Strange email exchange (or is it just me?)

[Howe’s Hunter]

Here is the listing for the card ...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1909-11-OLD-...item27ec9931cb

With no back scan or much description of the back, I ask the usual question I send to sellers ...

From: t-206
To: njcollectibles07
Subject: Other: t-206 sent a message about 1909-11 OLD MILL CIGARETTES T206 James Lafitte ORIGINAL SGC1.5 #171473187275
Sent Date: Sep-24-14 10:26:30 PDT

Dear njcollectibles07,

Does the back have any issues, such as rubber stampings or anything like that from previous owners? Please let me know one way or the other.

thanks.


Instantly, I get this response ...

Dear t-206,

why? Your looking for rubber stamping for it to be worth more money? Rumors goin around that it is worth more ...

- njcollectibles07


O.K., not an answer to the question, but I'll go a bit further...

From: t-206
To: njcollectibles07
Subject: Re: Other: t-206 sent a message about 1909-11 OLD MILL CIGARETTES T206 James Lafitte ORIGINAL SGC1.5 #171473187275
Sent Date: Sep-24-14 10:31:56 PDT

Dear njcollectibles07,

The rubber stamp I am interested in is
Howe McCormick
500 W. Main St., Gainesville, Fla
If the card has this stamp, would be very interested.
Thanks.

- t-206

Within a minute ...

Dear t-206,

of course you would be and so would everyone else

- njcollectibles07

Sometimes, I realize I've created a monster. Or a monster within THE MONSTER. But no change to the listing, and what I read as very strange responses. Is he just hoping I might BIN in hopes it has the stamp, while not saying one way or the other? Or are there other issues I'm missing? I've not bought anything from this seller before on eBay, so don't think it's a matter of having pissed anyone off. I did that once to a board member, and I hope that he has accepted my sincere apology, as I really meant no harm in a statement I made on the board, and I don't mean to offend anyone when I ask questions. But this exchange just has me wondering.

[Brian Van Horn]

Warm and friendly customer service. Gotta love it.

[packs]

What I don't understand is that if he thinks you'd be more interested in the card if he told you (or other collectors) there was a stamp, why not tell you there's a stamp (if there is one)?

[t206fix]

Wow - that is a strange exchange... It seems like he is trying to entice you to buy it just to see if there is a stamp. Kind of like, "Why don't you just buy it and find out? It may be worth a ton of money."

[packs]

Ah, didn't consider that.

[milkit1]

Yeah its gotten to where anymore most people (thankfully not all) think that when they type a response that they can say the first thing that comes into their head and forget common courtesy and/or writing etiquette of any kind. You also got the presumptuous a hole as well so this is a double whammy.

[Luke]

Hard to say why he seems so upset, but I don't think you did anything to prompt it. Could be that he got a bunch of messages all at once asking about the back and felt like everyone was trying to find something rare on the back of the card to make a buck off of his listing. Could just be a bad day combined with the above.

[nolemmings]

Why not just ask to see a back scan without tipping your hand? Or ask if there is any paper loss, erasures or markings (not that you may care about the first two but it hides your real question)? I agree this is odd, but I would never let him think he had something I really wanted--it's bound to make him think I if not rest of the market will pay more.

[Jobu]

Now that the link is in this thread and we are all checking it out I can only imagine what is going through the seller's head as he looks at the number of views skyrocketing if he was already paranoid about something.

[D. Bergin]

Maybe if he just posted a picture of the back, instead of two super blurry pictures of the front, he wouldn't feel the need to be such a dickhead.

Just sayin'. Pretty shitty response if you ask me.

[Michael B]

The seller is just being a dink. Copping the attitude he did with you certainly won't win him the Dale Carnegie Award.

[Edwolf1963]

Tell him to stick it up his a$$.

[mybuddyinc]

Originally Posted by LukeLyon

Hard to say why he seems so upset, but I don't think you did anything to prompt it. Could be that he got a bunch of messages all at once asking about the back and felt like everyone was trying to find something rare on the back of the card to make a buck off of his listing. Could just be a bad day combined with the above.

