Block Sportscards

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

I know this subject has been on the board previously but I felt it important to give the yearly warning on this company. I recently won a 49 Bowman Paige card for approximately $2500 from this seller. Before I bid I asked if they touched up their photos posted on the listings as the borders seemed impossibly white for a card of this age. They responded that they did not (but curiously did not post the Q & A on the listing). Anyway, I won the auction, paid $60 for shipping and handling and insurance (even though the card was wrapped in newspaper inside a box and had postage of $29.45 on the box) and received the card today. Wouldn't you know it but the card's borders were about 15 shades darker than in the listing's picture! Clearly the photo was messed with. I still love the card obviously but felt that I should at least post this warning about them.

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Posted By: DMcD

I won a D304 last year from Block. Took six weeks to receive the card and he ignored all e-mails. The guy is scum in my book.

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Posted By: George Counter

Could you post both pictures to see the digital image alteration?

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

George, I don't have a scanner but I'm going to post them once I can get my card scanned. It's laughable how different the card is from the pic in the listing.

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Posted By: Griffins

I assume the card was graded. Did he tweek the entire file, or just the card itself?
There are a few auction houses that farm out their scanning, and the files are really pumped up. But you can use the flip on the holder as a control and see how much was done. If they just did the card and not the holder it would be blatantly deceptive.

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Posted By: Cat

I looked up the card to see the pictures and they are already gone since Block uses a third party server to display scans. While I was on the page I started looking at their feedback. It was not bad at first glance...99.1%, but when you dig deeper you start seeing numerous statements of "Feedback withdrawn because member did not respond to formal mediation request."

I don't know anything about the mediation process with EBay but obviously Block has done a lot to protect their feedback rating by instituting what must be a cumbersome process. They definately look bad.


Edit for typos

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Posted By: William Brumbach

Fun reading from the CU boards regarding The Block. Before he used the Uncle Sam avatar on there he had some death metal Ozzie Osbourne looking thing that certainly didn't help his case at the time.

http://forums.collectors.com/messageview.cfm?catid=37&threadid=336256&highlight_key=y&keyword1=blocksportscards

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Can you imagine having to deal with a "formal mediation request" on a negative feedback? Can I bill by the hour for that?

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Posted By: DJ

Sounds like some rather incredible customer service. My head basically exploded with that that "Block" post repetition in the CU and I would love to see the photo altering.

Leon would never tolerate that and therefore should be up for "hobby saint hood".

DJ

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Posted By: Frank Evanov

I'm amazed this guy is still in business. Before I knew better, I would wait weeks for a card.

My last experience, however, was a bit different. I Paypaled for a $200 1929 Kashin and didn't get it after 4 weeks. I filed a Paypal complaint and got a refund. A week later, he sent the card.

Well, I he sent me 10 emails an hour for 2 days demanding I pay for the card. It was fun making him squirm a bit until I paid him!

Frank

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Posted By: Kyle

My only advice, don't bother with the guy. Read the CU thread to see what I went through a year ago.

-Kyle-