Need tips on How to sell USED Greeting Cards

[lils.stuff]

I know that people buy old greeting cards, but does it matter if they have writing inside the cards? Does it matter if the writing is on the back side of the card-front too? Or should I only sell cards that have no writing on the back side of the front cover? Should I sell the whole card, or cut off the back page? I have boxes full of cards probably ranging from 1960's to current, Is it better to group them by Brands, or by Holidays and Occassions, or by design Themes (such as: flowers, animals, etc.) Is it only the vintage cards that sell? Is it safe to assume that I should throw away/shred the envelopes? Is there any tips for the best way to mail/ship cards? Can they be sent by Media Mail or not? Last, but not least, I've tried before to de-clutter and get rid of my old cards, but once I start looking at them, I couldn't let them go. I could also use any tips on how to detach myself from the sentiment of keeping the cards, especially with cards from relatives that aren't here any more? I'm in the mood to be ruthless and get rid of these boxes, but I'm worried that once I start going through all the cards again, I might change my mind! Help! 🙂

[lils.stuff]

That's a good point, lookng2015. I will look for that, as I am starting to go through boxes now. If I do end up listing any cards, I will make sure that I let potential bidders know if there is writing on the back of any front pages, or not.

[lils.stuff]

I've thought about scanning them hioctane, but I've had to scan so many old photos to make photo books for everyone, I'm sort of scanned-out at the moment, but I will keep it in mind, thanks. I've also just finished sorting through several shoe boxes filled of old photos, and weeding them down to 1 1/2 shoe boxes. (I was hoping to end up with only 1 box, but I did pretty good. I'm passing off the others to other family members to look at today. So I'm starting on greeting cards, postcards, and other souvenir type stuff now. ugh, unfortunately, I'm finding more photos in the shoe boxes. Thanks EVERYONE for your input and tips. It's all been appreciated!

[lindyslucky]

We truly feel for you. 

We too have many cards, letters, sold the postcards. Some were family things going back over a hundred years. We thought that there would be those who would share the memories, but things change, families change.

It is gut wrenching to part with things that have meant a lot to us. In the case of letters and cards, allow yourself to keep a box or two. For yourself. Our opinion about scanning to computer is that it's more work and not the same. Not like seeing your Grandmothers beautiful writing in fountain pen on a note from your childhood. If you have family or friends who might want them, send the things to them. That can be more rewarding than the money you will manage to squeeze out.

Dont ditch the envelopes. There are stamps and postmarks, that are collectible. They can be sold with the cards. We would sell as lots and let someone who knows about these things find them.

What we tell ourselves about parting with items we had cherished is that these were practical people, most cared about us or the family. They would understand the need to dispose of things, and your need to profit from them.

Once you have sorted, put into lots is probably quickest, easiest, just let it go. The memories will still be with you. We all have to move on and deal with this strange new world where so many material things have lost their meaning.

if you have someone, friend, family, new acquaintance who will take time to help you, do that. Sharing memories is why you saved these things.

And if you have no one to help, know that there are other sellers out here who are doing what you are, giving up things that you cared for enough to save.

Dont underestimate that some items have monetary value. Candy wrappers, tickets,needle books, menus, Checks, might be in your boxes.

We would never throw in recycle. One thing we have been distressed about is my MIL before she died, burned all my FIL's WW2 letters & photos. They had been censored and had vintage stamps, postmarks, and family history my sons would have loved.

Please know, it may take time to sell. Seems like everything does. And know that whoever buys these things WANTS them.

Best of luck, you are not alone.

[lils.stuff]

lucky, you seem to know exactly what I'm feeling and dealing with; you said it all so perfectly, are you a mind reader? LOL! Thanks so much for those words of encouragement. And oh-my! I already started ripping up envelopes. Didn't think about the stamps and postmarks. Do I need to include the entire envelope, or just the stamp and postmark?

Thanks again to everyone, all of the comments and suggestions have been helpful, whether I a agree or disagree with them, or choose to follow any or all of the suggestions, I really do appreciate you all taking your valuable time to provide your comments to me. Wishing you all a lovely day! Thanks!, Lil

[castlemagicmemories]

---

wrote:

I know that people buy old greeting cards, but does it matter if they have writing inside the cards?

