Where to sell
From Binder to Bank
Whether you’re offloading a childhood collection or building a store, this guide should hopefully help you navigate the domain
In today's market, success isn't just about what you sell, but how you manage your Storefront, Liquidity (Payouts), and Logistics (Shipping). To help you choose the right home for your cards, let's break down the math and the mechanics.
💰 The $100 Sale: Fee & Profit Breakdown
Here is the general take-home $ from major platforms - Not including shipping and etc.
| Platform | Marketplace Fee | Payment Processing | Per Order Fee | You Keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify (Basic) | 0% | 2.9% ($2.90) | $0.30 | $96.80 |
| Mercari | 10% ($10.00) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $90.00 |
| TCGplayer (Std) | 10.25% ($10.25) | 2.5% ($2.50) | $0.30 | $86.95 |
| eBay (Cards) | 13.25% ($13.25) | Included | $0.40 | $86.35 |
| Cardmarket (EU) | 5% (5.00€) | Varies | $0.00 | ~95.00€ |
- Shopify Note: While fees are lowest, you pay a $39/mo subscription fee.
- TCGplayer Note: Commission is capped at $50 per item, making it cheaper for very high-value cards.
- Ebay Note: Standard fee is capped at $7500 per item, then lowers to 2.35% making it cheaper for very high-value cards.
- Mercari Note: Mercari removed separate processing fees for sellers in 2025, moving them to the buyer's side.
Payout Schedules
Understanding the "payout" is critical for managing your cash flow. Each platform handles your money differently once the "Sold" notification pops up.
| Platform | Payout Frequency | Standard "Release" Trigger | Bank Clearing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCGplayer | Mondays & Thursdays | 24h after Delivery (Tracked) or EDD (PWE) | 1–4 Business Days |
| eBay | Daily / Weekly | 2–3 days after Delivery Confirmation | 1–3 Business Days |
| Mercari | On-Demand (1/day) | Once buyer rates (or 3 days after delivery) | 5–7 Days (Free) / 30m (Instant) |
| Shopify | Daily (Default) | Automatically after transaction capture | 1–3 Business Days |
TCGplayer - Batch Payouts
TCGplayer uses a rigid, automated cycle. They don't pay per sale; they pay in batches.
- Payout Days: Initiated every Monday and Thursday.
- The Trigger: For tracked orders, funds clear 24 hours after delivery. For untracked (PWE), they clear 24 hours after the Expected Delivery Date (EDD).
- The Wait: New sellers typically see a 2–3 week lag for their very first payout due to bank verification.
eBay - Flexible Schedules
eBay allows you to choose your own "payout heartbeat."
- Options: You can set payouts to be Daily, Weekly, Bi-weekly, or Monthly.
- The Hold: Most new sellers face a "DD+2" or "DD+3" hold, meaning funds are held for 2–3 days after confirmed delivery.
- Instant Access: For an extra fee, "Payouts on Demand" hit your debit card in 30 minutes.
Mercari - Rating-Based Release
On Mercari, the buyer's feedback is the key to your vault.
- The Release: Funds are released as soon as the buyer rates you. If they don't rate, Mercari auto-releases the funds 3 days after delivery.
- Withdrawal: ACH Direct Deposit is now FREE for successful transfers. Instant Pay hits your card in minutes for a $3 flat fee.