If you’re looking to buy or sell sports and gaming cards, check out eBay! *When you click links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
For more than twenty years eBay has been the place to buy and sell collectibles online. From sneakers to sports cards, the marketplace has connected millions of buyers and sellers. In 2022, eBay introduced a new way to experience collecting: eBay Live shopping. This feature blends livestream entertainment with the security of the eBay platform, giving collectors a more interactive way to discover and buy.
What Is eBay Live?
eBay Live is a livestream shopping experience where hosts showcase products in real time. Viewers can watch, chat, ask questions, and purchase instantly. For card collectors, it feels like tuning into a live break or walking the floor at a card show, but with the convenience of shopping from a phone or laptop. Unlike other livestream platforms, every purchase still runs through eBay’s trusted checkout system, so buyers know they are protected.
The Start of eBay Live
The first eBay Live event launched in June 2022. It featured DJ Skee and Jess Mineo of Bleecker Trading, two well-known names in the sports card hobby. The livestream highlighted iconic collectibles, including a 1995 Topps Finest Michael Jordan M1 Red Bordered Refractor PSA 9 and a 1998 Kobe Bryant Skybox That’s Jam PSA 10, showing off how live shopping could make the marketplace feel more personal and engaging.
The timing was no accident. Livestream commerce was already becoming a major trend worldwide, and eBay recognized collectors were looking for more than static listings. eBay Live was designed to bring energy, immediacy, and storytelling back into online collecting.
How eBay Live Works
During an eBay livestream, sellers can use two formats. They can run live auctions, where viewers place bids in real time, or they can list items with Buy It Now pricing. Auctions often include a “soft close,” extending a few seconds when new bids come in. This creates the same high pressure excitement you find in a real auction.
To join, buyers log into their eBay account, confirm payment and shipping details, and then bid or buy directly inside the livestream. Bid history is visible on screen, winners are notified instantly, and checkout happens on the spot. This format makes it easy to move from watching to buying without leaving the stream.
Where eBay Live Is Today
Since its beta debut, eBay Live for cards and collectibles has expanded into a major part of the platform. In 2025, eBay launched “eBay Live on Tour,” a series of events that bring livestream shopping to card shops, conventions, and collector meet-ups across the country. Cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Las Vegas are part of the tour, combining in person hobby culture with live digital selling.
The categories have also grown. While sports cards remain a centerpiece, eBay Live shopping events now feature sneakers, watches, handbags, comics, and other collectibles. Sellers can apply to host shows, and more are being added as the feature continues to expand.
The Future of eBay Live
What started as an experiment has turned into one of eBay’s most ambitious projects. Livestream shopping is already a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide, and eBay Live is positioning itself as a leader in the space. With trusted buyer protections, a massive community, and a focus on collectibles, eBay is betting that livestreams will be a cornerstone of the future hobby.
The Ludex app is here to help you track and manage your trading card collection. Click HERE to download the Ludex mobile app for FREE!
Want more Ludex content?
Sign up for the LUDEX Newsletter to recieve the lastest posts right to your inbox!