Auction Description

[Sterling Sports Auctions]

After the lovely thread about trying to sell a card without the buyers getting all the information on the card, how do you feel about auction description that do the same. The description may not be untrue but it fails to leave out pertinent information that the seller is aware of, but chooses to omit..

Lee

[Peter_Spaeth]

I guess it would depend on what the omitted information was. For example, on a graded card, I would probably want to know all the grading history the seller was aware of, but most sellers do not include that information.

[KNH]

As a seller, I would include any information in my description that I would want someone else to include if they were selling and I was considering bidding on the item. It's really very simple. Don't ever try to hide anything or leave out information for the sake of making more money. That's called being greedy.

[JP]

I think those eBay auctions that say "1090-1911 Evers Portrait PSA 5 - EXCELLENT!" and then in the auction you see that it is actually a PSA 5 (ST) or (MK) are the ones that piss me off the most. They are just banking on someone bidding on the title alone and overlooking that the card is worth 1-2 grades less in value.

[KNH]

I think those eBay auctions that say "1090-1911 Evers Portrait PSA 5 - EXCELLENT!" and then in the auction you see that it is actually a PSA 5 (ST) or (MK) are the ones that piss me off the most. They are just banking on someone bidding on the title alone and overlooking that the card is worth 1-2 grades less in value.

JP,
I was thinking the same thing. Also, on newer cards when the seller says "fresh out of the pack" and the card has dinged corners or some other defect.

Also, reprint cards that don't say "reprint" in the title. They really irritate me. It looks to me like they are hoping to find some sucker who doesn't read the description and thinks it may be real.

[botn]

Intentionally leaving out pertinent information or conveniently glossing over material facts in an auction description would be fraud. Similarly, failing to address pertinent information when an inquiry is made about an item in an auction, would be considered fraud.

There are some past and present auction house principals who post here. Maybe they can chime in? What are realistic expectations that we should hold auction houses to?

[Leon]

I can speak for myself on the issue of descriptions. Give big front and back scans and if a customer asks about something then you should tell them in an as honest of a way as possible. Anytime I have been asked about something I usually take a magnifier to the item and give a blow by blow account. No surprises. I also rely on third party grading to help. regards