Who Buys Old Postcards Near Me

If you have been handed down a postcard collection or collected postcards and now want to sell them you need the answer to the question ‘who buys old postcards near me’. If you are based in the UK then you have many options available to you to ensure you get the best price possible. Bear in mind that a collector will always pay more for postcards than a dealer because the dealer has to resell the postcards at a profit and needs to secure a decent margin on every purchase.

Dealers have many overheads including travel costs, table expenditure and tax before they can be in a position to make a profit. It’s normal for a dealer to offer 25%-30% of the face value of your postcard collection so they are in a position to make a profit when they sell. Collectors who buy from the dealer will often ask for a discount which is normally provided if the amount is over £10-£15. This reduces profits and must be taken into account.

Even if the dealer did not sell at a dedicated postcard fairs they still incur fees from selling online. If they sell on eBay they can expect a 14% charge and tax on top of that. Many dealers offer free postage to attract more sales but it still has to be covered by the dealer. If you haver a collection of a very tight, specific subject or topographical area then the best scenario is to sell to collectors of these postcards.

Collectors are just that, they collect and very rarely sell. They accumulate a collection and do it continuously over time. They may come across duplicate postcards that they either swop with fellow collectors or they move them on by selling them to dealers or online auction websites. All collectors have a budget but when a special postcard or collection comes onto the market they would naturally ignore their budget and pay way above the value of the postcard. They can afford to do this because they are not buying to sell and have no interest in making a profit.

Another option for the seller is to send them to a land based auctioneer like Warwick and Warwick. They have around 6-sales per year dedicated to postcards. You will find a lot of quality collections move through Warwick and Warwick and it’s a place where collectors and dealers buy. The seller will have to consider a 17.5% commission charge plus VAT on the hammer price of all successful sales.

If you’re not sure what to do with your inherited postcards or a collection you have amassed over the years then please feel free to Contact Us and we can advise you. We can give you a free valuation with no obligation to sell. Once you know the value and you are prepared to sell we could make you an offer. If not we will best advise you on the ideal place to sell them so you get the highest return. Either way, you cannot lose by contacting us.

Never rush into selling your postcard collection. Take the time to look at your options so you get the best price should you decide to sell. Receiving a valuation will provide some interesting information about your postcards and you may decide to keep them and sell them in the future and hope to receive a higher return. If you are unsure about selling then I would advise you to keep them safe and sell at a time when you are more comfortable. Sometimes it’s difficult to part with something handed down through the generations. Just keep them, enjoy looking at them and treasure them as part of your family history.