initiate the submission process, collectors can follow these steps:

1. Visit eBay.com/vaultsubmissions, where collectors have the option to send cards via mail or drop them off in-person. Graded cards, as well as graded autograph, relic, and patch cards valued at $250 or more, are eligible for submission.
2. Enter submission details through the eBay app, a web-based form, or a spreadsheet, based on the most convenient method and the volume of cards being submitted.
3. Multiple categories of cards (sports trading cards, collectible card games, or non-sports trading cards) can be shipped together in a single submission.
4. Review and confirm submission details. No submission fees are applicable in 2023.
5. Follow the packaging and shipping instructions or opt for in-person drop-off.
6. Track the progress of the submission online, receiving regular updates through order confirmation, shipping confirmation, and authentication status emails.

Supporting the Collecting Community

eBay is actively engaging with the trading card community at various events across the nation this summer to empower both novice and experienced collectors in making informed buying, selling, and trading decisions, thereby fostering the growth of the hobby.

Collectors Camp: Building upon the success of a previous event in Brooklyn during the NBA Draft, eBay is hosting its second Collectors Camp in Seattle on July 10 and 11, coinciding with MLB All-Star week. This camp features a series of intensive training activities aimed at helping card enthusiasts build exceptional collections using eBay’s collecting tools and services.

The National Sports Collectors Convention: From July 26-30, collectors can visit eBay’s booth (#761) at the convention to expedite the submission process for their vault-eligible cards directly to the eBay Vault.

Gen Con: Taking place from August 3-6, eBay will be present at North America’s largest and longest-running tabletop gaming convention, Gen Con, offering exclusive artist signings and giveaways.

The eBay Vault was launched last year as a significant innovation, enabling collectors and investors to securely store and trade their portfolio of assets. The new lower threshold allows more users to use the vault to store their valuable trading cards.