Hobby terms that annoy you

[Peter_Spaeth]

A little off my own topic, but I love the guys who access the internet to tell you they can't pay you yet because they are out of town/country and will take care of it when they get home.

[Peter_Spaeth]

A cousin of "poppage" -- "sub." As in, "sub popped."

Then of course there is "rip" as a noun, as in "nice rip" -- referring typically to the opening of some 80s packs/boxes and pulling HOFers.

[bnorth]

Not a hobby term but "Helmar" just makes me cringe. I like modern fantasy cards as much as anybody but for BLEEP sake don't use a real vintage companys name to make you modern reproduction stuff.

[packs]

I love the subtle threats you run into: "last drop before eBay" and "if no takers it heads to auction". Oh no!

[timn1]

he did name his whole company (beer, chips) after Helmar, not just the cards.

Originally Posted by bnorth

Not a hobby term but "Helmar" just makes me cringe. I like modern fantasy cards as much as anybody but for BLEEP sake don't use a real vintage companys name to make you modern reproduction stuff.

[Sophiedog]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

A little off my own topic, but I love the guys who access the internet to tell you they can't pay you yet because they are out of town/country and will take care of it when they get home.

LOL. Exactly. That's happened to me a few times.

[tazdmb]

From an autograph perspective-"Authenticated"

[Huysmans]

Can we add slang within general sports terms as well...

I can't stand GOAT. There are only a small handful of players - literally just a couple per sport - that can be considered the 'Greatest of All Time'...

Yet, all it seems to take these days is some basketball player not tripping over his shadow or a quarterback that doesn't constantly throw interceptions, and people are all over social media GOAT this and GOAT that... it's beyond cringe-worthy.

[bobbyw8469]

No hobby term offends me. Just like the English language, everyone has their own way of talking.

About the only thing I sometimes get perturbed at is auction descriptions. On one end, you got Bill Goodwin, who writes a 500 word essay on a particular ballplayer. On the other end, you have Memory Lane, with their one word quips "BLAZER", "GET IT!", "SHARP SPLINTER (in regards to a Ted Williams card). Seems like we could find a happy medium between the two.

And PWCC with their "worthy of consderation" line...when they are auctioning 4 of the exact same Nolan Ryan PSA 9 cards at the exact same time....It bothers me when I am consigning one of those 9's and see 3 more of the exact same grade right along side it. Doesn't make mine feel so special (and of course, it winds up lagging behind the other 3, sometimes to the tune of hundreds of dollars).

[A2000]

"Extant"

[1952boyntoncollector]

I am buying the card for my personal collection, am no going to resell it...

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

It bothers me when I am consigning one of those 9's and see 3 more of the exact same grade right along side it. Doesn't make mine feel so special (and of course, it winds up lagging behind the other 3, sometimes to the tune of hundreds of dollars).

I learned the hard way with PWCC that honest consignors don't do as well as consignors who are, let's say ethically more flexible. Still do OK mind you, but not setting records that others are on the same items.

[insidethewrapper]

"I found the only card that my grandpa ever saved in the attic and it's a T206 Honus Wagner "

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Huysmans

Can we add slang within general sports terms as well...

I can't stand GOAT. There are only a small handful of players - literally just a couple per sport - that can be considered the 'Greatest of All Time'...

Yet, all it seems to take these days is some basketball player not tripping over his shadow or a quarterback that doesn't constantly throw interceptions, and people are all over social media GOAT this and GOAT that... it's beyond cringe-worthy.

The use of this term bothers me, as well. I remember when being called a “goat” in sports was a bad thing. For those who may not remember, “goat” was the opposite of “hero.”

Hit a home run to win the game in the bottom of the ninth, and the media will be singing your praises. Then, in the very next game, strike out in the bottom of the ninth to end the game...the media would have said that you’ve, “gone from hero to goat.”

Words change. I get that. Still, this reminds me of a time when it suddenly became popular to call girls, “phat” - and have it be a compliment.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Not sure if it's been mentioned -- "priced to sell."

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by Eric72

The use of this term bothers me, as well. I remember when being called a “goat” in sports was a bad thing. For those who may not remember, “goat” was the opposite of “hero.”

Hit a home run to win the game in the bottom of the ninth, and the media will be singing your praises. Then, in the very next game, strike out in the bottom of the ninth to end the game...the media would have said that you’ve, “gone from hero to goat.”

Words change. I get that. Still, this reminds me of a time when it suddenly became popular to call girls, “phat” - and have it be a compliment.

Bill Buckner is happy of the word definition change..

[rocketman]

"The best I can do is..." Table dealers at card shows.

[aaroncc]

card in hand
waterfront

[frankbmd]

This thread annoys me. Does anyone really think this hobby is so special or unique? We are talking about “marketing”, plain and simple.

Hyperbole

Cliche

Little white lies

Pricing techniques

Etc

Where would we be without it? Do you completely believe every ad you see or read?

If you want completely honest marketing, try the following:

Buy this vacuum cleaner, it sucks ......................................for awhile.

Our insurance policy will support our agents’ families. You get what’s left over.

Redistribute wealth, hire an attorney.

Vote for me, why not?

Follow me on Twitter, what the hell for?

And before Peter chimes in, the physician whose ad follows:

All my patients die ....................................sooner or later.

