Have you ever been ripped off when buying cards?

Bought a T201 Cobb/Crawford from a very reputable guy on Ebay and it was fake. Got us both. When I tried to return it he blocked me as a buyer and refuse a return. I tried everything I could and of course Ebay sided with him even with proof from GAI and SGC.

Went out on a limb and bought a T206 Cobb Green Background and made him and offer which he took. I talked to the guy on the phone about payment and all that Jazz. I mentioned what I'd like to get for my collection and he sold me a 51 Mantle and a 33 Goudey Ruth bat swinging yellow background. Got them for a few hundred less than Ebay and all the scans were high res so I could verify the cards as real right off. Sent him the money via Paypal and the cards came 2 days later. He had sent reprinted cards and the Mantle was still wet from where he smudged it to look like the real one. The Cobb was obvious and the Ruth even said reprint on it where the other didn't. It took 8 weeks of Paypal, and then had my lawyer involved. The only thing that saved me was the guy at the Post Office signed a letter stating that I opened the cards in the PO and realized they were fake and mailed back same day service insured immediatly. Still took 3 weeks after that to get my $1200 back.

Had $8k worth of vintage ungraded cards Stolen by a guy named Ryan Randles in Des Moines Iowa. Sold a large chunk of my collection to fund the new baby 2 yrs ago and he wrote me a check from his business for them. Check bounced. Tried to prossicute and his cousin turned out to be part of the DPD and inlaws in the law system and a father with some serious connections. I was pretty much screwed because I went up and took back what was left like I was told by the PD and that is what got me. NEVER RECOVER ANYTHING TILL HE IS PROSICUTED!!!! I got set up and he was set.

Anyone wonder why I am so thourough with my transactions. Just want to know I am getting what I paid for and where it is from you to me.

[GrayGhost]

Ive been gypped a few times over the years, especially w the old "screwdown" flattens out a crease deal. Remember those holders? The HUGE lucites w four screws?

Plus. Ive had cards stolen from me when I used to set up, and my car burglarized and my stuff stolen, which is why I dont do shows anymore. It wasnt much, but was all I had.

[Mark]

Back when most vintage cards at shows were not slabbed, I bought myself a trimmed Matty t206 and a trimmed McGrraw M116. I lost a few hundred dollars in each of those deals, but I have learned to be careful and to be grateful for the good cards that I bought back then, too.

[sox1903wschamp]

I am not sure if I would classify this as being "ripped off" but I took this with a grain of salt. Not pre-war but I purchased a fairly high grade 72 topps set a few years back from an auction house and the Clemente was described as "NMT". Well, when I checked the back, below is what it looked like . Looks like someone was keeping thier player profiles up to date in a morbid fashion.

A little upset at first but I gave the auction house a pass. The rest of the set was fine. And I might add, all of my deals have been fantastic in this community.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by sox1903wschamp

I am not sure if I would classify this as being "ripped off" but I took this with a grain of salt. Not pre-war but I purchased a fairly high grade 72 topps set a few years back from an auction house and the Clemente was described as "NMT". Well, when I checked the back, below is what it looked like . Looks like someone was keeping thier player profiles up to date in a morbid fashion.

A little upset at first but I gave the auction house a pass. The rest of the set was fine. And I might add, all of my deals have been fantastic in this community.

Mike - Financially that stinks, but thanks for the chuckle

[ethicsprof]

it's been a long time ,since i,in recent times, only buy from friends via B/S/T or from
auction 'houses' of friends.
this is the best way to go methinks.
so i must say any rip off is long gone from my consciousness.

best,
barry

Maybe Dick could get that out for ya

Originally Posted by sox1903wschamp

I am not sure if I would classify this as being "ripped off" but I took this with a grain of salt. Not pre-war but I purchased a fairly high grade 72 topps set a few years back from an auction house and the Clemente was described as "NMT". Well, when I checked the back, below is what it looked like . Looks like someone was keeping thier player profiles up to date in a morbid fashion.

A little upset at first but I gave the auction house a pass. The rest of the set was fine. And I might add, all of my deals have been fantastic in this community.

[batsballsbases]

Andrew,
Just what I was thinking! A little dip-it-tee-do from the dicker-rew! sorry Dick I couldnt resist!

[D. Bergin]

I remember back in the late 80's when Don Mattingly was super hot I set up at a show with a buddy. We were teenagers then and we decided to be partners, which didn't last long at all.

Anyways, we had a pretty good show but then my buddy goes off the deep end. It's the end of the show and this other guy at the show has a ton of 84Topps Rack Packs at an unbelievable price.

My buddy comes back to me and tells me we need to sink all our earnings into these packs. At the time we were selling Mattingly's for 25 bucks apiece and I think Darryl Strawberry was also selling for a bit to. They were easy sales. If you had them they would sell.

I had a funny feeling about this guy. I was pretty sure he'd been caught selling tampered packs before and I just didn't feel right about it. I tried to nix the deal but my buddy got pissed at me and went and made the deal anyways.

When we got home we opened all the packs and everything was obviously searched. No Mattingly's, No Strawberry's or anything else that might have been of value at the time. You could even see the fingernail marks on the back cards the guy used to find the pack patterns.

They aren't worth crap now but at the time it was pretty depressing opening up packs and packs of commons.