Back when I launched an eBay store in 2008, I didn’t anticipate such a return on investment. That spring, my son and I decided that there wasn’t a better way to part with my childhood card collection. My five year old asked, “Dad. Can’t you sell them on eBay?” I thought to myself, he’s brilliant; and it was on.
In addition to my personal collection, I started reselling cards I purchased off eBay. A few months after inception, I noticed an auction offering two of these cards. The only difference was the serial number. The 2005 Donruss Throwback Threads set has parallel cards. This means that many base cards in the set have an alternative version of it. One being the coveted Aaron Rodgers rookie card.
Though the cards were identical, one was serial numbered 9/99, and the other was another number from the series. It was higher than nine, though. I sold that one in 2016, but the one pictured was sold to someone in New Jersey in November of 2024.
At the time (2008), the auction closed at $30 for both cards. Even then it was a bargain, considering Aaron Rodgers was already an ascending star. Recently, I auctioned the remaining one and it closed at $65. Did you catch that? In 2008, the unit cost per card was $15. In 2024, I sold one for $65 – a 430% ROI (roughly).
I sometimes think of the sports collectibles industry like the stock market. Familiarize yourself with an athlete, and study up on the variables involved. Like the market, different factors can affect the value of a company’s share price. Aaron Rodgers has since won MVP awards and a Super Bowl, so by 2024 his stock was high.
If you like sports, or flipping money, try it. Anyone can do this. Educate yourself, buy low, then sell high. I started this auction at $14, by the way. Have you had any memorable eBay stories of profit? Do you have questions about the sports cards collecting? Place it in the comments.
