Ebay seller pcbcomicsandsports trimming cards and bypassing authentication
 

Ebay seller PCBComicsandSports has some really beautiful raw cards up for auction. Unfortunately, they all look trimmed.

And they are blatantly bypassing ebay authentication by listing all cards as part of Lots with 6 other HOFers that are not mentioned elsewhere in the listing.

They also rarely list pictures of the backs of their cards.

Not sure how they've managed to become a "Top Rated Plus" seller with 99.9% positive feedback and 173K sales....

They have already been called out in a few places for unethical practices:
https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1548679
https://forums.collectors.com/discus...sports-on-ebay
https://community.ebay.com/t5/Ask-a-.../td-p/32341544

But I thought I'd call them out again, given their volume of auctions right now.

Here are some of their recent listings:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/374682211161

https://www.ebay.com/itm/374682104184

https://www.ebay.com/itm/38559682195...YAAOSw~2pkVzZ1

They also manipulate their scans to conceal creases and other issues, including not paying people who consigned with them. They've been around for ages under many different aliases and have been discussed here many times over the years. I believe one of their many former usernames was peppercia. Avoid like the plague.

ᒐ.0.di ᗺ.i.rk.h0lm

thanks for the update

Yet they have 99.9 percent feedback or something close. I love ebay.

Some people think PCBComicsandSports is the reincarnated infamous ebay seller "Battlefield" https://forums.collectors.com/discus...omicsandsports

Apparently their brick and mortar was robbed in February: https://www.wjhg.com/2023/02/17/pair...x-figure-loss/

I'm not saying I believe in Karma, but....

Yep, just another in their litany of usernames.

Dothan, Alabama will never be the same if the brothers left there for Panama City, Florida.

But just imagine that 1988 Donruss Dave Winfield that you're basically getting for free!

eBay feedback has been completely worthless for a LONG time. It makes me LOL every time someone make a big deal about their feedback.

I fell victim to them recently. They sold a bunch of W573 gave them all very high grades. Mine wasn't close to the grade given. They sure doctored the photo. They also wouldn't respond to multiple messages I just took the risk. They also start all them at .79 and had a reserve they say nothing about until you bid. They also shill bid. Every auction was driven up by 1 bidder then after a certain point another took over mostly on the higher end cards. It was so obvious. I'm not totally disappointed but not nearly as happy either.

Open a not as described case?

When I first saw the 52 Topps cards, especially the highs, I became interested but immediately thought these cards looked short to me.
Glad I trusted my gut but this thread also helped me to confirm my eyes weren't playing tricks on me.

I saw that recent auction of 1953 Bowmans, and every star card looked trimmed. The Mantle and Musial looked terrible, yet went for crazy prices. I can't say what's worse: a seller who blatantly sells trimmed cards he calls near mint, buyers who throw big bucks at such obvious altered cards thinking their going to get a high grade, or eBay, which clearly doesn't give a hoot, and makes it nearly impossible to report this nonsense (I tried unsuccessfully to do so).

I was the 2nd underbidder on the 1952 Topps Solly Hemus. I bid 44.44 and it sold for $58. The one that got away.

I don't understand the prices today. I was watching a T206 Matty earlier that sold for 9 clams. Who has 9 dimes for a baseball card? I didn't leave the hobby. The hobby left me.

I agree, most cards looking a little short when it comes to borders.

A lot of them, especially the highs, went for some big money, imo, especially being raw, but at the same time I've noticed this a lot lately (prices rising) when it comes to 52 Topps cards.
Some looked OK and some didn't but I also thought to myself that some were to good to be true.
The one card I was interested in went a lot higher than I expected, but if it was a non trimmed legit copy, then I think someone did alright based on what I've seen lately despite the stain on the back.

just stay far away geez

Stay away
 

I called him out and he took a return but I was very clear that his actions were toeing the line of fraud.

I have bid and won some 1953 Bowmans from them off of eBay. I didn't find any problems with trimming, but I can tell you and everyone else- what I received sure didn't look as nice as the posted image. I received refunds, but it was the disappointment thinking that I had acquired upgrades for my set.

