First separate obvious higher-value cards, graded cards, sealed product, and organized sets from unsorted commons. Make a simple inventory with photographs for the best items, but do not spend days pricing every low-value card. Search the card shop directory for stores that match the collection—sports, Pokémon, Magic, vintage, or another specialty—and call to ask whether they are buying that material now. A shop may pause purchases when cash or storage is tight even if it normally buys.
Before handing anything over, ask how the store calculates offers, whether it pays cash or trade credit, how long review takes, and whether you can remain present. Large collections may require an appointment or written intake. Compare at least two offers when the value justifies the time, and evaluate convenience alongside price: a shop assumes sorting, listing, fees, fraud, returns, and market risk. The collection-selling guide explains those economics. Remove personal paperwork from boxes, keep a record of what leaves your possession, and never accept pressure to decide before you understand the offer.