An eBay problem and call for advice from a quasi-neophyte

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by T's please

How is this any different than seeing a card graded BCCG 5? The seller states that it is a BCCG 5, provides a picture and you buy it. It arrives in your mailbox and you open it up and notice in print below the number that it says "Poor or Better". Now if the seller of the 6 (oc) didn't provide a picture, then that is a different story.

In your example, the card is described and pictured accurately, however the buyer didn't know what he was buying. That falls back on the buyer.

In this situation (if I understand correctly), the card pictured did not match the description or title. That's where the SNAD (significantly not as described) claim comes in.

[nebboy]

Something very close happened to me on my last transaction on E-Bay.
Even know that the discription was not 100% correct (more like 75%) the buyer stated you will be recieving the card pictured. So I did give him only a 2 star feedback on discription and explained myself. I do take some of the blame for not slowing down and doing all my checks offs before buying.

Sorry to hear about your unhappy buy. We have hick-ups in our collecting past.

[H_T_Davis]

Thanks for all of the comments. Someone asked for the link, so now I have to expose myself as a naive credulous collector who buys cards both modern and cheap - the punishment never ends. Here is the address

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Of course, now that I know the end result, the ONLY thing I see when I open the listing is that (oc) in the picture, but since this is not a rare card and not in premium condition, I just didn't notice it - what can I say other than lesson learned. I decided I wanted a PSA-6 or 7 example and have bid on quite a few, just waiting until I get one that isn't bid too high (May's cards seem to be going for abut half of the price listed in the Beckett Graded Card Investor, which would put my target at around $100). To address another comment, the bids were not particularly low for this card - I doubt anyone else noticed the (oc) either.

On a side note, since someone mentioned BCCG, the seller tried to explain that I got a great deal, by say that "I've researched this card and you couldn't buy one for less even a lower grade (5) good-very good and all are either off center or they are faded and have poor corners."

[Chicago206]

"On a side note, since someone mentioned BCCG, the seller tried to explain that I got a great deal,....."


Yeah, you got such a great deal that he wont take the card back even if it means you'll pay shipping both ways. Scumbag seller IMO.

[JP]

Neither title nor listing mentions the qualifier. 100% chance you'll win if you file a proper claim....Seller lied by omission.

[jb217676]

He doesn't even mention 'OC' anywhere. He should have listed the grade and qualifier in the 'item specifics' section of the listing (didn't even list the numerical grade). Ebay has a spot for listing qualifiers. You would win this fight if you choose to do so.

[forazzurri2axz]

Buy three more of his items, and then NEG him on all 3!!!!!!!!!!!! Of course, some may think that's not the honest thing to do, but it's called what goes around ,comes around.

[Jim VB]

Actual past selling prices show you paid a fair price for that card. A real PSA 6 would have set you back far more than $100 most of the time, according to VCP. You ultimate price was a little higher than, but closer to, a PSA 4.

[H_T_Davis]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

Actual past selling prices show you paid a fair price for that card. A real PSA 6 would have set you back far more than $100 most of the time, according to VCP. You ultimate price was a little higher than, but closer to, a PSA 4.

You may be right, as I haven't bought a PSA-6 of this card before, but for Mays cards (around 1957) purchases made this month, I've paid (based on the prices in the March/April Becket Graded Card Collector that I've using):

1954 Bowman 89 PSA5 - 53%
1958 Topps 5 PSA4 - 55%
1959 Topps 563 PSA7 - 44%
1959 Topps 50 SGC 86 - Hard to say, as there is a big jump between 7 and 8, but no worse than 79% and probably around 65%
1960 Topps 200 PSA5 - 55%

These percentages include shipping/handling/insurance. 1956 and before cards go higher (and exponentially so), mid-60's thru 73 go lower and weirder stuff much higher, usually.

Based on that, and a dozen or so more buys, if I was getting a deal, I didn't realize it at the time. It looked like I was right where I aimed to be - around 50%. My max bid was $88.89.

I'm on a HOFers from Alabama jag right now, working on the the post-war players since they have so many different cards. I have most of the Manushs and about half of the Sewells already, but am always on the lookout for more.

[Jim VB]

Beckett's is nothing more than a guide. And printed guides have built in problems with being timely.

I suggest you either search closed Ebay auctions (which only gives you 15 days of data) or use one of the services that gathers all that data and sorts it for you. I mentioned vintagecardprices.com, only because they are an advertiser here. There are a couple of others. They are a subscription service however.

[ibuysportsephemera]

I am a seller on eBay so I have no problem telling you to go after the seller.

If he didn't put the OC in the title but put it into the description I would say that it was on you the buyer...but the seller clearly was trying to get around the fact that there was a qualifier by not putting it into the description.

The seller is Top Rated, so by leaving feedback with 1 or 2 stars you can be costing him his 20% discount (assuming that the seller has 1 or 2 other customers that are not satisfied and also leave 1 or 2 stars).

Good luck.

Jeff