If you’re an athlete, you have to train properly in order to excel in your sport. The same holds true for trading card collectors, according to eBay.
In other words, let a pro show you how.
The e-commerce giant will debut its “Collectors Camp,” a series of training events for those interested in diving into the hobby on Wednesday and Thursday, June 21 and 22 at The Post Bushwick in Brooklyn (53 Knickerbocker Ave.).
Participants will receive training from an industry expert, giving attendees the tools and strategies to step up their collecting game to the next level.
After the kickoff in Brooklyn, Collectors Camp will shift to Seattle in July during the week of the MLB All-Star Game.
The event will be held on a first-come, first-serve basis. All participants receive an eBay gift card and limited-edition merchandise from the company.
The training camp will be spearheaded by Mikal Bridges of the Brooklyn Nets and eBay seller David Prince from Piece of the Game. The duo will conduct “drills” to help campers hone their skills and achieve their collecting goals.
The event will showcase how innovations such as the eBay vault, Authenticity Guarantee, Price Guide and Collection – allow collectors to make smarter choices when it comes to buying, selling or trading cards.
Camp attendees will have access to basketball merchandise, including game-worn Michael Jordan sneakers, signed jerseys from Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Scottie Pippen and autographed basketballs from top draft picks Cade Cunningham and Anthony Edwards.
Campers can also access trading cards including a 2009-10 Panini Studio Platinum Proof 1/1 card of the late Kobe Bryant, a PSA 10 card that is autographed. For those who can’t be in Brooklyn, a curated collection of merchandise will be offered via this page.
Bridges and Piece of the Game were scheduled to team up for eBay Live events, giving collectors a chance to bid on trading cards and sports memorabilia.
“I started collecting as a kid with my first Tracy McGrady card, and over time a childhood hobby led to a serious portfolio,” Bridges, 26, a Philadelphia native, said in a statement. “Now my collecting game has become almost as intense as my NBA game. I’ve invested a ton of time searching for and scoring the best cards, and I know I can share my talents to help other people take things to the next level.”
Gene Cook, the vice president for collectibles at eBay, said he believes that “an engaged and excited community” will benefit from the tools and services that will be offered at the Collectors Camp.
“We see surges in interest for collectibles timed to major sports moments, like the NBA Draft and MLB All-Star Game, since collectors are always on the hunt for the next Jordan or (Derek) Jeter,” Cook said in a statement. “eBay created Collectors Camp to fuel this passion, giving enthusiasts the opportunity to connect with each other and the athletes they admire.
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