Okay folks, buckle up because cleaning out my basement turned into this whole magazine-selling adventure. Seriously, I tripped over a stack of old Sports Illustrated mags behind the Christmas decorations. We’re talking late 80s, early 90s stuff – Michael Jordan dunking, Olympic moments, the whole shebang. Figured someone might want ’em instead of me just tossing ’em.
My First Dumb Idea: Trying the Easy Local Stuff
Honestly, my first thought was, “How hard could it be? Just drop ’em somewhere.” Big mistake.
- Local Bookstore: Took a box of about 20 mags, mostly good condition. Owner barely looked up. Said, “Kid, nobody buys these anymore.” Offered me like 50 cents for the whole box. Got nothing? Yeah, felt like a waste of gas.
- Used Record Store: They had some comics, figured mags were similar. Nope. Guy laughed. “We sell music, man.” Totally struck out.
- Recycling: Literally carried the heavy box to the curb. Felt bad. Those Jordan covers staring back? Couldn’t do it. Dragged ’em back inside. Getting zilch was better than that feeling.
So yeah, local was a bust. Time to hit the internet.
Getting Serious Online (And Learning Some Lessons)
Started digging around forums and groups. Here’s what I actually tried with my pile, warts and all:
- Big Online Marketplace: Listed the Jordan and Olympics ones individually. Took pics with my phone – some turned out like crap, learned that lesson fast. One Olympic issue sold! But after all their fees? Made like $7. Felt kinda ripped off.
- Dedicated Marketplace for Collectors: Found one focused on mags. Listing was easier, better descriptions. Sold another 5 issues faster than the big site. Fees were less annoying too. Much better!
- Direct Selling: Found some niche Facebook groups for SI collectors. Posted pics of specific older issues I had. This worked! Sold a couple directly to guys who knew they needed them. Easy money, no fees. Winner.
- Good Ole Craigslist: Threw a “Lot of Vintage Sports Illustrated – MUST GO” ad up locally. Got a few weird emails, ignored those. Then one guy drove an hour, paid cash for the whole remaining box of 15 mags. Zero hassle and money in hand instantly. Sweet!
The Final Tally (And Honest Thoughts)
After all that running around? Cleared out my magazines and made a little over $80. Biggest takeaway? Selling individual cool issues to collectors online (on those specialized spots or FB groups) got me the best cash per mag. But selling the whole leftover batch locally on Craigslist? Got me the cash fastest with the least headaches.
Was it worth it? Honestly, the hunt was kinda fun once I stopped trying the useless places. But all the boxing, listing, shipping? Man, it takes time. If you’ve got rare ones or good Jordan covers? Absolutely try selling online to collectors. For regular old stacks? Craigslist for a quick bulk sale is the way to go. Less money, less work. Weigh your hassle vs. cash!