If you want to sell those cards, you need to list in the description that it has writing, where it is and what it says.  Also show that in your pictures.

Does it matter if the writing is on the back side of the card-front too? Or should I only sell cards that have no writing on the back side of the front cover? Should I sell the whole card, or cut off the back page?

Just be sure to list any writing, what is says, where it is, and show it in your pictures.  Probably best to see the whole card; let the buyer decide if they want to cut it down.

I have boxes full of cards probably ranging from 1960's to current, Is it better to group them by Brands, or by Holidays and Occassions, or by design Themes (such as: flowers, animals, etc.) Is it only the vintage cards that sell?

Newer cards sell as well.

Is it safe to assume that I should throw away/shred the envelopes?

If it has an envelope, include it.

Is there any tips for the best way to mail/ship cards? Can they be sent by Media Mail or not? 

Cards do not come under Media Mail.

Last, but not least, I've tried before to de-clutter and get rid of my old cards, but once I start looking at them, I couldn't let them go. I could also use any tips on how to detach myself from the sentiment of keeping the cards, especially with cards from relatives that aren't here any more? I'm in the mood to be ruthless and get rid of these boxes, but I'm worried that once I start going through all the cards again, I might change my mind! Help! 🙂

I save cards as well and they are especially meaningful from those who have passed on.  The only suggestion I can make to cut down on what you feel is clutter is you might be able to group all your cards from a certain person together, then thin down ones that you feel are not as pretty or don't call to you, and just keep some of them.  This way, you cut down on clutter but don't totally eliminate these treasures from the past, from people you love.

I would suggest searching for cards and checking out those listings.  Check active listings, completed listings, and sold listings.  That should be very helpful as well.

One more thing~~when you ship, you will need to protect these cards, probably cardboard on each side is a good idea.  

---

[castlemagicmemories]

m in the mood to be ruthless and get rid of these boxes, but I'm worried that once I start going through all the cards again, I might change my mind! Help! 

I would advise against being too ruthless; you don't want to have regrets later, and these things would be irreplaceable.  I wouldn't advise getting rid of all of them, but of course, your call.

[thatsallfolks]

---

wrote:

I learned that folks are selling used cards, but they only show pictures of the front of the cards. I assume that there is writing inside, since it says, used, but there is no mention as to whether there is writing on the back side of the front cover, or not. I think that the entire card is included, but since I didn't see any pictures of the backs, I wasn't sure.

---

Did you also determine whether people are buying them, and paying a price that would make it worth your time?

[fashunu4eeuh]

Hi, you would be surprised at how valuable vintage and antique paper goods can be. Collectors of ephemera want the piece in its original state, in as pristine a condition as possible. So do not tear up the envelopes or mark through or cover up addresses, it destroys their value. No need to cut off signatures or writing on the cards. A good rule of thumb— do not alter the paper goods in any way. 

[city*satins]

If you're trying to declutter, I'm going to guess that a few hundred greeting cards are the least of the clutter.  No insult intended, it's just that I've seen sellers who make a beeline for their greeting cards,  get cold feet over sentimentality, yet meanwhile have boxes and bins and shelves and cabinets full of 'future projects' that are really taking up space and yet have still got the idea that they will eventually get to/finish the projects that they envision and for which they have materials to complete more projects than they could finish if they lived to be 300 years old, or that they'll make a great thing to pass along to a younger relation (who sadly will likely take it straight to the thrift shop or the dustbin).  

If any of the cards are not written on separate them out

If any of the cards also have envelopes that aren't written on, separate them too

Those 'reusable' cards can be collectible but unless they're REALLY old, they're most likely best listed in groups by theme (e.g. cartoon, floral, type-of-holiday, children, etc etc)   Take a look at lots that other sellers have offered and check out the SOLD, not the listings that are still running. SOLD tells you much more what's really likely to go for any kind of #

A few may be collectible either unwritten-on or not, because they're super old, foreign, have an interesting feature such as being 3 dimensional, or because the artist is desirable.

Otherwise, they're mostly desirable only to scrapbookers or for decoupage in which case, selling them in a lot is likely the best way to go.

That's how I'd go through them and sort them out for consideration to sell.