Phil aka Tere1071

Complete 1953 Bowman Color, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1975 Topps Baseball sets under revision as the budget and wife allows

Under construction:
1970 Topps Baseball - missing over 100 cards, mostly after #450 and the three insert sets

1971 Topps Coins- 107/153

1974 Topps Baseball Washington variations

:D:D:)
I did not know. bought a few 56 topps cards from them about a year ago and sent them right back because they were short 1/2", :D Had I known the below info, I would never have bought from them.:confused::p:):eek:

That is so funny that the co owner is good ole god fearing holier than thou, steal all day, pray all night... Todd Mueller: Todd Mueller, a co-owner of PCB Coins and Cards. “Thank god it was at night

Yikes, I've only dealt with the ebay authentication process once so it never occurred to me that 'stuffing' expensive cards in 'lots' was a way to skirt it. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that folks quickly found a way around it.

Scumbags.

I am glad I stumbled onto this post. Perfect timing! I literally had just put in a snipe on the 57 Drysdale. I have cancelled the snipe but can’t cancel my bid I actually placed on the 57 Slaughter. At least it’s only a bid of $11. I knew the cards looked too good. Thank you for posting.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A couple of their new auctions just popped up on my saved searches, thought it might be a good time to bump this thread for awareness.

Still using the +6 HOF cards to bypass authentication.

A post on Ebay in Vintage Baseball Cards popped up today. I've seen this seller before and had the same feeling that it felt like the old Battlefield. Guy on FB today said his package came from Campbellton, FL, which is just 25 minutes south of Dothan, AL. Not ironclad proof, but it fits nicely.

I'd definitely stay away.

without a doubt
 

PCB and battlefield are the same people. It's amazing people still fall prey to them in whatever iteration......

I will go all PWCC, Problemstien, Ect., buyers and say I have 100% bought from the boys from Dothan with zero problems. The cards arrived and were exactly as described and shipped quickly. I see zero problem with buying from them.:D

It is a while since we had fun with Candiman and the Battles brothers.

I went back and re-read a few of those old threads this week. Think I still have a headache.

One thing I did notice is that pcbcomicsandsports is listed in Cottonwood, AL, which is in between Dothan and Campbellton, FL (where the Ebay order was shipped from). And it was incorporated in June 2018, just a month or two after the whole Candiman auction and fiasco.

Of course, Dothan, Cottonwood and Campbellton are all 70-90 minutes from Panama City, which is where the Ebay listings show they are from.

The ebay name is "pcbcomicsandsports" while the store that was broken into is named "PCB Coins and Cards". Two different names. Cleary the Battle clan is trying to deceive buyers (in more ways than one) into thinking that they are a seller out of Panama City Beach, which they are clearly not as their items ship from 70+ miles away in Alabama. The brick and mortar store located in PCB should not be confused with the Battle scammers.

I just called PCB Coins and Cards, and the owner said he has 4 ebay accounts, but pcbcomicsandsports isn't one of them. I asked him if he knew pcbcomicsandsports and he said he knew exactly who I was talking about, and that they are out of Dothan, Alabama. So it appears you are correct.

It is a bit odd though that pcbcomicsandsports ships out of Panama City, Florida though, according to their email page.

Yeah, I see the PCB store guys at the card show there every year. They're not part of the problem. They're a good family run small business.

Haven't had a trimming problem with them. But, recently I sent some Topps 1953 cards from pcbcomicsandsports to PSA for grading and three came back ungraded with "evidence of recoloration".

I've said this before and elsewhere, but a large part of the problem is eBay never having bothered to either become or employ category experts on anything which is sold on their site. The most recent evidence of which - redundant and time consuming "authentication" of many cards and other items over a certain dollar value, many of which of course have already been professionally graded.

But yes, eBay feedback is an antiquated joke at this point. They removed the seller's ability to leave legit feedback for buyers in 2008. It's gone steadily downhill from there.

Put your effing name next to what you say!@!
 

Names, names, names......

What I don't understand is the lack of reading comprehension on this forum. Is there anyone that doesn't know what this means?

If you write anything concerning a person or company your full name needs to be in your post or obtainable from it.

I am going to start putting names next to posts and will be giving infractions. I am getting tired of it and suspensions will happen after the 2nd warning. Thanks
.

They sold two R315 Hubbell cards in one month. If you look at the listing photo...it's the identical photo, for both listings (it has a yellowish streak in the middle ). And these two are not the only listings of this card. I saw them list this card at least one other time, using the same exact photo.....

Pcb must have quite the stash of R315s.

