Small Traditions LLC/SCANDAL UPDATE

[BeanTown]

Originally Posted by bluez

I can't get the kind of money on Ebay that PWCC gets.
Where do you and others suggest as an alternative for vintage and newer?

For vintage any on this list I would trust. Not in any order:

1. BST on Net54 (Free and many collectors see it)
2. Sterling Auctions (Anything really)
3. Heritage (Higher dollar items)
4. Hunt (Post Cards/memorabilia)
5. Huggins & Scott (newer stuff including minor league)
6. Brockleman Auctions (Especially booklets/papers/magazines)
7. LOTG (Type cards/postcards/photos)
8. REA (higher dollar items especially 19th century)
9. Clean Sweep (prewar items including obscure)
9. eBay seller that comes recommended from here. More fees involved in this option.

If you consign, ask to have sellers fee waved and make sure you know what they are charging the buyer for fees. Plus make sure you like the way the auction closes. If some/all your items need grading, then negotiate the grading cost upfront.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by BeanTown

For vintage any on this list I would trust. Not in any order:

1. BST on Net54 (Free and many collectors see it)
2. Sterling Auctions (Anything really)
3. Heritage (Higher dollar items)
4. Hunt (Post Cards/memorabilia)
5. Huggins & Scott (newer stuff including minor league)
6. Brockleman Auctions (Especially booklets/papers/magazines)
7. LOTG (Type cards/postcards/photos)
8. REA (higher dollar items especially 19th century)
9. Clean Sweep (prewar items including obscure)
9. eBay seller that comes recommended from here. More fees involved in this option.

Trying not to cry...

[buymycards]

In the past few years, I have sent two lots to PWCC. I would say that roughly 1/3 of the items sold for well above my expectations, 1/3 sold at for what I expected, and 1/3 sold for under what I felt I could have sold them for myself. I think that PWCC's perceived sold prices are specific to certain items, and the high prices don't carry through on all items. The same applies to PSA cards. Some prices are higher, especially on modern cards, but for lower end vintage, SGC seems to prevail.

The advantage is that PWCC's consignment rates were under what I would have paid eBay and PayPal if I had listed them myself, plus, I didn't have to scan, list, or ship.

I am not going to consign to PWCC again because of the integrity problems that they seem to be having. It has been 20 years since I submitted to PSA, but I do send small orders to SGC once or twice a year. I have 8 PSA cards in my collection and I am thinking about breaking them out of the PSA slabs and either keeping them raw or sending them to SGC.

I would mostly agree with Jay Cee's list, although some of the companies on the list are having their own problems with passing along trimmed cards, or they have problems with shipping charges, etc.

I would also add Birmingham Auctions to the list of good guys.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

LOL, thanks Rick.

[Stampsfan]

Originally Posted by buymycards

In the past few years, I have sent two lots to PWCC. I would say that roughly 1/3 of the items sold for well above my expectations, 1/3 sold at for what I expected, and 1/3 sold for under what I felt I could have sold them for myself. I think that PWCC's perceived sold prices are specific to certain items, and the high prices don't carry through on all items...

This makes sense. I know in the past when I bid or buy, I have to check the shipping. Regardless of this controversy, PWCC (and Probstein, and sometimes COMC) have outrageous shipping charges.
For a high end item I will pay $50-$100 to ship. For a $25 item, I'm not even bidding when shipping is $25-$35. This may be one reason some cards may get the eyeballs, but not the bids.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

and it replaces the "no buyer's premium" as a revenue stream.

[Peter_Spaeth]

According to a post today on Blowout, the Small Traditions website is permanently gone.

Anyone who didn't follow all the outed cards on Blowout, here's a link. Some stunners here.

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1345291

[Snowman]

I wonder if he's actually in legal trouble or if he simply failed to succeed in running his own auction site. I'm guessing it's the latter since his eBay store is still fairly active with recent sales.

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by BeanTown

For vintage any on this list I would trust. Not in any order:

4. Hunt (Post Cards/memorabilia)
.

I know this is off subject, but I disagree with this.

I bought a memorabilia piece from them that they specified as a specific piece. After receiving it I tried my own research more and couldn't confirm anything from the item description. When I contacted HUNT's with the conflicting information they told me essentially "that is what our consignor told us". So they took the work of the consignor with out any bit of research and fully relied on that info. When I asked if they could provide more providence, they told me the consignor didn't have anything to provide. I haven't bid with Hunt since. The item was so cheap that I let it go, but they lost my trust.

[BeanTown]

Originally Posted by bn2cardz

I know this is off subject, but I disagree with this.

I bought a memorabilia piece from them that they specified as a specific piece. After receiving it I tried my own research more and couldn't confirm anything from the item description. When I contacted HUNT's with the conflicting information they told me essentially "that is what our consignor told us". So they took the work of the consignor with out any bit of research and fully relied on that info. When I asked if they could provide more providence, they told me the consignor didn't have anything to provide. I haven't bid with Hunt since. The item was so cheap that I let it go, but they lost my trust.

I wïll say that Hunt is not for the faint of Heart. If you are able to figure out their website and even login, then let the search begin. I believe Hunt's business plan is to use minimal descriptions, regular scans, and group up items in the lot. Its like walking into a huge online flea market where you can find gems all the way down to duds.

They seem to always have a ton of stuff and the starting out bids are low. Their signiture or Platinum auctions are better than their monthly ones on all levels. They been around for years and most buyers know of them. Agreed they should not have used a "consignors word" on a description unless noted.

Still, they move a lot of items and from almost any decade you want to collect.

Im sure I left many AHs out of my list as I was just firing them out, as I was thinking of them. Ive never delt with Birmingham auctions, so I didn't List them... Nothing personal.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by BeanTown

Im sure I left many AHs out of my list as I was just firing them out, as I was thinking of them. Ive never delt with Birmingham auctions, so I didn't List them... Nothing personal.

I know, just had to throw my hat in. Of course now I'm hurt that you've never bought from me...