Where to Sell Used Board Games in 2026 (How to Avoid the “Shipping Tax”)

Which Platform Works Greatest for Promoting Board Video games?

To make it straightforward, I put collectively a fast information to point out which promoting possibility normally works finest relying in your recreation and what you need.

That is how I work out the place to promote my video games with out losing time or shedding cash.

The Trustworthy Reality About What You’ll Get

Earlier than you begin itemizing your video games, I need you to know what you possibly can realistically count on.

Most fashionable passion board video games in good situation solely promote for about 30% to 50% of their unique retail worth.

Some uncommon or extremely sought-after video games go greater, however for many of your assortment, don’t rely on it.

Transport Prices Can Kill Your Revenue

As it’s with loads of stuff you promote on-line, transport can eat your income quick. Board video games are heavy and awkward to ship.

If you’re promoting on-line (eBay, BGG, Reddit), the customer normally pays for transport. So the full value for the customer is Value + Transport.

Let’s say you need to promote a standard recreation (say Catan) for $25. An ordinary 3–5 pound board prices round $15 to ship. So the customer’s whole is $40.

Since Amazon typically sells it new for $42 with free transport, you need to decrease your worth to $10 to be aggressive. After platform charges, you would possibly find yourself with $7.00.

Is it price all that effort?

When you add platform charges on high of that, video games price lower than $20-25 typically aren’t price promoting on-line. For these, I normally sell locally or donate them as an alternative.

Retailer Credit score vs. Money

In case you promote to a retailer or on-line retailer (Noble Knight, BoardGameCo, or an LGS), they clearly should make a margin. They are going to all the time supply a “Credit score Bonus” to maintain the cash of their ecosystem.

• Money Provide: Sometimes 25–35% of resale worth.
• Retailer Credit score: Sometimes 50–60% of resale worth.

If you’re “getting out of the passion,” take the money. If you’re “churning” your assortment to purchase new titles, all the time take the credit score. It practically doubles your trade-in energy.

The 40% vs. 60% Valuation Commonplace

What’s your recreation really price?

Ignore the “Asking Value” you see on eBay lively listings; these are wishful considering.

Take a look at “Bought Listings” solely.

• Frequent / In-Print Video games: Anticipate to recuperate 30–50% of MSRP. If it’s nonetheless out there at Goal or Amazon, the resale market is comfortable.
• Out of Print (OOP) / Kickstarter: That is the place the cash is. Kickstarter exclusives that may by no means go to retail can typically promote for 80–120% of their unique pledge worth.

Greatest Locations to Promote Board Video games On-line

In case your recreation passes the “transport tax” take a look at (which means it’s price sufficient to justify transport prices), on-line marketplaces supply the widest viewers.

However every platform has a selected “tradition” it is advisable be taught to get probably the most bang on your buck.

1. BoardGameGeek (BGG) Market: Greatest for Collectors

In case you’re promoting uncommon, “grail,” or Kickstarter-exclusive video games, I normally go straight to BoardGameGeek (BGG) Marketplace.

It’s the highest place for severe collectors who know precisely what they need.

That stated, their interface is so rattling dated. It’s a must to manually handle communication and cost is just not built-in (normally dealt with through exterior PayPal).

Right here’s why it really works: you’re promoting to people who find themselves actually into video games and have the cash to purchase uncommon stuff. So your video games normally get higher costs than normal marketplaces.

• Status Issues: Your “Commerce Score” is every thing. Begin by shopping for or buying and selling small objects to construct belief earlier than itemizing a $200 “Grail” recreation.
• Price: No itemizing payment however they take a fee (normally 3%) in comparison with eBay’s 15%.

Professional Tip for Transport

I exploit PirateShip to purchase my labels. It hooks up with BGG and normally saves me 30–40% in comparison with the USPS counter. For heavier video games, these financial savings actually add up.

2. Reddit r/BoardGameExchange: Greatest for Peer-to-Peer Gross sales With out Platform Charges

I normally use r/BoardGameExchange once I need to promote on to different avid gamers.