When it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Smh
 

Didn't even read the post above this one? I need a pay raise. SMH
Infraction given.

Name is Fil Reich.

Another PCB R315 Hubbell listing popped up today. Just stating a fact. The photo in the listing looks very similar to the photos in the two aforementioned sold listings.

This dude is constantly listing trimmed cards

With the number of R315 Hubbell cards this seller has listed, just makes me wonder if it is the same card that is being relisted, because although not super rare, it is a pretty scarce card and this seller has had a number of these Hubbell cards listed over the past year (I have this card in my Ebay saved searches, so I see anytime a new one pops up).

Judge Haller: The next words out of your mouth better be ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty.’ If I hear anything other than ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty,’ you’ll be in contempt. I don’t even want to hear you clear your throat. Now, how do your clients plead?”

Vinny Gambini: “I think I get the point.”

Judge Haller: “No, I don’t think you do. You’re now in contempt of court. Would you like to go for two counts of contempt?”

It is the same card. This seller has been peddling this trimmed Hubbell RC for months. He finally auctioned it off and my guess is that the buyer realized it was trimmed and sent it back. BTW, he slips in some extra cards to avoid the eBay authentication program.

This rule isn’t well thought out. One day someone is going to get hurt…. Proper moderation doesn’t require names.

In America there is also the belief that everyone has a right to know who says things about them. This rule is actually very well thought out and as such it's fine.

The best message boards are the ones where the posters are known.

Regards
Rich

PS My name is out there on this board for 20 years now without an issue

I have been on message boards since the advent of message boards….. this is the first time my name has been out in the open across many hobbies.

Proper moderation is key here. If post #1 from a new member attacks a dealer it’s suspect…. A 20 year member with 1000 posts giving a heads up about possible thievery is most likely not.

Regards,

Chris

I think we need consistent rules regardless of how many posts you have.

One of the problems with the internet is people hiding behind anonymity to make comments that they wouldn't make if their names were attached to them.

I am a bit confused as to how you think people listing their names will lead to "someone getting hurt".

If someone is afraid of getting hurt, they can refrain from making the comment that they think could get them hurt.

It's a simple rule. I don't see how allowing anonymous accusations would be helpful.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

I'm not a fan of the name transparency thing, but there's plenty of interaction to be found on this board without getting into critical discussions about specific people, companies, etc.

The people I've purchased from here know my name and I've met some people in real life, but I've spent 30+ years being mostly-anonymous on the internet and I'd like to keep that streak alive.

It means I don't have full access to run my mouth on every thread, but I can live with that.

I’d rather not have 1 or 2 specific individuals here get my personal information for exactly this reason. All it takes is one angry nutter off his meds one day one time for something to happen. The odds are not high though.

Just to the bold. Threatening emails/PMs, letter from lawyer, getting lies posted about you, openly called names, people buying all you items on eBay and them returning them all at one time just before time runs out on returning the first item. There are many more. Quess how I know these.:(

I am still all for having to post your name. :)

LOL, you have obviously not run across bat $hit carzy Matthew yet. He has had several different accounts on here and probably has a few going now.

I had one Matthew go ballistic when I didn't juice the pump he wanted to juice but I suspect this is a different Matthew. Have we had a true stalker or assault case? The odds aren't high but it all it takes is one. I used to shut up to remain compliant until something got the rule on my account, so it's the boards fault I run my mouth now :)

So, a member got angry because you "didn't juice the pump he wanted to juice." Wow, that sounds intense.

Pardon me for asking, but what does that mean?

Hardly intense at all. As I said, I was not aware of any real stalking/assault intensity that had ever actually happened.

Which word is difficult?

Individually, none of them are difficult. The phrase I surrounded with quotation marks is one I hadn't previously heard.

This seller is NO GOOD.

Dan Mckee

Wow does that line hit home, spot on.

Hi Rob, let me say this, and dare I say I will opine as to the state of (some) the hobby. people from all walks of life and demographics collect cards, that is one area which is amazing about the hobby. So many people I have met, including some I consider friends, which I would have never known without this hobby of ours. Anyone can jump in, all it takes is having time, money and some effort. My back story, I can remember many of the old dealers back in the early 90s which are still around today. When I was just a kid at 16 or so, they were always willing to take to the time to educate me. Whether it was explaining the grades, oddball issue, or signed cards, I felt these guys were kind of like Curators at a museum.

