Need advice - what do I do? (FULLY RESOLVED, updated 7-6)

[njdunkin1]

Need some help please, Net54!
Backstory behind problem: I ended up winning an auction for T206 Shag Shaughnessy via eBay. Card went high (as Shags usually do), which seller was not expecting. He seemed to be a dealer in antiquities and had little/no knowledge of old tobacco card values. He let me know he would ship Priority Mail. Card went out Friday.

Problem: Card comes in today. Eagerly open package and find this:

View post on imgur.com

Card is, unfortunately, taped on the top left corner. Big time. I gently tried peeling back a very small sliver of tape, but already could tell paper loss packets would be inevitable.

Solution? Options:
a) I really want to keep this card. I suck it up because I still got a fair price. No contact to seller.
b) However, this was not the card I purchased. I contact seller and return item for full refund.
c) Either way, I do want to keep the card. I contact the seller in hopes of a partial refund and try to reduce paper loss as best I can.
d) ???

Leaning towards option D right now Any advice, Net54? The package is still in the same shape I received it, have not moved the tape since the sliver. Should I try soaking? Going for a full refund?
Let me know what you guys think. I leave for work at 4:45 Central, any help before then would be appreciated!
Best,
NJ Dunkin

[Sean1125]

Contact the dealer and return the item for a refund.

There are no other options. Don't try to rationalize them.

[Edwolf1963]

Originally Posted by Sean1125

Contact the dealer and return the item for a refund.

There are no other options. Don't try to rationalize them.

+1

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Edwolf1963

+1

+2

[mrvster]

my only question....."what was the seller thinking ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????

[njdunkin1]

Originally Posted by Sean1125

Contact the dealer and return the item for a refund.

There are no other options. Don't try to rationalize them.

Originally Posted by bbcard1

Contact the seller for a full refund. I love the Shag card and it is rarer than most T206s, but there are plenty of them out there.

Originally Posted by JeremyW

That looks like a mess. How was it packaged (box, envelope, etc.)? How did the tape come into contact with the card?

Originally Posted by mrvster

my only question....."what was the seller thinking ???????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????

Thank you for the responses, everyone. I will contact the seller now and ask to return the item, and request a full refund. Hopefully another one surfaces for a reasonable price such as this one
Jeremy W - it was a big mess, even to start. It came in a Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope (which did not fit the size of the cardboard card protector), and had this holder inside.
MrVster - I have no idea! I concluded that the seller is most likely an antiquities/collectibles dealer, but had little to no knowledge of cards, much less T206s. I will post the auction link if you folks would like - however, I don't think it is necessary. I assume this was just a simple mistake.
NJ

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I have no problem requesting a partial refund for a fair amount, but if the seller isn't interested then you obviously have to return it. If, as a seller, I screwed up somehow, I wouldn't mind someone throwing some options on the table.

[philliesfan]

Just something to consider if you really want the card. Use a hot iron to place on the taped area. Sometimes the heat will loosen the adhesive and allow it to be pulled off without paper loss but you must peel when the tape is still hot. DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK AS I DO NOT WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE IF IT DOES NOT WORK.
Good Luck,
Robert

[CW]

Originally Posted by philliesfan

Just something to consider if you really want the card. Use a hot iron to place on the taped area. Sometimes the heat will loosen the adhesive and allow it to be pulled off without paper loss but you must peel when the tape is still hot. DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK AS I DO NOT WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE IF IT DOES NOT WORK.
Good Luck,
Robert

To the OP, if it's not too late, I might recommend something similar to this, but much less hot (like a hair dryer or a heat gun on low setting).

[bbcard1]

Contact the seller for a full refund. I love the Shag card and it is rarer than most T206s, but there are plenty of them out there.

[JeremyW]

That looks like a mess. How was it packaged (box, envelope, etc.)? How did the tape come into contact with the card?