If you need some quick cash, the solution to your problems might be waiting to be discovered in your sports collectibles. Although pawn shops are better known as places to pawn or sell things like electronics or tools, every shop is as unique as the community it serves. If there is a market for sports collectibles in your community, your pawnbroker may be interested in buying or making a loan against the value of your sports collectibles.
Why consider your local pawnshop for your sports collectibles?
If you pawn, you can get your items back if you repay your loan on time. Also, a loan from a pawnshop does not put your credit score at risk. Your collectibles can repay you for all the care you’ve given them over the years by making it possible for you to get a lifeline of a loan.
Pawnbrokers are savvy buyers and know that the market for sports memorabilia is only going to grow over time. As a result, they have an interest in making you a great deal.
Regardless of if you are pawning or selling, your pawnshop is a great option when you are looking for quick cash for your collectibles. You won’t have to deal with finicky collectors, auctions that may not give you the value you need, or dealing with the hassle of shipping and handling.
What is considered collectible?
Everything from trading cards to autographed jerseys and equipment is considered popular collectibles. If it catches the eye of a fan, it can be regarded as collectible. The rarer the item, the higher the price it will command. To that end, the biggest offers will be for unique things like autographs on cards, jerseys, and equipment such as bats, balls, sticks, etc. Vintage cards are also sure to get a lot of interest.
However, that’s not to say that things like common cards have no value. Complete sets of trading cards can also fetch good value, as well as bundles of short-printed cards or rare sets and sub-sets. But, how do you know the potential value of what you have?
Step 1: Do your homework
When you are looking to sell or pawn your sports collectibles, your first and most crucial step is to research the value of your items. For a collector, this is sometimes a confusing step, because the math can be skewed by two factors: sentimental value and book value. Although an item might have deep significance to you, you cannot expect the market to reflect that in value.
Where book value is concerned, some collectors cling to book value like gospel, although it should only be used as a vague guide as far as what you can expect to sell or pawn for, if that. However, finding the value of your items can be free and easy. You just need to commit the time and energy to find the going market value, then adjust your expectations accordingly. Your pawnbroker needs to be able to sell everything in their shop for a profit, so try to be comfortable with around 40 – 60% of the value of your items.
Sets from the junk-era of baseball cards will not fetch a lot. So before you walk in with a box of hockey cards from 1991, know that your local pawnbroker will probably not be able to resell it, and therefore may not be interested.
On the extreme end, if your item has provenance, you should find out who has owned it before you. In the case of rare autographs, find out how many autographed items exist, how many are circulating in public, and where or when the item was signed. The more information you can legitimately share with your pawnbroker, the more comfortable you make it for them to resell.
For example, if you have an autographed game ball that was signed during a championship or other significant match, the item will command a much higher price than a run-of-the-mill autograph with no particular significance.
Step 2: Gather your paperwork
If the items you are considering pawning are autographed, be sure to bring your certificates of authenticity with you. This will save your pawnbroker a lot of time and energy assessing the value of your item and will make it much easier for them to sell. If you don’t have certifications handy, but your item has a barcode from one of the trusted verification houses, you can contact them to get a copy.
If you have an autographed item or other collectibles that can be considered rare, you can consider getting it authenticated to get a higher offer from your pawnshop. However, you should do careful research, as the verification process can be timely and can quickly add up if you decided to get multiple items authenticated at once.
Step 3: Make your items look good
To get the most value in the sale or pawn of your sports collectibles, do your best to clean them up without damaging them. For graded cards or encased items, dust off the covers and make sure it is free of fingerprints or other debris before presenting it to your pawnbroker.
This may not seem like a necessity, but put yourself in your pawnbroker’s shoes – would you want to buy items out of a stained or dusty box? Would you want to put an autographed baseball in a scratched up or cracked case on your shelf?
Step 4: Don’t be afraid to negotiate
Your pawnbroker wants to work with you to reach a deal that works for everyone. If their first offer isn’t to your liking, it is perfectly alright, and it is acceptable to ask for more. If the idea of negotiating in person, you’re not alone. We’ve compiled a handy guide to negotiating with your local pawnbroker here.
To recap: When it comes to selling or pawning your sports collectibles, keep the following in mind, and you’ll hit a home run at the pawnshop:
- Do your homework
- Bring in all certification
- Make your items look good
- Don’t be afraid to negotiate
You never know if sports collectibles can get you the cash you need until you take the time to find out. Visit us today to see how we can help!
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