Just like any other "hot" commodity, be is stocks during covid, beanie babies, what have you, you have the innovator, imitator and the fool. Now I wont pontificate about stubble-beards and what have you, I dont think generalizing will help any. However quite a few new people have (tried) made a splash in the hobby. The advent of social media can put your inventory in front of faces 24/7. I remember, years before covid, one big splash came from a guy who, i believe, got a big settlement, and walked around shows with a briefcase full of cash buying. A gimmick like this can put you on the map!

Anyhow, I am seeing these amazingly high prices on cards, only to be turned around and being relisted, or showcased, for even more. This was the old 707 model, but I dont believe anybody can do it like Levi. If you are new in the hobby, and have 10 1952 mantles, 20 1954 aarons, etc in a showcase, the dealer will get a lot of attention, but my guess is they are dollar cost averaging and trying to prop up your inventory. Again, aside from 707, this business model has never been used in the hobby. I always found it strange, but it did work for 707. Nothing against it and I always used to like looking and speaking with both Levi and Jim (RIP) about cards. I do not remember Levi from the 90s, but do remember Don Hontz and a few others. I went to shows almost every weekend throughout the northeast.


That being said, it seems like a new type/style of dealer (in vintage) has popped up, and I for one and curious how it will work out. if I had another life maybe I would enjoy doing shows. The energy, the excitement, this kids faces are all a part of the hobby. Sadly, I would "get high on my own supply" and have to think about time away from my family, so I would not pursue this venture. Also, at some point, you need to make a profit, the must be worth the squeeze. People are not buying 1952 mantles on ebay every weekend, and if shows are panning out, what is a dealer to do?

Thanks for reading a morning rambling from the fixed museum, not a traveling one

Saw some raw T206 Fred Snodgrass cards in surprisingly good condition so I added them to my watchlist. Was looking at them closer and thought it was weird that they were paired with a handful of random 70’s cards. Then I noticed who the seller was. Removed them from my watchlist. Thanks to all of those that posted in this thread!

How is this seller still on ebay? The amount of cards destroyed has to be in the tens of thousands. Every listing is nm or mint and heavily trimmed. Report report report, lets take some collected action and all report this seller. Get them off the site.

Not only destroying cards which is against ebay tos in terms of fraudulent listings but also against ebay tos circumventing authentication by selling as lots.

Of course this is all alleged and I'm also the pope.

Maybe they moved to Ohio? It seems to be where a lot of fraud starts out...

NO, this seller shouldn't be on ebay any longer. But they are because they make ebay money.

I also was skeptical about this seller. His photos are extremely misleading and on average are about 5 grade points below the described condition...however I have bought approx. 20 1952 Topps and 25 T206 cards from him and only one of the 45 cards came back from SGC as trimmed.

Again, extremely shady seller, but I just wanted to share my personal experience. If you can win a card described as NM-MT and expect to receive a 3 or 4 grade and still pay for around VG condition, you likely will come out ahead.

Day late and a dollar short for me on this one - I just bought a bunch of 1943 and 44 Cubs pictures. Fortunately didn't pay much and fortunately maybe they are good.

Many obviously know this already, but one preventative can be done right on your computer. Might as well go into detail in case it's helpful for some.

If there's a listing you're interested in, save the images to your computer, then open those images using software that allows you to tweak the images. For Windows 10 users, there's a built-in program called "Photos". Right click on the thumbnail of the scan you have saved. From the menu that appears, select "Open With", then select "Photos" from the subsequent menu that pops up.

"Photos" is easy enough to use. Once the photo opens, there will be a menu at the top center of your screen. The first option looks like a drawing of a little photo with a pencil in lower right corner (AKA "Edit"). Click on that. A new menu will appear at top center of screen. Click on "Adjustment". A bunch of different filter options will appear to the right of the photo. Play around with those slider bars that come up. If any creases/blemishes have been purposely hidden by clever scanning tricks, they will usually appear when you're toying around with this software.

Lots of other software out there, but for Windows users, this one should be built right in, is user friendly and works nicely.

I picked up a couple 1932 ones to finish out my set. I got a near complete set from a trusted source and was rather uniform in size, so it will be easy to size compare for possible trimming.

Very interesting. I tried uncovering edits PBC Comics and Sports may have made to some of their listings using the method you described, but I couldn't find anything. Would be very interested to see what you have uncovered.

