A lot of people figure it’ll be quick — take a few photos, make one big post, and some collector will buy the whole thing in a single shot. It sounds simple, but that’s not usually how it goes. Collectors have their own tastes, and most of the time they cherry-pick the pieces they want and leave you with the rest.
Selling a collection usually means breaking it down step by step — pricing, photos, listings, shipping, tracking sales, and relisting what doesn’t move. It can absolutely be done, but it’s worth knowing what the process really looks like before you jump in.
Here’s the step-by-step truth about what it really takes to sell your collection on your own.
Step 1: Pricing Every Single Item
Before you can list anything, you have to know what it’s worth. That means looking up each game, toy, or collectible on sites like eBay (sold listings only) or PriceCharting for games. Every buyer will compare your price to what’s out there, so if you don’t do the homework, your items won’t move.
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For games: Use PriceCharting to look up loose carts, complete-in-box (CIB), and sealed prices.
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For toys & collectibles: Use eBay sold listings — not asking prices — to see what buyers actually paid.
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Condition matters: Scratches, missing manuals, ripped packaging, or worn stickers all reduce value.
If you’ve got 50–100 items, that means 50–100 individual searches and notes.
Step 2: Photographing Each Piece
Buyers don’t take your word for it — they want proof. You’ll need clear photos of every item from different angles: the front, back, sides, disc surface, cartridge label, or toy details. If there’s a scratch or dent, it has to be visible. Most serious buyers won’t even consider listings without good pictures.
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Take multiple angles: front, back, sides, and close-ups.
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Show inserts, manuals, accessories, and labels.
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Capture flaws like cracks, fading, or tears.
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Use good lighting — dark, blurry photos are a red flag.
A large collection could take hours of photography before you even start listing.
Step 3: Writing and Posting Listings
Now it’s time to write the listings. Each one needs a detailed title, description, and condition notes. On eBay, you’ll also set categories, shipping options, and returns. On Marketplace, you’ll have to answer endless questions anyway, so a detailed description saves you time later. Without it, expect fewer views and lower offers.
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Write descriptive titles: “Pokémon Red Version (Game Boy, 1998) Authentic, Save Battery Working.”
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Upload all photos and fill in platform, year, and condition details.
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Enter shipping weight, shipping service, and return policy.
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Post across multiple platforms: eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Mercari, OfferUp, and collector forums.
Got 100 items? That could be 100 separate listings.
Step 4: Managing Buyer Messages
Once your items are up, the messages start coming in. Some buyers will ask for extra photos, others will try to haggle, and a few might just waste your time. If you’re selling locally, be ready for no-shows. Online, be ready to answer questions daily until the item sells.
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Buyers ask for more photos or details.
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Some haggle over price for days, then disappear.
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On eBay, buyers may win auctions but never pay.
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On Marketplace, expect no-shows and lowball offers.
Every serious sale comes with back-and-forth messages.
Step 5: Packing and Shipping
When something sells, you’re responsible for getting it to the buyer safely. That means bubble wrap, boxes, tape, and printing labels. A damaged package can mean refunds or returns, which eat into your profit. Proper packing isn’t optional — buyers expect it.
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Buy supplies: bubble wrap, tape, boxes, and labels.
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Pack cartridges, discs, and toys securely to avoid damage.
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Drop packages off at USPS, UPS, or FedEx.
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Track every shipment and deal with returns if something breaks.
Every item sold means one round of packaging and shipping.
Step 6: Fees, Records, and Taxes
Every platform takes a cut. eBay, PayPal, and shipping all stack up. Even casual sellers have to track what they sold, what they spent on shipping, and what their net profit really is.
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eBay fees average 13–15%.
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Payment processors (PayPal, Stripe) take a cut.
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Shipping costs and supplies eat into profits.
And the big one:
👉 If you sell more than $600 online in a year, platforms like eBay, PayPal, and Mercari are required to send you a 1099-K tax form. That means your sales are reported to the IRS and you’ll owe taxes on your profits — even if you only sell as a hobby.
The Whole Collection Myth
Many people believe they’ll sell their entire collection to a single collector. That almost never happens.
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Collectors are selective — one might only want RPGs, another sealed items, another only toys from the 80s.
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They cherry-pick the gems and leave the rest.
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Popular items like Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, or rare toys sell first.
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The “filler” titles, sports games, or incomplete toys often sit for months.
In most cases, you’ll still be left with half your collection after the first wave of sales.
The Relisting Cycle
The reality is the popular stuff sells first. The rest — sports titles, scratched discs, loose toys — will sit. To move them, you’ll have to relist, adjust prices, or create bundles. It’s not a one-and-done process; it’s ongoing until the last item leaves your hands.
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eBay listings expire and need to be renewed.
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Marketplace posts drop in visibility and need refreshing.
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Relisting means rewriting titles, updating photos, dropping prices, and waiting again.
This cycle can stretch out for months until every item moves — if it ever does.
Local vs eBay
Many sellers start by listing on local platforms like Marketplace, Craigslist, or OfferUp. Here’s the truth:
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Local buyers expect cheap. They want yard-sale prices.
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Collectors aren’t local. Serious buyers are nationwide and shop on eBay.
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Local traffic is limited. A Marketplace listing may get a few dozen views, while eBay gets thousands.
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Meetups are unpredictable. No-shows, wasted time, or lowball offers are common.
If you want collector-level prices, eBay is usually the only option — and that comes with fees, shipping, and record-keeping.
The Full Picture
Selling your collection yourself is absolutely possible, but it’s not quick or simple. It means:
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Hours of pricing and research.
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Photographing every single item.
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Writing dozens of listings.
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Constant buyer messages.
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Packing and shipping each order.
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Relisting unsold items.
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Managing fees, profits, and taxes.
That’s the true workload of selling a collection piece by piece. Some sellers commit to it. Others decide they’d rather skip the grind.
Ready for the Easy Way?
Selling your collection on your own is possible, but as you’ve seen, it takes hours of pricing, listing, messaging, shipping, and relisting. And even then, you’re often left with half your collection still sitting in boxes.
If you’d rather skip the hassle, there’s a simpler option: Sell directly to RetroDaddy. Just upload photos of your games, toys, or collectibles, get a fair cash offer, and ship everything in one box with a prepaid label. No fees, no endless listings, no leftovers.
👉 Start Here and Get Your Cash Offer