Here is the entire PM exchange word for word :
Jim: “Hi Howard - she’s yours! You can PayPal me family and friends at
jimcaravello23@gmail.com - I can drop her off tomorrow ! Thanks! Jim”
My scammer radar went off when I saw the request for FF payment – I can’t say for certain if it was or wasn’t there, but I have no recollection of seeing “net to me” in the post (which happens to have been edited at 12:09 AM last night)
Me: “ Hi Jim,
As I do not know you and you are relatively new to Net 54
(he joined in July of 2022), I would either want to send goods and services or get some "vouches" for you here - have you bought or sold with other Net 54 members? Does Leon know you? Thanks.
Howard”
Jim: “Hi Howard - I am bronxbats on eBay - you can check my feedback out there - I have corresponded with Leon, but I don’t know him personally - I’ve bought and sold out here quite a bit with no issues….I am a former Bat expert to Game Used Universe back in the day - my reputation is impeccable….I do need $625 net on this card so it needs to be PPFF or Venmo, whatever is best for you….
I sold a seaver rookie to Elberson and a Boggs bat to saltbox68 out here - they paid via PPFF….
Don’t know how else to get you comfortable, but I don’t screw around…..
Thanks, Jim Caravello”
NOTE: Not sure how, but I didn’t see the above message till going through them just now.
Jim: “More than happy to jump on a phone call tomorrow if that would make you more comfortable…..
Thanks, Jim”
Jim: “Also have done a couple deals with “Bliggity” - Dan Blau - he is here in Raleigh and we have met twice - great guy - you can always reach out to him for a reference…..”
At this point what I saw provided was an offer for a phone call and the reference to “Bliggity” which I looked up and saw started 2 threads in all of 2023. I don’t know Dan.
Me: “Hi Jim,
Phone call would be no different than our messaging. If no one here can vouch for you I would either want to do goods and services or pass on the card.
The only other option I would agree to is if you want to send me the card first and I will pay you friends and family on receipt. I am a Net 54 member since 2009 - plenty of references available including Leon. I also have an Ebay store since 1998.
Let me know.
Howard”
Jim: Well - I have given you three references - please feel free to reach out to them….I do not send cards or any memorabilia until I get paid….
A couple of links for you…..
https://sportscollectorsdigest.com/a...art-revolution
https://robertedwardauctions.com/auc...-pro-model-bat
One of my COAs in the link above…
https://eyccompanies.com/our-team/jim/”
For those who do not care to look, the links are to a 16 year old SCD article, an 11 year old REA auction lot, and what appears to be a “bio” page on the internet.
Jim: “Did you even check references out here?”
Me: “Hi Jim,
Thanks for the effort. I'm not comfortable. Wish you the best with your sales.
Howard”
Now he gets really offensive:
Jim: “My guess is you had a buyer for the card and they backed out - do not ever contact me again about buying a card or anything out there - life is too short to deal with people like you…”
Me: Not that your incorrect guess nor your inference about "people like me" deserve a response...... I checked your "references" prior to responding that I was moving on - a link to a 16 year old SCD article and 11 year old REA auction lot didn't cut it for me. Too much bs from guys " like you" in the hobby. If I don't know you and can't get comfortable with who you are, I'm not effectively handing you cash! If you don't get that, I suspect you will not be on the board very long.
As for your guess - it's laughable, I'm not some 20 something flipper - I'm in the hobby over 30 years and will gladly match my reputation to yours whenever and wherever. I've done hundreds of thousands of dollars in business buying and selling in just the last few years with hundreds of people. I don't play the "sell it before I buy it game" with $600 cards.
Anyway - Happy to be on your " no contact" list as you'll be on mine as we agree on one thing - Life IS too short to deal with people like you.
Howard
Jim: “Great - we have something in common….no contact - get a life man…”
Might things have turned out differently if I saw the message I missed Saturday night - I don't know - I own that.
Where things went after that - I'm done.
I guess "no contact" to you doesn't include a public effort to tarnish my reputation. This is the only post I will make about the issue.