Dealer Pet Peeves or "Tricks"

[mintacular]

Ultimately, it is up to the buyer to be informed and be able to see through the b.s. In that sense, it is not the seller's fault if the buyer is not educated. So this thread is not intended to beat up up dealers as there are many great ones out there and yes, they have to be salesman. That said, I am just highlighting or hoping to do the typical "pitfalls" that buyers experience.

[SMPEP]

#4 is my big peeve.

Total waste of my time opening up something that wasn't listed as reprint to find out it is.

Total waste of time having thousands of Mantle reprints that you can't get rid of to find the real ones.

I understand that there are some good reprints out there. I have two that I can't quite tell if they are real or not (Rose RC and 62 Mantle) because they feel a bit thin - but otherwise look right. So when selling those I get the caveat saying these might be reprints.

But in 99% of the times - the seller knows he's selling a fake and is hoping the buyer is too stupid to know it and will pay top dollar.

Those are the sellers I never buy from for any reason though. Frequently I email them and ask them to block me from their auctions (in case I forget who they are).

Cheers,
Patrick

[Exhibitman]

All but #2 are criminal acts. Open and shut fraud. #2 is an effort to market as long as the seller doesn't say the card is near mint.

[hangman62]

How about " at least 200 card in the lot ,haven't really counted ( most likely 201)

Or - Too busy to go thru lot and tell buyer card #s or how many doubles " but lot is unsearched".. most likely all low #s , lots of double's, and no stars

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

All but #2 are criminal acts. Open and shut fraud. #2 is an effort to market as long as the seller doesn't say the card is near mint.

I take issue with number 2 - as most "books" specifically state "the listed prices are for cards in ??? condition" cards in lesser condition sell for x% of the listed price. So if a dealer states the "book price" for a vg card is the price "listed in the book" - they are being highly deceptive and looking to take advantage of an inexperienced buyer (REALLY poor for long term business and building a larger hobby base imo). That said as stated - caveat emptor - if you don't know what you are buying, you shouldn't be buying it. A few local dealers at small card shows tried to pull this one on my kids - including 1 schmuck who said he "hadn't changed the prices on his g-vg 60's and 70's garbage ) in a "long time" and he really needed to put new higher prices on them. Offered my 10 yo a vg 1966 Clemente for I think $120 - yeah right!

[1963Topps Set]

How about dealers who sell "sealed" packs but know they have been resealed and only have commons.

I also hate dealers who sell a "sealed" pack for major $$$$$$ because you MAY get a Hall Of Famer or Rookie. Let the gamble be on both sides.

[nat]

I was always confused by the people who sell a reprint which is listed as a reprint, while saying "card does not say reprint on it". My best guess is that these folks are hoping to sell the card to scammers who will age it and try to re-sell it as original.

[SMPEP]

How about Christmas rackpacks?

There are a few "legit" ones out there (by "legit" I mean made in the 1960s, not the 1990s on), but by a HUGE degree these are all fakes.

And people buy them everyday.

Full disclosure I own one. But I did get it for free and have no illusions that there is anything of value in it.

Cheers,
Patrick