Who said there are no deals on ebay......

[Peter_Spaeth]

Ultimately in life it's better to do the right thing. Not too long ago an auction house had a BIN sale where they dramatically underpriced a Cracker Jack card -- they listed it at SMR but in fact the market value was several times that (SMR is notoriously off on CJs and they refuse to fix it). I was tempted just to buy it, and make a tidy profit but decided to alert them instead.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Ultimately in life it's better to do the right thing. Not too long ago an auction house had a BIN sale where they dramatically underpriced a Cracker Jack card -- they listed it at SMR but in fact the market value was several times that (SMR is notoriously off on CJs and they refuse to fix it). I was tempted just to buy it, but decided to alert them instead.

I did that too. I saw one of our members list a card erroneously on ebay not too long ago. It was a several hundred dollar Zeenut he had miss listed for a small fraction of that. A very obvious mistake. I hit the BIN immediately to protect him. I told him about it, he thanked me and we canceled the sale. I thought in the time I alerted him that someone else might have hit the BIN, before he closed the auction down, and then he would have possibly had a bigger issue.

[nolemmings]

I really don't have skin in the game on this, but do find people's choices and opinions interesting. I strongly suspect that if buyer had acquired this card at an estate or yard sale for $25.00 most here would slap him on the back with a great big attaboy and a cry of lament as to how they should be so lucky. Never mind that seller there is likely unsophisticated,might even be grieving, and probably can be excused for not knowing certain nuances about back scarcities. Yet when one of the brotherhood, who damn well should know what he is doing as he does it for a living, underprices his goods, it is only right that he be advised of his oversight (I won't even call it a mistake per se) so he can maximize his profit. IF you are one of those people I would be interested in how you reconcile the two situations.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

i really don't have skin in the game on this, but do find people's choices and opinions interesting. I strongly suspect that if buyer had acquired this card at an estate or yard sale for $25.00 most here would slap him on the back with a great big attaboy and a cry of lament as to how they should be so lucky. Never mind that seller there is likely unsophisticated,might even be grieving, and probably can be excused for not knowing certain nuances about back scarcities. Yet when one of the brotherhood, who damn well should know what he is doing as he does it for a living, underprices his goods, it is only right that he be advised of his oversight (i won't even call it a mistake per se) so he can maximize his profit. if you are one of those people i would be interested in how you reconcile the two situations.

exactly!!!!!

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

I really don't have skin in the game on this, but do find people's choices and opinions interesting. I strongly suspect that if buyer had acquired this card at an estate or yard sale for $25.00 most here would slap him on the back with a great big attaboy and a cry of lament as to how they should be so lucky. Never mind that seller there is likely unsophisticated,might even be grieving, and probably can be excused for not knowing certain nuances about back scarcities. Yet when one of the brotherhood, who damn well should know what he is doing as he does it for a living, underprices his goods, it is only right that he be advised of his oversight (I won't even call it a mistake per se) so he can maximize his profit. IF you are one of those people I would be interested in how you reconcile the two situations.

Originally Posted by ullmandds

exactly!!!!!

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=127277

[BleedinBlue]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

I really don't have skin in the game on this, but do find people's choices and opinions interesting. I strongly suspect that if buyer had acquired this card at an estate or yard sale for $25.00 most here would slap him on the back with a great big attaboy and a cry of lament as to how they should be so lucky. Never mind that seller there is likely unsophisticated,might even be grieving, and probably can be excused for not knowing certain nuances about back scarcities. Yet when one of the brotherhood, who damn well should know what he is doing as he does it for a living, underprices his goods, it is only right that he be advised of his oversight (I won't even call it a mistake per se) so he can maximize his profit. IF you are one of those people I would be interested in how you reconcile the two situations.

Well said. Unless somebody can show me the eBay seller paid full value for the card and sold for a fraction through an error then I say the sale should stand. If the eBay seller bought for a fraction of fair market value they are not entitled to the excess profits resulting from the mistake of the original seller when they then repeat a mistake that they should be knowledgable enough to prevent.

[jhs5120]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

I really don't have skin in the game on this, but do find people's choices and opinions interesting. I strongly suspect that if buyer had acquired this card at an estate or yard sale for $25.00 most here would slap him on the back with a great big attaboy and a cry of lament as to how they should be so lucky. Never mind that seller there is likely unsophisticated,might even be grieving, and probably can be excused for not knowing certain nuances about back scarcities. Yet when one of the brotherhood, who damn well should know what he is doing as he does it for a living, underprices his goods, it is only right that he be advised of his oversight (I won't even call it a mistake per se) so he can maximize his profit. IF you are one of those people I would be interested in how you reconcile the two situations.

Excellent points; it's certainly not cut and dry.

I guess this particular issue hits home for me. I could easily see myself in this sort of situation. I list most of my items between the hours of 9-11pm and I sometimes make mistakes (thankfully none that cost me $1,000). You can tell by the listing that it was a mistake. The buyer knew it was a mistake and everyone in this thread knows that the listing was a mistake. The seller obviously never meant to list a Lenox back t206 card for $25. Something just didn't register with him (or whomever) at the time.

