eBay (12-13% fees, broadest audience) for items $50-$5,000. StockX (10-15% fees) for sneakers, watches, designer streetwear. Goldin (10-20% premium) for high-end cards. Heritage (10-25% commission) for fine art, antiques, high-value pieces. PWCC for cards $500-$50,000. Catawiki for European-focused niche. Each platform has distinct strengths — match channel to category and price range.
eBay — Universal Marketplace
The largest online collectibles marketplace globally. Fees: 12-13% selling fee plus payment processing. Audience: broadest possible (200M+ buyers). Best for: items $50-$5,000 across all categories. Authenticity Guarantee covers watches over $2,000, sneakers over $150, and trading cards. Risk: variable seller quality, occasional payment fraud, requires careful seller vetting.
StockX — Sneakers, Watches, Streetwear
Specializes in modern sneakers, watches under $25K, designer streetwear, and electronics. Fees: 10-15% combined buyer/seller. Authentication: every item authenticated before delivery. Best for: modern sneakers especially Air Jordans, Yeezys, Travis Scott collabs. Watches under $25K (mostly modern). Risk: occasional authentication errors that have led to lawsuits, returns of authenticated items.
Goldin — Premium Card Auctions
Major auction house for trading cards owned by Collectors Universe (PSA’s parent). Buyer’s premium 20%, seller’s commission negotiable. Best for: high-grade vintage cards, modern key rookies graded PSA 10. Audience includes serious collectors and family offices. Strong for cards $1,000+.
Heritage Auctions — Comprehensive Auction House
Largest collectibles auction house in the US, covering essentially all categories. Fees: 25-26.5% buyer’s premium, 10-25% seller’s commission. Best for: items $1,000+, fine art and antiques, vintage cards, comics, coins, sports memorabilia, vintage video games. Online weekly auctions complement major signature events.
PWCC Marketplace — Trading Cards
Card-focused marketplace and auction platform. Fees: ~15% combined. Excellent for cards $500-$50,000 range. Strong vintage and modern card buyer base. Provenance database tracks card transactions. Lost some standing during 2023 industry challenges; has restructured.
Catawiki — European Niche Marketplace
Auction-based platform focused on European collectibles. Fees: 12-15% combined. Best for: European stamps, coins, comics (BD), vintage toys, watches. Strong for European market access. Items must pass expert review before listing.
Specialty Platforms
Discogs (vinyl): 8% fees, largest dedicated vinyl marketplace. Bring a Trailer (cars): no buyer fee, 5% commission cap. Yoogi’s Closet (luxury handbags): authenticated luxury resale. Whisky Auctioneer (rare whisky): focused auction platform.
Choosing the Right Platform
Match platform to category, price range, and your time availability. High-value items deserve specialist platforms with provenance documentation and authentication. Lower-value items work fine on broader marketplaces. Always factor full cost of selling (platform fees + payment processing + shipping + tax compliance) into your math.