Aggred... He's probably getting a lot of questions about back. It's a nice looking front for grade (other than upper right crease), so, of course, people are wondering about the back.

I think OP just hit him at a bad time ---- and those modern chrome/beany babies/girls shorts/hanna montana items aren't bring in the money they used to ......

[chipperhank44]

He's obviously someone who rarely deals with prewar cards (based on his other auctions) and is super paranoid about some savvy veteran stealing a super valuable card from him.

I'm guessing he's done just enough forum lurking and t-206 research to understand that he is completely naive. (Enter insane levels of paranoia stage left)

[John V]

We're way too nice a bunch, but it would be a riot for him to get a couple thousand $10 Best Offers.

[DaveW]

I think that he's telling you, in his own way, that there is no stamp on the back. Since he's from Jersey - fuggedaboudit and move on.

[j_cook]

Some people just choose to be lousy.

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Maybe if he just posted a picture of the back, instead of two super blurry pictures of the front, he wouldn't feel the need to be such a dickhead.

Just sayin'. Pretty shitty response if you ask me.

this.

[brianp-beme]

Seems like I remember hearing similiar things on the elementary school playground..."wouldn't you like to know", "takes one to know one"

Pretty childish.

Brian

[Scott36153]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

seems like i remember hearing similiar things on the elementary school playground..."wouldn't you like to know", "takes one to know one"

pretty childish.

Brian

lol

[ibuysportsephemera]

Seems to me that if someone was really vindictive they would buy this from the seller http://www.ebay.com/itm/France-1970-5-Francs-COIN-Republique-Francaise-CIRCULATED-/171435540303?pt=US_World_Coins&hash=item27ea5abf4f (which is the cheapest thing he has for sale) and then give him a well deserved negative for being such a d%$# head.

Jeff

[MuddyMules]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Maybe if he just posted a picture of the back, instead of two super blurry pictures of the front, he wouldn't feel the need to be such a dickhead.

Just sayin'. Pretty shitty response if you ask me.

How to respond to a dickhead..........do look I did and send a message to ask for a back scan, better front scan, side scan and scan of his girlfriend! Annoyance is a perfect remedy for people like this. The front scans are horrible and no one should even buy that card because of the attitude that comes with it. So have some fun............ask several questions, simply to raise the sellers blood pressure. It truly is too bad that some people have pathetic lives.

[EvilKing00]

Seems to me, the back dosnt have what u r looking for, and hes hoping without telling you u may take the risk. Imo id wager no stamp

[Tabe]

What's the significance of that particular stamp on the back?

[calvindog]

Why wouldn't he remove the card from the plastic bag before taking a picture? Is it that much of an effort?

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Why wouldn't he remove the card from the plastic bag before taking a picture? Is it that much of an effort?

Rumors going around that would make the card more valuable. I don't think so buddy.

[Howe’s Hunter]

Chris, really no significance to anyone except maybe me. for the last seven years, I've only collected cards with Howe's stamp on the back. Here is one of many posts I've put on the board about my search ...

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...howe+mccormick

Thanks to many members on the board, the collection has grown larger than I ever imagined. Thanks to all.

[1952boyntoncollector]

who is that ..is that a famous collector?

[Howe’s Hunter]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

who is that ..is that a famous collector?

no, just a kid whose father and uncle owned a store and ended up with a lot of cards that he stamped the back of. Not famous at all, just my obsession.

[1952boyntoncollector]

my mom in tarrytown had family owning a drug store that she lived above and she wrote her name on the backs of the topps.

[ALR-bishop]

Rumor has it that there may be one or more stamps on the back of this card...true ? I do not want cards with stamps on them

[Howe’s Hunter]

and about the same card. Was going through old eBay messages just now and ran across this from June.


