e-bay rip-off artists

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Posted By: Derek

Hi knowledgeable experts!!

As a new collector, whose primary buying outlet will be e-bay, who should I avoid? I know the question seems odd, but I really do not want to waste my hard earned cash so some crook can make out well. Any help would be appreciated!

P.S. Could we please replace the 1903 cleveland wall paper with a real team...say the 1903 Boston Pilgrims? Just a thought......

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Posted By: jay behrens

I was thinking the 1899 Cleveland Spiders would be more appropriate :-p

As for the bad guys, avoid anything slabbed by PRO, NASA or AAA. BSRZ-2 (Broadway Rick's Sports Zone)is well documented as being a sleezebag in the industry. MSNBC even did a story on him and shilling ways. Other people on the board have a better idea who the bad guys are than I do.

Jay

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Posted By: Brian H.

My big advice is to use credit cards where possible as it protects you if you feel you have been deceived.
Also:
-- Be weary of sellers who proclaim there ignorance (its usually an excuse for being unethical);
-- "If its too good to be true", it probably is.
-- Use other collectors (ie this board) as a resource; ask questions etc.
and Buy the card not the grade

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Posted By: TBob

to add to BH's good advice: any time a card seems "too good to be true" or if you just have a nagging feeling about its authenticity, DEMAND that the seller tell you in writing that he will absolutely allow you to return the item if it is a reproduction, replica or fake. Keep your email from him.

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Posted By: Anonymous

If you are considering spending big bucks on a card, ask for the seller's phone number and give him a ring. This way, you can ask all the questions you want, and at the same time, you get a better judgement of the seller's character. I once came across a ebay deal that seemed far too good to be true, so before I sent my payment, I simply called the guy up, and it turned out that the seller was a really nice guy with honest intentions and a better than fair price.

In MOST cases, what at first glance seems to be 'too good to be true' is just that. However, I think that it is well worth one's time to investigate the seller and their product a little further to make sure that your initial doubts are in fact well-founded.

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Posted By: Ben

that anonymous post was mine

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Posted By: quan

Ben are you talking about the strip Joe Jackson? How is the card in person? It looks about G+ from the auction that I was a little late on.

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Posted By: David

To test the market and find sellers you can trust, buy relatively inexpensive things for a while. You're going to make a mistake or two (We all have), but, on a $5 or $15 item, it can be considered an inexpensive lesson. The biggest horror stories involve novices who's first purchanse is a Babe Ruth Autographed baseball or 52 Topps Mickey Mantle (Let me tell you a story about a man named Koos).

As said before, post questions on this board when you need to.

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Posted By: Ben

the card is in better condition than it appeared in the scan on the auction page. 2 minor creases, a little thin on the left border, but all things considered, an awesome card

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Posted By: David

Overall, I think eBay is a good and safe place to buy-- and I have bought things from as far as Italia and Romania. I think if you weed out the bad apples (may stated earlier), have knowledge about what you are buying, check feedback and what the other things the person is selling, ask questions here, you should have a good time. Most sellers are, if not perfect, honest and reliable.

I will buy inexpensive items from people I have never dealt with before (again I judge their knowledge, feedback and try my best to be knowledgeable about what I am buying). But I only buy expensive and rare items from people I know are knowledgeable. There are about 5 sellers on eBay I would buy an autograph from. Not to say there aren't other good autograph sellers, but autographs is such a sticky area that I stick with my 'friends'

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Posted By: dan mckee

Be careful buying with credit cards. Mastercard is safe but discover allowed me to be ripped off through bidpay. I purchased a money order through bidpay for $175, they mailed it and I received nothing. Bidpay said sorry, no fraud protection but we have disallowed that user. Gee, thanks bidpay, save the next guy that I don't even know at a cost of $175 to me. I then went the discover card stopage route. They wrote bidpay, bidpay said it isn't their responsibility, discover passed this on to me. I asked discover, "so what did you expect bidpay to say? yea, we ripped him off" anyway, just a headsup tip.

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Posted By: runscott

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1978061776

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Posted By: Dan Mathewson

...you saw that too, huh Scott? THis was my message to the seller:

I notice in your auction you say "It would be a good investment to have this one graded." Then why don't you invest $15 and have it graded? Why?? Because your card is a reprint. I can tell by simply looking at the scan. You know that, or you'd have had it graded yourself so you could claim a higher premium for the card on eBay. You may wish to put an addendum onto your auction to let people know this card is a reprint worth a dollar or two (maybe). Nevertheless, the hypocrisy of suggesting to a potential buyer that "grading it would be a good investment" when you obviously won't do it yourself is, well... ridiculous.

[What a doofus...]

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Posted By: BROOKS

THIS GUY NEEDS TO BE REPORTED AS I SENT THE FOLLOWING EMAIL AND GOT NO REPLY..HE OBVIOUSLY KNOWS THAT THIS IS A BOGUS CARD.........I AM ALSO LEERY OF PRIVATE AUCTIONS AS THEY CAN BE MANIPULATED.
Subj: Question for seller -- Item #1978061776
Date:12/5/02 11:24:19 AM Central Standard Time
From:brn1939@aol.com
To:brn1939@aol.com

JUST A FRIENDLY FYI, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN OLD REPO FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
1. BORDERS ARE TOO WIDWE
2. CARD HAS BEEN COOKED, PUT IN OVEN TO GIVE AGE APPERANCE TO BORDERS
3. THIRD AND MOST TELL TALE, THERE ARE NO FACRORY OR DISTRICT NUMBERS ON THE BACK AT THE BOTTOM AND ALL ORIGINAL CARDS HAVE THESE.

YOU MAY WISH TO INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER WITH QUALIFIED COLLECTOR OR DEALER IN ORDER TO AVOID PROBLEMS LATER..........REGARDS BROOKS
--------------------

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Posted By: runscott

Either border-line honest people are strapped for cash and don't see this as truly criminal activity, or "wishful thinker" antique dealers with little card expertise are starting to buy these forgeries from people who get them on ebay.

In any case, I have no sympathy for this seller who guarantees his fake is real and is holding a private auction - as Brooks noted.

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Posted By: Dan Mathewson

...is the nicely typeset, black block lettering at the bottom (player's name/team)...