It’s a peer-to-peer market the place you submit your video games with a photograph, your username, and the date (that’s the “timestamp” system Reddit depends on).

The perfect factor about utilizing Reddit to promote board video games is that there aren’t any platform charges. You simply pay the PayPal Items & Providers payment of round 3%, which is approach decrease than eBay or different marketplaces.

Patrons normally count on a “Reddit low cost” in comparison with eBay costs. I’ve realized to not overprice right here, or my video games simply sit.

However when you’re okay with barely decrease revenue, it’s a quick, low-fee technique to promote to avid gamers who’re making an attempt to purchase used video games to avoid wasting a couple of bucks.

3. eBay: Greatest for Attain (The Final Resort)

If I’m promoting high-demand video games or huge “all-in” Kickstarter bundles, I normally checklist them on eBay. It has the most important viewers, so extra folks see your video games, however the charges are greater than on different platforms.

The worst factor about promoting on eBay (and why I listed final for on-line platforms) is its loopy excessive charges. eBay takes about 15.6% between remaining worth charges and cost processing. That cuts into your revenue, so issue it in earlier than you worth your recreation.

Pricing Your Sport

Don’t simply seek for your recreation on eBay and worth it the identical because the listings you discover. As a substitute, filter your search by “Bought Objects” to see what folks really paid within the final 60 days. That approach, you recognize your asking worth is lifelike and that provides you a better probability of really promoting your recreation.

Additionally, all the time use “Calculated Transport.” Don’t supply Free Transport on heavy board video games except you’ve constructed the $15–$25 value into the value.

Professional Tip for Transport

For heavy video games (say, like Gloomhaven), use USPS Giant Flat Fee bins. If the sport matches, it ships for a flat $22, which is normally cheaper than weight-based Precedence Mail. That trick can save you numerous on transport.

Greatest Locations to Promote Board Video games Close to Me

The mathematics is straightforward: each greenback you spend on transport is a greenback misplaced out of your pocket.

For video games price below $30, or heavy video games (like Gloomhaven or Frosthaven) that break the bank to ship, native gross sales are the best choice.

4. Fb Teams (Higher Than Market)

If you wish to promote regionally and maintain your cash, skip Fb Market and be a part of particular board recreation teams as an alternative.

For instance, “New York Metropolis Board Sport Purchase/Promote” or related native teams in your space.

Posting to the overall “Market” exposes you to most of the people who might not perceive why a board recreation prices $60.

However the largest motive to stay to teams is that the “flake” charge is decrease; folks really present up or reply.

Plus, consumers in these teams normally know what video games are actually price, so that you get truthful gives with out haggling an excessive amount of.

As for security, please all the time meet in a public, well-lit location. Many consumers choose assembly at an area recreation retailer or a espresso store. Money or Venmo in individual solely.

5. Native Sport Shops (LGS)

Promoting to a retailer is the quickest technique to get money, nevertheless it gives the bottom return.

They pay pennies on the greenback, so I don’t trouble except it’s a mass-market recreation like Monopoly or Threat.

But when you’ll use the cash you make from promoting a recreation to purchase one other, this may very well be a great possibility since they sometimes supply 50% of the sport’s resale worth in retailer credit score.

6. Math Trades & Conventions: Swap With out Charges

In case you stay close to a significant metropolis or attend conventions like Gen Con, PAX, or native expos, search for “Math Trades.”

You possibly can swap video games with different collectors with out paying platform charges.

Mainly everybody lists video games they need to commerce and video games they need to obtain. Then an algorithm maximizes trades for everybody.

You convey your outdated video games to the occasion and depart with new ones. No cash modifications fingers, and no transport is required.

It’s a good way to commerce video games you don’t need for ones you do.

Keep away from Half Value Books &  Pawn Outlets

Don’t promote your board video games to those locations, significantly!

They normally deal with a $60 passion title like a $2 generic toy. Use them just for mass-market video games you have been planning to donate.

Commerce-In & Buylist Providers

When you’ve got 20, 50, or 100 video games to promote and also you don’t need to checklist them individually, “Buylists” are your finest buddy.