It seems like maybe they are cropping the pictures of their cards rather than actually trimming all of them?

This program and others like it are best for things like creases and blemishes that can be hidden using brighter scan resolutions.

There's one shady dealer I know who likes to hide such things. He sells a lot of signed index cards. Of course, the software I mentioned makes any issues easy to uncover, but creases and spots on white paper index cards are definitely much easier to spot vs. all the busy card colors. Still, it does often work for cards as well. Worth dabbling with the software to see if it can help you in your quest with any listings.

If other members have similar software suggestions, by all means share!

Many years ago I tried doing some research on Cubs pictures - somehow I determined the size of the 1944 Picture Pack was 6 x 8 1/2 and the size of the 1943 Picture Pack was 6 1/2 x 9. I do not remember how I came up with this anymore. Regarding the 1941 and 1942 this is what I wrote:

((I have found it difficult to separate the 1942 from the 1941 so had taken
people's word. However, I finally ran into a dealer who, when asked, said
he didn't know the difference. I decided to see if I could find the difference
between the 1941 and 1942. I checked the 1941 and 1942 Cubs Players books I have, wrote to the Cubs asking if they had Opening Day Rosters, and contacted another Cubs guy who has a web page. The Player Books didn't help as they were from Spring Training. The Cubs never got back to me and the other Cubs guy couldn't help either. I found players who were with the Cubs in 1941 and not 1942 so that makes them in the 1941 Cub Pack. I found the players who were with the Cubs starting in 1942 so those are definitely 1942. The rest I suspect are 1941 photos used also for 1942 since we were at war and film was probably at a premium. I concluded the Cubs re-used 1941 photos in 1942 for those players who were with them in 1941 to save on supplies. They also may have had some photos left over so it was cheaper and easier to re-use them rather than take new photos.
Then I found a site that listed 1941 Cubs Team Issue and 1942 Team issue
check lists. I used these also as a starting point.))

I then bought a pack that came listed as 1942 so I used that for 1942. There were a couple players who were not with the Cubs in 1941 so that added credibility to it. Then, from an estate, I bought a a 1941 set in an album with a envelope so used that.

The ones I am getting from 1944 and 1943 from PCB are mostly ones that I need for the 1944 set. They were also a couple that only played with the Cubs in 1943. So I will find it interesting to check the size of these and compare with my writing from years ago.

Thanks for that info on the Cubs Picture Packs.

Checklists are all over the place and many are incorrect at worst and misplaced guesses at best.

I've limited mine to 1932, 1939, and 1944. I'd like to add the 1931, but I'm yet to stumble onto one that was cheap, understandably.

I have all the 39's with quite a few extra - know they are 39's because of the textured paper. Have most of 32's missing 5 and some 31's. The 32's measure 6 1/8 X 9 1/4 but I did find some measure 6 1/4. The 31's I have I got years ago from a reputable dealer. If you want any of my 39 extras just PM me and maybe we can work something out.

My 39 and 44 sets are complete. Appreciate it, though.

I hope the couple I picked up from this latest auction ends my 32 set.

My experience was a 1967 OPC Willie Stargell purchase. Scan on eBay looked near mint. Card received was clearly not. I think in my case they cropped the picture to make the corners appear sharper. They did send a refund after I opened a dispute.

734. Short Border Crook
A seller on eBay who deceptively crops his picture to eliminate a little bit on all sides of a lower or mid-grade card to make it magically appear to have four perfectly sharp corners.

Only slightly less shady than a seller who crops the actual card to make it magically appear to have four perfectly sharp corners

I will say, that is how Battlecreek et al. has stayed in business, they have never put up a fight about returns and refunds. Barely a positive when they're committing fraud (or at the very least sneaking up on the line) with the majority of their transactions.

Got my 32 pic.

I can't say who trimmed, but...trimmed...or mislabeled and actually another year.

Well, a change of pace. I got my 31's, 43's and 44's pictures and all was good. I was overcharged for postage as my two orders ended up being combined but he is going to refund me postage.

Yeah, that's why I'm not saying who could be at fault for the trim job on my 32's.

There's no obvious sign of fresh trimming and given the timing of the multiple-year photo postings, it was most likely part of some bulk purchase by the seller.

Slightly disappointed, but they were extremely cheap and I'm just going to hold what I got as a placeholder rather than trying to argue a return.