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Building a Better Card Shop: The Value of a Sports Card Scanner

Building a Better Card Shop: The Value of a Sports Card Scanner

Scanner Guide

Building a Better Card Shop: The Value of a Sports Card Scanner

Find out the best way to digitize your cards for sales, organization, and preservation

Running a trading card business has always required an eye for detail. You need to be able to spot sought-after rookie cards among piles of junk, notice flaws that could lessen the value of cards, and pick out rare defects that could boost a card’s price exponentially.

Yet, as more deals are made online than ever before, you can’t rely on a good eye alone. You need to find the best sports card scanner to help your business organize and sell its collection. This guide will help you find such a device and use it well.

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Benefits of sports card scanners

Sports card scanners have to meet some unique demands compared to other business applications. Choosing the right model can help your business improve its organization while expanding its reach to customers all over the world.

    Potential uses for sports card scanners

  • Expanding your online presence
  • Documenting your collection
  • Preserving important cards for future appreciation
  • Insurance documentation
  • Condition assessment

3 of the biggest reasons to invest in a sports card scanner

Time savings

Since a sports card scanner takes better images in one pass, that means less time fiddling with a camera or mini studio setup. Meanwhile, integration with AI-powered software can identify scanned cards and auto-populate their details.

Better accuracy

Smartphone pictures may not capture all the fine details of cards. Choosing a high-quality sports card scanner will help you show the value of your collection. It will also give buyers the detail they need to buy with confidence.

sports cards

Safer card handling

Scanners that bend their documents through U-shaped feed paths are meant for flexible paper rather than cardstock. The best sports card scanners handle cards gently to preserve their condition while still working quickly.

Read more about the perks of using a dedicated digitization device for your collectibles business in What to Look For in a Hockey Card Scanner.

 

Did You Know? TMC named the RICOH fi-8170 as a Future of Work Product of the Year. TMC recognizes "companies that showcase the most innovative and disruptive products and solutions that have positively supported hybrid work experiences across the globe." Click here to learn more.

Essential features for the best sports card scanner

Taking your trading card business online means you need to represent your inventory digitally. You could spend hours photographing and processing each card. Or you could use a device that’s built for the task to create a better end result in less time. Here are the features that will make the biggest difference.

    Better sports card digitization can…

  • Save you time and effort
  • Help you reach new collectors
  • Improve your business’ organization

3 key features for sports card scanners

Resolution and image quality

To show your cards in appropriate detail, you’ll need a scanner that’s up to the task. Look for a model that can capture images of 300 to 600 DPI for the best mix of accuracy and file size.

Flexible paper handling

Not all cards are the same shape or thickness. Your scanner should be able to handle them all quickly and safely. You shouldn’t have to remove them from protective sleeves to get a usable scan.

Image correction

Processing large batches of cards only saves time if the resulting images don’t have distracting errors, such as glare from foil elements. Choose a sports card scanner with software that automatically corrects these common issues.

Read more about what makes a high-quality scanner for these purposes in What to Look For in a Basketball Card Scanner.

 

How to scan sports cards

Once you’ve found the best sports card scanner for your business, it’s time to start scanning. Here’s how to scan sports cards, including a few steps you can take to prepare for an even more effective and helpful end result.

    The three main types of sports card scanners

  • ADF scanners, which are the most speedy option
  • Flatbed scanners, which can fit a broad range of card sizes
  • Overhead scanners, which minimize contact required for delicate cards

3 steps toward better sports card scanning

Clean and prepare your cards

Touch the card as little as possible, taking special care around easily bent edges and corners. Consider using nitrile gloves for especially fragile cards. You can also put cards in penny sleeves or top-loaders then scan them for extra protection.

Set up your scanner

While your needs may vary, 300 DPI is typically a good fit for scanning images you’ll need to store and upload. Pick an appropriate file type and, if possible, set up auto-naming conventions before scanning.

Scan and organize

If you’re using an ADF scanner, be sure to place the cards in a neat stack for processing in a single batch. Integrating your scanner with card databases such as Cardbase, Card Dealer Pro, or Kronozio can make managing your inventory even faster.

Read more about how to scan your cards more effectively in What to Look For in a Baseball Card Scanner and What to Look For in a Football Card Scanner.

 

Did You Know? Burbank Sportscards addressed its biggest pain point for selling cards online with RICOH scanners. Click here to learn more.

Our recommendation: RICOH fi-8170 scanner

Those in the market for a sports card scanner have no shortage of options. We take great pride in having spent the last 50+ years researching, designing, and developing some of the most advanced and powerful electronics in the world, including our professional grade fi and SP series of scanners.

Built to purpose for the most demanding document handling jobs, fi and SP scanners are capable of processing tens of thousands of pages per day at the highest levels of accuracy. Their intuitive integration capabilities with all existing work suites minimize time-to-value for businesses looking to invest in tools that will pay dividends for years to come.

The RICOH fi-8170 is packed with features that make it, in our view, the best sports card scanner. Its automatic document feeder with adjustable guides allows it to process up to 70 pages per minute. Meanwhile, its manual feed mode allows it to scan documents up to 7 mm thick. It all integrates with popular card management platforms to make your inventory tracking easy and effective. Click here to learn more or shop the rest of our production scanner line.

 

Note: Information and external links are provided for your convenience and for educational purposes only, and shall not be construed, or relied upon, as legal or financial advice. PFU America, Inc. makes no representations about the contents, features, or specifications on such third-party sites, software, and/or offerings (collectively “Third-Party Offerings”) and shall not be responsible for any loss or damage that may arise from your use of such Third-Party Offerings. Please consult with a licensed professional regarding your specific situation as regulations may be subject to change.

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