From: t-206
To: njcollectibles07
Subject: Other: t-206 sent a message about 1909-11 OLD MILL CIGARETTES T206 James Lafitte ORIGINAL SGC1.5 #171367510881
Sent Date: Jun-24-14 20:50:40 PDT

Dear njcollectibles07,

Does the Old Mill back have a rubber stamp on it from original collector

Howe McCormick
500 W Main St., Gainesville, Fla

Please let me know one way or the other. Thanks.

- t-206


1909-11 OLD MILL CIGARETTES T206 James Lafitte ORIGINAL SGC1.5
1909-11 OLD MILL CIGARETTES T206 James Lafitte ORIGINAL SGC1.5
Item Id: 171367510881
End time: Jul-24-14 12:57:16 PDT
Seller:

njcollectibles07 (645)
100.0% Positive Feedback
Member since Jul-25-04 in United States
Location: NJ, United States
Listing Status: This message was sent while the listing was active.


and he responded the next day ...

Dear t-206,

Hi Howe, I do not see a Rubber Stamp anywhere on the back of the card. I hope this helps.
Thank you,
NJC

- njcollectibles07

So maybe he is pissed that it didn't sell the first time, and indeed, it is the second time I contacted him about it. Still don't think I'm going to email an apology or anything, but honestly didn't remember this card from almost three months ago.

[Gamebits]

Buy it and return it with the "not as described".

It came with a back and there is no back in the listing.

[GoldenAge50s]

The guy's a 1st Class D---Head & would immediately go on my blocked Bidder/Buyer list.

[ethicsprof]

at least he calls you Howe in the email.
Can't beat that name in the card collecting hobby!!
all the best,
barry

[camlov2]

I asked about the back, got the following reply...

"its graded"

[Jayworld]

To follow-up this thread, I thought I would ask for a scan of the back of the card...here's what I received and our ebay conversation:

Dear njcollectibles07,

Could you please provide me with a scan or picture of the back of the card?
Many thanks for your time and consideration,

- jayworld


Then his reply:

Dear jayworld,

It is professionally graded

- njcollectibles07


So I followed up with:

Dear njcollectibles07,

Yes, thanks, I can tell it is SGC graded from the two photos. I was requesting a pic or scan of the back of the card (want to see condition of the back).

Thanks,

- jayworld


And his latest reply:

Dear jayworld,

Good Luck and happy bidding

- njcollectibles07


I don't know this seller from Adam, but in my opinion, he is very unhelpful, and I thought my original request was respectfully worded. At this point, I'd advise all just to stay away from this seller.... Wonder what his problem is? Have others dealt with this seller in the past and had positive purchasing experiences?

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by StuckInOmaha

Chris, really no significance to anyone except maybe me. for the last seven years, I've only collected cards with Howe's stamp on the back. Here is one of many posts I've put on the board about my search ...

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...howe+mccormick

Thanks to many members on the board, the collection has grown larger than I ever imagined. Thanks to all.

How utterly random and utterly fascinating. 230+ cards from this one person? Amazing.

[Gamebits]

The stubborn refusal to show a picture of the back make me believe that he doesn't have the card so he cannot scan it.

[Bpm0014]

Ive started to send him annoying emails as well haha. Ive received the same reply "it's graded by SCG". I asked him if he knew that this could be a very rare and valuable card... No reply yet.

[MuddyMules]

For some reason he has no problem with showing the back of this dress: http://www.ebay.com/itm/GIRLS-EMILY-...item2a42f55f24

or the back of these shorts: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-SO-GIRLS...item27ecb03ce0

Poor guy must have been spent too much on that card and now is trying to get even. Too bad.

[marvymelvin]

Ed, I am worried that perhaps NJC is working into the wee hours of the morning in his evil lair perfecting the "Howe McCormick" stamp. Then he will stamp it and send you a scan of the back. And then you will be screwed. NJC will stamp a thousand more, and then you will need a TPA who is knowledgeable in Howe McCormick stamps to authenticate any future cards you buy. Although, by reading your posts about your collection, I am sure you are the premiere "go to guy" for Howe McCormick stamps. I am curious what SGC would put on the flip if the card is original, but with a fake Howe McCormick stamp?? (:

[Rollingstone206]

...