Hockey is a wonderful sport that has enriched the lives of so many people around the world.
Whether you like playing the sport, or you just enjoy watching people play, there are lots of things to do with the sport that will keep you interested and hanging in the loop.
Trading cards and other forms of collectibles are up there with some of the best.
Before hockey fans want to even consider starting to collect these cards, they need to know where to get them and how to start collecting them.
There are lots of pros and cons to collecting these cards but first, you need to know how and where to find them.
What Are Hockey Cards?
Hockey cards are baseball-style trading cards used by sports collectors.
The cards were first manufactured by Topps Chewing Gum Company in Canada back in the 1930s as part of their baseball card line.
They now come from companies all over the world. These cards show players on ice or players who have played in the NHL and more leagues across the globe.
The most common type of hockey card is called the “insert” card. Insert cards are usually made into sheets and then cut apart and inserted into a single pack.
Some packs also contain a sticker sheet. This sheet shows additional facts about each player such as his position and number.
Can You Buy Individual Cards?
Not officially, this is where they get more money from you. We always recommend not chasing specific cards because this can lead to spending more money.
You can only purchase cards officially from the respected companies by buying packs of cards.
Each company has a set number of cards that it sells each year.
Of course, you can purchase individual cards from private sellers, however, they can be really expensive, and sometimes they can even be fake or counterfeit.
For this reason, we always recommend that you buy from verified sources and make sure that you’re only buying official products.
Where Can I Buy Hockey Cards?
There are two main places that most hockey card collectors buy their cards – online and at card shops.
Online shopping is becoming very popular among collectors because it’s fast and easy.
It saves time and money since you don’t have to leave home to shop for your collection.
When you buy online, you’ll receive an email confirmation when your order ships along with tracking information.
You can choose to either visit a brick-and-mortar store or use an online site to buy your cards.
If you decide to buy your cards at a local store, you should check if they carry any exclusive sets.
A lot of stores have special events and promotions that feature certain teams or players. Also, you may get lucky and score something rare or valuable.
eBay
This is another great place to buy hockey cards. With eBay, you can search for and bid on items being sold by other users.
You can choose whether or not to pay using PayPal (an eCommerce website) or charge your credit card directly. Once you’ve paid, you’ll receive an invoice via email and can track your package at no cost.
However, we recommend only doing this if you trust the seller of the cards you’re looking for to avoid disappointment and scams.
If you prefer to shop online, you can browse hundreds of different websites. Most sites offer free shipping or flat rate shipping fees based on where you live.
Some sites allow you to save your favorite sites to create a list of sites that you frequently shop at.
Amazon
A great place to buy unopened packs of trading cards, Amazon offers free shipping within the U.S from certain sellers.
You can browse through thousands of different cards and add them to your cart.
After adding everything to your cart, you’ll need to go through a checkout process before you can complete your purchase.
In addition to shopping online, there are a few places to buy cards locally. You can find these places through Google Maps.
If you want to know what stores sell hockey cards near you, this tool will help you out.
Card Shops
These are physical locations that sell cards. They often offer discounts if you buy multiple boxes of cards. In addition, many card shops will let you trade your cards for others or give you some extra value for your old ones.
Because of how many different forms of trading cards are out there and the demand for them, you can expect to find card shops fairly easily, depending on your location.
Collectors Clubs & Collecting Societies
If you enjoy collecting, you might consider joining a club or society dedicated to the hobby. These clubs usually meet up in person and host tournaments throughout the year.
There are several different types of clubs around the country.
Most clubs have monthly meetings held in public libraries or community centers.
Many times, these clubs also have competitions, such as raffles and auctions, that raise funds for charity or educational programs.
Most people start off collecting simple and basic cards, but once they become more familiar with the game, you can expand your collections to include more unique and rare cards.
Start small and build your collection slowly! Don’t overspend and don’t rush into anything. Take your time and research each product carefully.
Final Thoughts
Collecting hockey cards has been growing rapidly since its inception. The number of collectors continues to grow every day.
It’s important to remember that when it comes to buying and selling cards, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions or ask someone else for advice.
As long as you do your homework and learn about the market, you can make money and collect cards while enjoying yourself along the way.
At the end of the day, everyone needs a hobby and if you enjoy hockey, there’s no reason why you can’t collect these cards for your collection or for making money.
Hopefully, our guide has given you the ideas and the tools that you need to get started!
Apart from being such an interesting hobby that can take you in so many directions. It keeps you in touch with your younger self. I still feel the same level of excitement when adding a new card to the collection.
I'm still learning, and I always will be. I hope you find my posts helpful.
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