[city*satins]

By the way, one of the most ridiculous sales I ever made was a postcard that my grandfather saved from 1919 back in BC Canada.  The card was kind of uninteresting but the script was what it made it valuable.  It said 

Are you going to vote wet or dry?

(This referred to the upcoming vote regarding prohibition.  Incidentally, BC voted WET and made a lot of $ selling booze to US citizens)

The card was in poor condition but legible.  Sold for $35

You just never know.

[castlemagicmemories]

---

wrote:

By the way, one of the most ridiculous sales I ever made was a postcard that my grandfather saved from 1919 back in BC Canada.  The card was kind of uninteresting but the script was what it made it valuable.  It said 

Are you going to vote wet or dry?

(This referred to the upcoming vote regarding prohibition.  Incidentally, BC voted WET and made a lot of $ selling booze to US citizens)

The card was in poor condition but legible.  Sold for $35

You just never know.

---

That made it of historical significance.  Congrats on a good sale!

From what I have seen, vintage cards, even used, can command a very nice price.  

[lindyslucky]

LOL!! You haven't seen my attic!

Old photographs and greeting cards are at this point a LOT of the things.

I won't call it clutter.

These are the sentimental items that are hard to let go of.

And the boxes that are often brought home from a departed relatives estate, to go through later. And hard to face.

At one point, I had every check I had ever written. Now I wish I had saved some more of them. The designs, the amounts!!  As I said, I have an attic. A nice big old house attic.

I imagined grandchildren here exploring it as I did my grandmothers. It didn't happen. 

Our B&M store had been in business since the 1930s. We had every ledger. Expense books, Payroll where people had signed. Literally half a room full. (A 10,000 square ft building and my FIL LIKED auctions...)  Those went into a dumpster. We got tired. And you have no idea how people react when we talk about ditching those. Horror! What would a person do with those? Where would you put them? How much work just to move!!!

Wishing, though, someone had gotten OP before she had ditched the old photos.

As you said, you never know what will sell....we have learned so much on Ebay.

[castlemagicmemories]

---

wrote:

LOL!! You haven't seen my attic!

Old photographs and greeting cards are at this point a LOT of the things.

I won't call it clutter.

These are the sentimental items that are hard to let go of.

And the boxes that are often brought home from a departed relatives estate, to go through later. And hard to face.

At one point, I had every check I had ever written. Now I wish I had saved some more of them. The designs, the amounts!!  As I said, I have an attic. A nice big old house attic.

I imagined grandchildren here exploring it as I did my grandmothers. It didn't happen. 

Our B&M store had been in business since the 1930s. We had every ledger. Expense books, Payroll where people had signed. Literally half a room full. (A 10,000 square ft building and my FIL LIKED auctions...)  Those went into a dumpster. We got tired. And you have no idea how people react when we talk about ditching those. Horror! What would a person do with those? Where would you put them? How much work just to move!!!

Wishing, though, someone had gotten OP before she had ditched the old photos.

As you said, you never know what will sell....we have learned so much on Ebay.

---

Some sellers sell vintage photos quite successfully.  There is a great post, I have an amazing story to tell, that is usually pinned to the side of the Selling Board as popular.  It is a great story of a vintage photo!

You know what they say...one man's junk is another man's treasure.

[luckythewinner]

---

wrote:

I know that people buy old greeting cards, but .... 

---

I would find these sellers on eBay who are successfully selling used greeting cards, and see what they are doing. 

I did a quick search here and it looks like they only sell for about $1 a pound when listed in lots. 

[lils.stuff]

---

wrote:

Hi, you would be surprised at how valuable vintage and antique paper goods can be. Collectors of ephemera want the piece in its original state, in as pristine a condition as possible. So do not tear up the envelopes or mark through or cover up addresses, it destroys their value. No need to cut off signatures or writing on the cards. A good rule of thumb— do not alter the paper goods in any way. 

---

Hi, I can understand that collectors would want the envelopes in original condition, but I'm struggling with including them with the names and addresses on them, it feels uncomfortable, especially for the more recent cards. It's awkward enough thinking about listing the cards with personal messages inside, even if they are simple Happy Birthdays, love grandma, or similar type messages. I'm thinking that I should only keep the, much-older envelopes in tact, if I still have those.