Why on Earth did I buy this?

[JollyElm]

A new listing for each card I buy off of eBay appears in the same grade/shape for a minimum of 25% less than what I just paid for mine before the one I bought even reaches my door. Does that count?

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

When I first started doing shows as a dealer at 14 years old I was always desperate to get "older" star cards. In about 1988 now at 16, the father of a teacher at my high school had a decent 1965 Yaz, which was AMAZING to me at the time. I offered to sell it for him and take 10%. He said he wanted $85 (even in the late 80's craze that was too much) and I said I might have to take less. His response was "That's OK but I want $85" To me that meant try like hell to get $85 but if you have to you can take less.

It took almost half a year but I finally managed to get $60 for it. I called him to tell him I had $54 dollars for him and his response was. You told me I would get $85. Basically what he meant when I asked him about taking less was 'you do what you want but I'm getting $85' Was a hard lesson and $31 that hurt back in those days!

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

When I first started doing shows as a dealer at 14 years old I was always desperate to get "older" star cards. In about 1988 now at 16, the father of a teacher at my high school had a decent 1965 Yaz, which was AMAZING to me at the time. I offered to sell it for him and take 10%. He said he wanted $85 (even in the late 80's craze that was too much) and I said I might have to take less. His response was "That's OK but I want $85" To me that meant try like hell to get $85 but if you have to you can take less.

It took almost half a year but I finally managed to get $60 for it. I called him to tell him I had $54 dollars for him and his response was. You told me I would get $85. Basically what he meant when I asked him about taking less was 'you do what you want but I'm getting $85' Was a hard lesson and $31 that hurt back in those days!

That would not have been the lesson I would have learned if I were in your shoes. The lesson I would have learned is that some people are idiots who aren't worth dealing with, and that sometimes, those idiots receive $31 less than would have liked for their cards.

[hcv123]

Back around 1990-91 I was new to dealing cards. A guy brought a great looking 56 Mantle - I don't recall how much it was, but it would have been a big purchase for me back then. After buying it I learned (from someone else looking at it) that it was trimmed. A few weeks later I was set up at another show and had cards laid out on my table (prior to having showcases). I had the Mantle out and was offering it for significantly less than I had paid noting it was trimmed. Yes, I turned around for a minute and when I turned back the Mantle was gone - someone had stolen my trimmed '56 Mantle!

Another one that just came to mind was the Michael Jordan rookie I won in an auction run by a guy who owned a card shop near Albany NY (I forget his name) - It was NRMTMT and a card that got tucked away as Jordan is my favorite player of all time. An article came out about Jordan fakes and upon examination, I think a year later, I learned that the example I had was a fake! Not sure exactly why (perhaps because I was young), but felt embarrassed about going back and asking for a refund.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Snowman

That would not have been the lesson I would have learned if I were in your shoes. The lesson I would have learned is that some people are idiots who aren't worth dealing with, and that sometimes, those idiots receive $31 less than would have liked for their cards.

Never any shortage of that lesson running an auction

[Mark17]

About 15 years ago, when I was collecting GU bats, I spotted an auction on ebay that was closing with just a couple minutes. It was an H&B signature model Owen Bush. Well, I knew right away that was the famous Tiger, Donie Bush, and was hoping and assuming other people might not know this. So I quickly got my snipe bid in, and won it for a few hundred dollars. Boy was I excited!

About a week later I received a USPS medium size flat rate box. Inside was a mini bat of Owen Bush. I scrambled back to the listing, re-read it closely, and sure enough, buried in the description was: 16". In my haste, I hadn't noticed it. I eventually sold it, being clear it was a mini bat, and took hit of a couple hundred dollars. Not the most I've ever lost on a transaction, but probably the biggest emotional up, then down.

[ClementeFanOh]

I don't feel so bad now! Maybe 30 years ago, I traded a beautiful Walter
Payton rookie for 2 college football programs. The programs are wonderful and
still in my collection. That taught me the meaning of "loss" in the card world

Trent King

[ullmandds]

My CV of being ripped off as far as I can remember:

c1982 was sold fake mayo cut plug lave cross at a card show in NJ...As a 14 yo I didn't know the backs should be black! I ate the loss.

1989 was sold a fake fro joy uncut sheet at the LCS at college in newark, DE. I ate the loss.

early 90's bought a 71 thurman munson card at a show in nj area...later discovered the corners had been filled in with marker. I still have it.

EBAY

bought a fake T3...which in person was pathetic...a photocopy glued to a rigid backing. I ate the loss.

bought some fake playballs(reprints) off ebay...was refunded.

Net54 BST

Bought a 33 WWG Ruth card from a supposed mexican cartel associate/member? Card turned out to be real.

Recently was almost ripped off from a card wanted thread...got refunded.

Not too terrible for 40+ years in the hobby.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by ClementeFanOh

I don't feel so bad now! Maybe 30 years ago, I traded a beautiful Walter
Payton rookie for 2 college football programs. The programs are wonderful and
still in my collection. That taught me the meaning of "loss" in the card world

Trent King

By Shel Silverstein (one of THE greatest authors of all time, fact)

Smart

My dad gave me a one dollar bill
'Cause I'm his smartest son,
And I swapped it for two shiny quarters
'Cause two is more then one!
And then I took the quarters
And traded them to Lou
For three dimes-- I guess he didn't know
That three is more than two!
Just then, along came old blind Bates
And just 'cause he can't see
He gave me four nickels for my three dimes,
And four is more than three!
And I took the nickels to Hiram Coombs
Down at the seed-feed store,
And the fool gave me five pennies for them,
And five is more than four!
And I went and showed my dad,
And he got red in the cheeks
And closed his eyes and shook his head--
Too proud of me to speak!