...

[CMIZ5290]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this is exactly why I only collect and deal in graded cards. Yes, there are downfalls to this, and I know alot of you hate grading companies....I just honestly think the pros out weigh the cons. There have been a couple of threads lately pertaining potential dishonesty with cards getting ridiculous bumps, and I agree. Some of these really stink to hell and back. I really don't know if there will ever be a happy medium, probably not....

[glynparson]

I agree this Gizmo fool should have pointed out flaws especially alterations but when the card is raw and in front of you it is your responsibility to study the cards and make the determination on whether you choose to buy or not, and I am sorry but finding someone to wholesale you quantities of these cards, in higher grades, at a show like the national in 2013 is rare and should have been a red flag by itself. This Gizmo is apparently a jerk and a borderline crook but the OP did not in my mind except reasonable responsibility for cards right in front of him. Im sorry that I feel he is as much to blame as anyone. Had he scored big would he be on here telling us how he ripped off the dealer and bought a card raw and got a 9/10. That is the risk when buying raw. Like I said the dealers that grade would have been on this guy like vultures if the cards were truly high end. I do not excuse the puffery and lying by Mr Gizmo but I do not find the OP to be lacking in responsibility either. This should be common knowledge, especially to someone spending that knd of coin, and I do and did thank the op for bringing this type of thing to light for newbies. So if its graded by the card not the holder but if its raw just trust the opinion of the stranger on the other side of the table? Sounds foolish to me.

[ullmandds]

Good points, Glyn.

[JasonD08]

I have talked to Sean several times and sold him a deal or two in the past. He is young and has a lot to learn, but he is a good kid and has the drive and enthusiasm the hobby needs. As far as Gizmo, I have had one conversion over the phone calling him out on selling fake Fro Joy Ruths on eBay years ago. I am sure my conversation was a similiar as Sean's. This does not let Sean off of the hook.....Sean, you need to just chalk this up as experience and tuition for the learning and stick to buying from sources you trust and you know how they grade. If a deal is too good to be true then it just is. Do not let this jerk discourage you from the hobby. Purchase from trustworthy sources and you should never have a big loss like this again.

Jason

[timber63401]

He has said at least twice on this thread that he made a mistake and took blame. Hes just pointing it out for everyone else to watch out for this guy.

[autograf]

Think Gizmo has been on either this board before on the old Fullcount board before and doesn't have the greatest board etiquette.....he's one of the tables I skip over every year at the national because of the things I've heard about him. Too many dealers out there to have to deal with people like that.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by autograf

Think Gizmo has been on either this board before on the old Fullcount board before and doesn't have the greatest board etiquette.....he's one of the tables I skip over every year at the national because of the things I've heard about him. Too many dealers out there to have to deal with people like that.

Yes, he used to post to this forum back in the olden days...he always posted in ALL CAPS, was rude, and had horrible spelling and grammar.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by autograf

he's one of the tables I skip over every year at the national because of the things I've heard about him. Too many dealers out there to have to deal with people like that.

+1. I would add that the proviso that even the best, most experienced collector can find himself on the short end of a deal when buying at a show with suboptimal viewing conditions. Happened to me a couple of times at recent Nationals despite having been a show attendee for over 30 years, which is why I now carry a loupe and light source to review cards at shows if the lighting is bad, and I'm not even a condition bug.

[Sean1125]

Originally Posted by timber63401

He has said at least twice on this thread that he made a mistake and took blame. Hes just pointing it out for everyone else to watch out for this guy.

Apparently it is hard to read.

[savedfrommyspokes]

Originally Posted by JasonD08

I have talked to Sean several times and sold him a deal or two in the past. He is young and has a lot to learn, but he is a good kid and has the drive and enthusiasm the hobby needs. As far as Gizmo, I have had one conversion over the phone calling him out on selling fake Fro Joy Ruths on eBay years ago. I am sure my conversation was a similiar as Sean's. This does not let Sean off of the hook.....Sean, you need to just chalk this up as experience and tuition for the learning and stick to buying from sources you trust and you know how they grade. If a deal is too good to be true then it just is. Do not let this jerk discourage you from the hobby. Purchase from trustworthy sources and you should never have a big loss like this again.

Jason

Great advice....I prefer to start dealing with someone on a smaller scale and work to a larger scale. In the mid 2000s (2003-06), I had a (retiring?) dealer wholesale to me large dollar amounts of cards(via monthly transactions) with the payment and shipment sizes increasing as my trust grew....eventually, after about 2.5 years I completed buying out most all of his inventory. I have developed 3 others similar relationships since and each has followed the same path. In each of these cases I have had no disappointments and have been very pleased with my dealings taking this approach, as honesty was established before any large amounts of money were exchanged.

[kmac32]

Caveat Emptor comes to mind.