Key points
- Outright sale converts cards to cash immediately at a wholesale price.
- Consignment targets the retail price minus a commission.
- Commission should be a clear percentage of the achieved sale price.
- Ask who carries the risk of loss, damage and non-payment.
Selling outright
A buyer takes the whole collection at an agreed price and assumes every subsequent risk: whether the cards sell, at what price, and how long the money is tied up. That risk is priced in, which is why an outright offer sits below the sum of retail values.
It suits sellers who want certainty, a single transaction and no ongoing involvement.
Consignment
Under consignment the cards remain yours. The seller photographs, describes, lists, answers questions, posts and handles returns, then passes the proceeds to you less an agreed commission.
Because the cards reach the retail market rather than being bought wholesale, the gross figure is usually higher. The trade-off is timing: you are paid as items sell, which can take weeks or months.
What a fair agreement covers
Whatever the rate, the terms should be written down before the cards change hands.
- The commission rate and exactly what it is calculated on
- Who pays marketplace fees, postage and packing
- Whether there is a minimum or reserve price per card
- Insurance while the cards are held
- Payment timing after a sale completes
- How unsold cards are returned, and at whose cost
Working out which is better for you
Compare the outright offer against the realistic net from consignment: expected sale price, less commission, less fees and postage, discounted for the time you wait and the chance some cards do not sell.
Bulk and low-value cards usually favour an outright sale, because the handling cost per card outweighs the margin. Individually valuable, well-identified cards usually favour consignment.
Common questions
What commission rate is normal?
Rates vary by seller and by the value of the item. Vaulted Cards UK charges a flat 15% of the achieved sale price, with no listing fees or up-front charges.
Who owns the cards during consignment?
You do, until they sell. That should be stated explicitly in the agreement, along with insurance arrangements while they are held.
Can a consignment be withdrawn?
Usually yes, subject to the agreed notice and any costs already incurred. Check this before handing anything over.