That is the wholesale mannequin: you promote to a retailer, they usually resell to the general public.

7. Noble Knight Video games

• Greatest For: Transferring massive collections rapidly, promoting “mid-tier” video games you don’t need to {photograph} individually.

In case you simply need to get it completed and don’t care about squeezing each greenback, go together with Noble Knight Games.

You submit an inventory of your video games, they offer you a quote, and in case your whole is over $100, they normally present a free transport label.

Anticipated Payout

The payout is low. For instance, a recreation that retails for $60 would possibly solely get me round $12 in money or $18 in retailer credit score. I do know I’m buying and selling cash for comfort right here.

• Money: 30% of their retail worth.
• Retailer Credit score: 50–60% of their retail worth.

This works finest once you need to filter out a bunch of video games in a single afternoon with out taking 50 particular person images or coping with consumers. It’s fast and simple, however don’t count on high greenback.

By the way in which, it’s also possible to promote different gaming merchandise like buying and selling card video games, equivalent to Yu-Gi-Oh cards and Pokémon cards right here.

A Few Ideas

In case you determine to promote on-line, you should suppose like a enterprise to keep away from returns and misplaced income.

After I promote board video games, the situation makes an enormous distinction. A recreation that’s “Like New” goes for lots multiple with shelf put on, so be sincere about how yours seems to be.

Communicate the Language: Situation Grading

After I promote board video games, the situation makes an enormous distinction.

A recreation that’s “Like New” goes for lots multiple with shelf put on, so be sincere about how yours seems to be.

Use normal terminology to explain your recreation’s situation. “Nice situation” is just too obscure.

• NIS (New In Shrink): Model new, manufacturing facility sealed.
• Unpunched: The field is open, however cardboard tokens are nonetheless of their sheets. Playing cards are wrapped.
• Performed / Wonderful: Performed a number of instances. Field has minor put on (shelf put on) on corners. Parts full.
• Ding & Dent: Vital injury to the field (crushed corners, dished high), however parts are playable. You should {photograph} the injury clearly.

Pack Like a Professional

The largest motive for returns on eBay is “Merchandise Arrived Broken.” Board recreation bins are heavy and corners crush simply.

Right here’s what you do:

• “Nook Defend” Methodology: Don’t simply throw it in a field. Wrap the sport in bubble wrap, paying further consideration to the corners.
• No Shaking: As soon as boxed, shake the bundle. In case you really feel the sport sliding inside, it isn’t packed tight sufficient. Add void fill (paper, bubble wrap, or packing peanuts) till it’s strong. Sliding creates momentum that rips bins throughout transit.

Take a Part Unfold Picture

I all the time take a photograph exhibiting all of the items laid out. It proves every thing is there and builds belief with consumers.

A transparent element shot could make the distinction between a quick sale and infinite questions.

Deciding If a Sport Is Value Promoting

Earlier than you spend 20 minutes itemizing a recreation on-line, all the time run a fast examine to see if it’s really price your time.

• Bought Value on eBay: $25
• Minus Charges (15%): -$3.75
• Minus Transport (Common): -$14.00
• Minus Packaging/Field: -$2.00
• Your Web: $5.25

Verdict: In case your web comes out below $10, I’d skip promoting it on-line. I’d both promote it regionally for $15 money or donate it to a library for a tax receipt. That approach, you don’t waste time and nonetheless get some worth out of it.

FAQ

Listed below are fast solutions to the commonest questions new sellers face:

Promote Your Board Video games Smarter in 2026

In order that’s how I’d deal with promoting board video games in 2026, from native Fb teams to eBay, BGG Market, and buylist companies.

The vital factor is figuring out your recreation, checking the situation, and factoring in charges and transport earlier than you checklist.

Whether or not you’re clearing out a single recreation or a complete assortment, following the following tips helps me get one of the best payout with out losing time.

Bear in mind: not each recreation is price transport, uncommon video games do finest on-line, and typically native gross sales or trades take advantage of sense.

Now it’s your flip. Check out your stack, choose the proper platform, and begin promoting your board video games smarter at the moment.