Sports Card and TCG Buyer / Retail Associate

Sports Card and TCG Buyer / Retail Associate

Location : T206 Cards, Downtown Santa Rosa, California

Employment Type: Full-time

Compensation : $22 to $28 per hour, based on relevant experience and expertise

Starting pay within the range is based on demonstrated buying experience, category expertise, margin accountability, inventory management, and leadership experience. The position includes a formal performance review after 90 days, with compensation, responsibilities, and purchasing authority evaluated based on demonstrated results. Performance will be evaluated based on buying judgment, purchase quality and profitability, inventory sell-through, documentation accuracy, customer service, reliability, and initiative.

Growth and Advancement:  We are looking for someone who can become a core part of T206 Cards over the long term.

Team members who consistently demonstrate sound buying judgment, initiative, reliability, strong customer service and peer leadership, and measurable purchasing results may earn increased buying authority, lead responsibility for specific product categories, and opportunities to help train and lead other employees.

Future advancement opportunities may include roles such as Category Lead, Assistant Manager, or Store Manager. Advancement is based on sustained performance, leadership readiness, and the needs of the business rather than a guaranteed timeline.

ABOUT T206 CARDS

T206 Cards is a collector-founded card shop serving collectors throughout the Bay Area and beyond. We buy and sell vintage and modern sports cards, graded cards, sealed products, and leading trading card games, including Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece, and more.

We combine a welcoming retail experience with knowledgeable service, disciplined buying, fair pricing, and a deep, constantly evolving inventory. We are looking for an experienced hobby professional who understands not only the cards, but also the economics behind buying and selling them.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a hands-on buying and retail position for someone who can recognize opportunities, make sound decisions, and take ownership without waiting for step-by-step direction. This is a blended role: buying expertise is central, but every team member is expected to contribute fully to customer service and daily store operations.

You will evaluate and purchase individual cards, graded cards, sealed products, and complete collections while helping customers and contributing to daily store operations. You should be comfortable assessing authenticity, condition, market value, liquidity, customer demand, and resale potential, then translating that information into a competitive, well-supported offer that aligns with the store's margin goals.

This position requires demonstrated hobby-market knowledge and the commercial judgment to assess margins, inventory turnover, liquidity, market risk, and when a deal should be declined. Knowing players, characters, sets, releases, and products is important.

WHAT YOU WILL OWN

• Evaluate and purchase vintage and modern sports cards, TCG cards, graded cards, sealed products, and collections within established purchasing guidelines and approval limits
• Determine authenticity, condition, market value, liquidity, demand, and resale potential
• Research recent comparable sales and market trends efficiently
• Make competitive purchase offers that support the store's margin and inventory goals
• Explain offers and purchasing decisions clearly, respectfully, and confidently
• Proactively identify desirable inventory and pursue buying opportunities
• Monitor new releases, market movement, grading trends, and changes in demand across major sports and TCG categories
• Accurately document, label, price, organize, and track acquired inventory
• Recognize and escalate concerns involving authenticity, altered cards, resealed products, and other risk factors
• Build lasting relationships with collectors, dealers, vendors, and industry partners
• Independently complete opening and closing procedures, cash handling, merchandising, shipping and receiving, and routine store-maintenance tasks
• Assist customers with product selection, pricing questions, and hobby education
• Help maintain an organized, secure, and professional retail environment

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• You make timely, well-supported purchasing decisions with minimal supervision
• Your purchases meet expectations for margin, quality, liquidity, and customer demand
• You notice what needs to be done and take the initiative to complete it
• You research unfamiliar items before making assumptions or committing store funds
• You communicate clearly, take responsibility for mistakes, and apply feedback quickly
• Customers and sellers view you as knowledgeable, fair, and trustworthy
• Inventory acquired under your judgment is accurate, organized, marketable, and appropriately priced
• You remain composed and effective during busy periods, large collection evaluations, and complex negotiations

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated knowledge of the sports card or TCG market, including products, pricing, condition, and current demand
• Practical understanding of recent sales research, card grading, and collectible valuation
• Ability to evaluate the economics of a purchase, including expected resale value, fees, margin, liquidity, risk, and time to sell
• Strong communication and negotiation skills
• Sound judgment and the confidence to make decisions within established buying guidelines
• A self-directed work style and the ability to prioritize without constant instruction
• Excellent attention to detail, organization, and follow-through
• Demonstrated ability to assess authenticity, alterations, condition, eye appeal, and marketability, and to recognize when additional expert review is needed
• Integrity when handling cash, valuable inventory, customer property, and confidential deal information
• Ability to perform the essential physical functions of the position, including standing or walking for extended periods and safely lifting up to 40 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation

EXPERIENCE WE ESPECIALLY VALUE

• A track record of sourcing high-value cards, sealed products, or complete collections
• Demonstrated experience buying and reselling cards, sealed products, or collections for profit through a shop, card shows, online marketplaces, or an independently operated resale business
• Knowledge of vintage and modern baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, or other major sports-card categories
• Knowledge of Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece, or other leading TCGs
• Familiarity with PSA, SGC, CGC, BGS, TAG, and their respective grading standards and market acceptance
• Comfort using recent sales data and research tools to make buying decisions
• Experience being accountable for purchasing results, margins, inventory quality, or other performance measures
  You do not need to be an expert in every category. We do expect working knowledge in at least one major sports-card or TCG category.

BENEFITS

• Health, dental, and vision insurance plans for eligible full-time employees.
• Accrued paid time off.
• A 401(k) after the applicable eligibility period..

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your résumé and a brief introduction describing your experience in the hobby.

To help us understand your buying approach, include an example of a card, sealed product, or collection you have evaluated. Tell us:

• What you believed it could realistically sell for
• What you would have offered for it and why
• Which comparable sales or market factors you considered
• What risks could affect its value or how quickly it would sell
  Please keep your example concise; a few sentences or short bullet points is sufficient

If you combine deep hobby knowledge with disciplined buying instincts, personal accountability, and a strong customer-service mindset, we would like to hear from you.

Apply today and help T206 Cards build one of the Bay Area's most exciting sports-card and TCG destinations .

T206 Cards is an equal opportunity employer.