Blurring Corners E-bay

[cprice72]

Long time lurker, short time member. Just getting interested in the hobby again because my 11yo son has become interested in football cards. So, I broke out my old PC and began buying some cards recently from Ebay.

Not had any issues with ones that I have purchased so far, but I have came across a lot of cards that looks like the seller has either a) edited the scan by saturation to make the colors look more rich or b) blurred the corners. Also, although it may just be me, but I seem to notice it more on the "top sellers". Is this just my imagination, or is this a common practice. Attached a photo of a scan from ebay for a current auction that no one could convince me that this the corners of this card has not been blurred by the seller.

[savedfrommyspokes]

Welcome to the forum...
The Mathews card appears to be a digital photo (versus a scan)....the photographer appears to have focused his camera on the center of the card from a close distance. For me, I have taken pictures(of groups of cards, not singles) from farther back and cropped them down in size to avoid the blurriness on the edges....best way to avoid this scenario altogether is to use a scanner. Hard to believe a TRS would take the added time to use a digital camera vs a scanner.

[Volod]

I dunno - it appears that only the top two corners of this particular card look blurred, not all of the edges. Maybe another digital photo versus scanner expert would care to weigh in on this subject, which, strangely, makes me yearn for the good old days of picking up a card from a dealers table at a show to examine it before plunking down big bucks for it.

[swarmee]

I kind of agree with spokes; it's possibly from a cell-phone camera and the blurriness is actually shake from a hand. That said, eBay allows you to contact sellers, so take advantage and ask for a clearer shot of the top of the cards you're interested in.

[ALR-bishop]

Is your son collecting current football cards or older ones, or both ? Sets or players ?

[cprice72]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Is your son collecting current football cards or older ones, or both ? Sets or players ?

He is collecting newer current cards. He likes opening packs. So we have been opening up retail packs and blisters. Currently working on building a set of 2014 Panini Rookies and Stars and I have started on a set of 1955 Topps All American as well as working on Milwaukee Braves 1955/1956 Topps team sets.

[GoldenAge50s]

To me, that scan/pic shows the corners quite well! Doesn't looked blurred to me.

[the 'stache]

Originally Posted by swarmee

That said, eBay allows you to contact sellers, so take advantage and ask for a clearer shot of the top of the cards you're interested in.

I echo this post enthusiastically. I've seen several cards where something was slightly cut from the picture, or just a little hard to see because of the perspective used. And every time I've contacted the seller, I've gotten them to post a better picture. Now, you do run a slight risk there. The possibility exits that somebody else will buy the card. So far, that's not happened, but I'm sure at one point it will. But I've found the sellers I've interacted with on eBay are very willing to help you out. It's good business, because a happy customer is a return customer.

cprice72, I'd shoot them a message for sure. And by the way, good luck with the Braves team sets, especially since I'm going to be working on the '57 set, and we won't be competing for the same cards I think it's great your son collects, too.