[Throttlesteer]

The ones that make me cringe:

(Ultra) High End - as if that makes me want to buy it more
Sharp or Crisp - for a card that's been trimmed and gets an "A"
Pack Fresh - probably more post-war, but still annoying
Investment Grade - Says who?
Freshly graded - who cares
Pop of 1 (when there are obviously more than one currently for sale)
I can't say it's authentic for sure, so selling as a reprint (in other words, you know it's a reprint but want to sucker someone that thinks there's a chance)

The worst of all, even though it's post-war

SICK PATCH!!!

[seanofjapan]

"No international shipping"

If you are a collector living overseas easily 75% of the stuff on Ebay (and on here BTW) is off limits for that reason. Its frustrating.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by seanofjapan

"No international shipping"

If you are a collector living overseas easily 75% of the stuff on Ebay (and on here BTW) is off limits for that reason. Its frustrating.

That's because a few bad apples ruined it for you. I bet every single Ebay seller has been burned Internationally at least once.

[Tennis13]

I saw "dagger corners" the other day. Wanted to vomit, but not sure why. That one just made my skin crawl.

[Stampsfan]

I finally read through this entire thread. Much more entertaining than I originally thought it was going to be.

Certainly, it's worthy of consideration. Overall Nr-Ex (meaning it's a Very Good thread).

[seanofjapan]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

That's because a few bad apples ruined it for you. I bet every single Ebay seller has been burned Internationally at least once.

Yeah but I bet every single Ebay seller has also been burned by an American buyer at least once too (more likely multiple times by the amount of complaining I see on here).

This "no international shipping" thing is unique to baseball card dealers. I have a few other collections (stamps, coins, retro video games) and its rare to find American dealers in those items who don't ship internationally. Presumably they've all been burned as well but they don't over-react the way baseball card guys do. Its not unusual for a stamp dealer to have a "No shipping to Latvia" or something in their listings and you can easily deduce that they had a bad experience with a Latvian but took a more measured response than just "domestic sales only".

Those hobbies are a bit more international than baseball cards so those sellers probably have to rely on international sales more than baseball card guys do, but still it strikes me as self defeating. The few guys who are willing to ship to me get all my bids and get more money as a result. I've clicked on lots of cards that I intended to buy only to see that "does not ship to Japan" sign and move on. Lost sales for those guys.

[glynparson]

No way do i ship internationally way more problems then domestically. Sorry it is an inconvenience for you but i can't afford to lose the money from all the over seas scams run on ebay. You can think they are few or equal to the USA all you want but from my experiences you are way off.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by seanofjapan

Yeah but I bet every single Ebay seller has also been burned by an American buyer at least once too (more likely multiple times by the amount of complaining I see on here).

This "no international shipping" thing is unique to baseball card dealers. I have a few other collections (stamps, coins, retro video games) and its rare to find American dealers in those items who don't ship internationally. Presumably they've all been burned as well but they don't over-react the way baseball card guys do. Its not unusual for a stamp dealer to have a "No shipping to Latvia" or something in their listings and you can easily deduce that they had a bad experience with a Latvian but took a more measured response than just "domestic sales only".

Those hobbies are a bit more international than baseball cards so those sellers probably have to rely on international sales more than baseball card guys do, but still it strikes me as self defeating. The few guys who are willing to ship to me get all my bids and get more money as a result. I've clicked on lots of cards that I intended to buy only to see that "does not ship to Japan" sign and move on. Lost sales for those guys.

I have been on EBay about 20 years and have never been burned by a US buyer. I have also done lots of trades within the US and have never been burned. I have had problems with over seas buyers. The last one resulted in me getting a negative because the card arrived "damaged." The card was sent insured, so the buyer could have filed a claim. I also offer returns on all my items. I guess the buyer thought I would let him keep the card and give him a big discount. People like this make me not want to sell out of the US, it is just not worth the hassle.

[CobbSpikedMe]

"Near Mint if not for the corner missing"

[Peter_Spaeth]

"L@@K"

[1952boyntoncollector]

hate it when see some wierd third party grader and seller says 'PSA?'

or when every psa card is 'due for bump' to a .5 grade higher or whatever if resubmitted or some words to that effect

[Yoda]

I just found a new one: bleed through variation. Hmm

[shagrotn77]

Centered (when it's plain to see that it's not)
PSA ready (what would make a card not ready for a trip to Newport Beach?)
Rare (especially when they quote the pop of 550)
PSA (when the card isn't PSA graded)
Gorgeous (I've probably been guilty of this a time or 2, but it should really be reserved for women, not cardboard)

[Peter_Spaeth]

LOL the three that came to mind were the same three with which I started this thread. Particularly "advanced collector."

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by shagrotn77

PSA ready (what would make a card not ready for a trip to Newport Beach?)

This one!

I've been seeing it a lot lately for vintage photos and tickets, which irritates me much more then when it's used for cards, for some reason.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

This one!

I've been seeing it a lot lately for vintage photos and tickets, which irritates me much more then when it's used for cards, for some reason.

Regarding "PSA Ready"...

The card may be ready for PSA. But is PSA ready for the card? Judging by the 11 month wait time, I think not!

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Regarding "PSA Ready"...

The card may be ready for PSA. But is PSA ready for the card? Judging by the 11 month wait time, I think not!

Excellent Point!

[frankbmd]

Card from Covid free home, god bless

[Mike D.]

“PSA?”

Yes, technically ANY card can be submitted to PSA, but thanks for reminding me (and trying to game my search results).