Some people see a mistake on ebay and take advantage and others try to correct it. I don't fault the guy who capitalized on it (I would've done the same), but I would also understand if the buyer reneged.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

I really don't have skin in the game on this, but do find people's choices and opinions interesting. I strongly suspect that if buyer had acquired this card at an estate or yard sale for $25.00 most here would slap him on the back with a great big attaboy and a cry of lament as to how they should be so lucky. Never mind that seller there is likely unsophisticated,might even be grieving, and probably can be excused for not knowing certain nuances about back scarcities. Yet when one of the brotherhood, who damn well should know what he is doing as he does it for a living, underprices his goods, it is only right that he be advised of his oversight (I won't even call it a mistake per se) so he can maximize his profit. IF you are one of those people I would be interested in how you reconcile the two situations.

In your example of the estate sale or the yard sale, if the seller didn’t know the value, then they should have done more research. They priced the card at an amount they felt comfortable with. If the seller did know the value and simply made a pricing a mistake, they have the right to back out of the sale before it is finalized. With eBay, the seller didn’t have a chance to back out due to a pricing mistake. That's the difference.

Edited to add: But let's turn it around, Todd. You are an attorney. Let's say you agree to take my case, but I have to put up a $5K retainer. Your secretary bills me for only $500 (she omits a zero from the bill). Do you still take my case with only a $500 retainer, or do you have your secretary contact me and tell me there was a pricing mistake? Just curious???

[ullmandds]

I just don't agree with all these caveats people are suggesting...if this then this? Are you a mind reader? Do you know what a seller was thinking...or what knowledge is in his/her brain? And it's not like baseball card dealers are the most ethical, honest bunch out there...who's to say they can't lie?

[nolemmings]

There is no evidence here that there was a pricing error--is someone suggesting that this card was intended to be sold for $2495.00 and a decimal point was missed? Or is it more likely that someone forgot or didn't realize that a Lennox back--noted BOTH in the title and in the description-- is worth considerably more than $24.95. Two completely different animals.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

There is no evidence here that there was a pricing error--is someone suggesting that this card was intended to be sold for $2495.00 and a decimal point was missed? Or is it more likely that someone forgot or didn't realize that a Lennox back--noted BOTH in the title and in the description-- is worth considerably more than $24.95. Two completely different animals.

I think the price should have been $249.95.

[BleedinBlue]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

There is no evidence here that there was a pricing error--is someone suggesting that this card was intended to be sold for $2495.00 and a decimal point was missed? Or is it more likely that someone forgot or didn't realize that a Lennox back--noted BOTH in the title and in the description-- is worth considerably more than $24.95. Two completely different animals.

This was not an error in decimal place. All t206 cards sold by the seller were the same $24.95 price. Regardless of back.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

There is no evidence here that there was a pricing error

Call him and ask him

(713) 672-2793

Still waiting on answer for question in post #112

[jhs5120]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

I just don't agree with all these caveats people are suggesting...if this then this? Are you a mind reader? Do you know what a seller was thinking...or what knowledge is in his/her brain? And it's not like baseball card dealers are the most ethical, honest bunch out there...who's to say they can't lie?

No caveats. If you see a dealer make a mistake on a listing you can either take advantage of the mistake or try to correct it. Neither choice is wrong.

All I said was it's a shame this dealer was dealing with an opportunist.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by jhs5120

No caveats. If you see a dealer make a mistake on a listing you can either take advantage of the mistake or try to correct it. Neither choice is wrong.

All I said was it's a shame this dealer was dealing with an opportunist.

nothing personal, JAson...but I find your way of thinking to be totally one sided.

[chernieto]

Originally Posted by jhs5120

No caveats. If you see a dealer make a mistake on a listing you can either take advantage of the mistake or try to correct it. Neither choice is wrong.

All I said was it's a shame this dealer was dealing with an opportunist.

An opportunist? As a buyer aren't we all opportunists, looking for an opportunity to get a card at a good, or preferably great price?
If there is a shame here it's not the buyer fault. I don't think they were taking advantage of the seller. The seller offered an item at a price.
If you see cross country airline tickets offered for $40 by United Airlines would you call them and say the price is too low & you would prefer to pay 10 times the offered price?
If an attorney says "all retainers are 5k" and the bill is 500 one could rightly expect the know price to come back and the error to be addressed.
The seller never said the Lenox card is a steal at $249.50 or made any indication of value other than the BIN price. If the card goes to a TPG and comes back as a fake the price might end up being.......high. Not saying that will happen, but it would likely change everyone's opinion on the subject.
Paul C

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

I really don't have skin in the game on this, but do find people's choices and opinions interesting. I strongly suspect that if buyer had acquired this card at an estate or yard sale for $25.00 most here would slap him on the back with a great big attaboy and a cry of lament as to how they should be so lucky. Never mind that seller there is likely unsophisticated,might even be grieving, and probably can be excused for not knowing certain nuances about back scarcities. Yet when one of the brotherhood, who damn well should know what he is doing as he does it for a living, underprices his goods, it is only right that he be advised of his oversight (I won't even call it a mistake per se) so he can maximize his profit. IF you are one of those people I would be interested in how you reconcile the two situations.

I agree with this sentiment. I don't see how it can be okay to benefit in one situation but not the other.

[Sean]

Maybe we should have a poll:

If you were the buyer of this card, would you agree if the seller wished to cancel the sale?

I once bought a BIN T206 Piedmont on ebay for about $30. When it arrived I realized that it was a Factory 42. I was thrilled. I would not have agreed to cancel the sale if the seller had asked, nor would I think that I had done anything wrong by keeping the card.

[mintacular]

The moral thing to do if winning one of these 2 cards is to contact the seller and explain to them that they erroneously priced the card, and come up with a compromise $ that works for both sides...

Anything less is just bad justification for your lack of morals in the case of a severely under-priced card.

Now, getting a good deal due to your knowledge of condition/scarcity of a card is fair game and the buyer should not have to pay back the difference of the purchase price. JMO

Of course, many people are focused more so on $ and not so much on morals....And that's ok but don't pretend that your purchase is morally sound...

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Originally Posted by mintacular

The moral thing to do if winning one of these 2 cards is to contact the seller and explain to them that they erroneously priced the card, and come up with a compromise $ that works for both sides...



Anything less is just bad justification for your lack of morals in the case of a severely under-priced card.



Now, getting a good deal due to your knowledge of condition/scarcity of a card is fair game and the buyer should not have to pay back the difference of the purchase price. JMO



Of course, many people are focused more so on $ and not so much on morals....And that's ok but don't pretend that your purchase is morally sound...

This is not a moral issue. Lying, stealing and killing are immoral.

[MikeMankin]

Originally Posted by mintacular

The moral thing to do if winning one of these 2 cards is to contact the seller and explain to them that they erroneously priced the card, and come up with a compromise $ that works for both sides...

Anything less is just bad justification for your lack of morals in the case of a severely under-priced card.

Now, getting a good deal due to your knowledge of condition/scarcity of a card is fair game and the buyer should not have to pay back the difference of the purchase price. JMO

Of course, many people are focused more so on $ and not so much on morals....And that's ok but don't pretend that your purchase is morally sound...

Who are you to dictate morality to anybody? Everybody draws their own line and has to live with that choice. But to tell me what is moral and what isn't, who do you think you are?

This whole subject is very simple. It is all about where each of you personally draw the line. Is it drawn at a dollar amount? a percentage? does it depend of how much the seller is into the item? (which nobody knows except the seller) knowledge or lack of by the seller? a clerical mistake? It all depends on your individual morals or thoughts, not what somebody else wants to dictate to you what their morals are. None are right or wrong!

[chernieto]

Leon & Peter have some great Karma coming there way!

It's a tough hobby though,bid in a lot of auctions where shilling may take place ( except when I consign) & it's wrong and we are considered morally corrupt.
Find a great deal & tell the seller they are wrong on price....Watch endless BIN's way over priced.....it's not easy to collect

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by chernieto

Leon & Peter have some great Karma coming there way!

I don't think the karma police will be tracking me down for voicing my opinion. I have sold cards numerous times at a loss...not just little losses...in some cases big losses. I don't bitch and whine...I accept it and move on.

If I make a mistake...I don't expect to be given a re-do...I accept the repercussions, move on... and am a better person as a result.

[chernieto]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

I don't think the karma police will be tracking me down for voicing my opinion. I have sold cards numerous times at a loss...not just little losses...in some cases big losses. I don't bitch and whine...I accept it and move on.

If I make a mistake...I don't expect to be given a re-do...I accept the repercussions, move on... and am a better person as a result.

I don't think they will track you down, if in fact they exist. I can relate 100% to your view point and share the same experiences ! I'm glad we can all express our viewpoints.
I always imagine karma more as a universal force than a police force
Paul C

[tschock]

Originally Posted by chernieto

Leon & Peter have some great Karma coming there way!

I think it's always best to do the right thing, but if the seller's last name been Mastro or Nash, now THAT would have been "great Karma".

[BleedinBlue]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Ultimately in life it's better to do the right thing. Not too long ago an auction house had a BIN sale where they dramatically underpriced a Cracker Jack card -- they listed it at SMR but in fact the market value was several times that (SMR is notoriously off on CJs and they refuse to fix it). I was tempted just to buy it, and make a tidy profit but decided to alert them instead.

We know the eBay seller sold the card for far below market value. Did they also buy it for far below market value? Is the eBay seller obligated to do the "right thing" or only the eBay buyer?

[jhs5120]

Originally Posted by BleedinBlue

We know the eBay seller sold the card for far below market value. Did they also buy it for far below market value? Is the eBay seller obligated to do the "right thing" or only the eBay buyer?

I don't think anyone is obligated to do anything. It's just a shame to see someone get taken advantage of.