Creative auction house descriptions

[itjclarke]

For whatever reason "obverse" just bugs me. "Beautiful blue sharpie signature graces this legendary card's obverse". Just say front!!!

[Jobu]

Surprised nobody has mentioned "interesting" yet.

[frohme]

Originally Posted by veleno45

I see "undergraded" all the time but for some reason never see "overgraded".

One of the few I've seen called overgraded, and rightly so - BST got it dead-on.

http://www.bst-auctions.com/1912-T20...-4-LOT287.aspx

[matthew]

Originally Posted by Econteachert205

Undergraded

+1

[KCRfan1]

Words are in place
To help us all see
What our eyes don't tell us
We may read and believe

Made up words
Too good to be true
Help to inform
Me and you

That the card that we see
Is the card we must have
And to win the auction
Would make us most glad.

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by frohme

One of the few I've seen called overgraded, and rightly so - BST got it dead-on.

http://www.bst-auctions.com/1912-T20...-4-LOT287.aspx

That's well and good for the bidder, but if I'm the consignor I would be livid. There is nothing to be gained for the consignor with such a description.

[jbaskin]

What's this use of 'gathering' instead of collection? It makes me think the cards come together at night to dance by the light of the moon.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by matthew

+1

See...I don't think (undergraded) that is a bad term. If you have a 1.5 that looks like a 3, then pray tell, what do you call it?!?!?!?!?!

[Exhibitman]

Most of my favorites have already been covered but there are two that just annoy the hell out of me:

"Extreme rarity"
"Extremely rare"

Rare already covers it. Qualifying it is like putting the Deltas on double secret probation.

I generally dislike the verbal diarrhea that most AH writers seem to develop. I imagine they have a menu of random adjectives they can slap them together to create a description. Like:

"This impressive specimen from an ultra rare issue is the highest condition exemplar extant in the PSA database, with radiant color on the obverse and virtually unimprovable color on the back."

You can attach that verbiage to nearly any card. Or anything else.

Part of the problem is that the writers try to sound as erudite as possible on what I imagine is a second-rate education, which leads to some really funny sentences like this gem from Goodwin's recent auction:

"If you are contemplating adding one museum quality card to your collection, this jewel certainly qualifies as a grandeur selection."

WTF is a "grandeur selection"? Grandeur is a noun, as is selection. They might as well write that it qualifies as a card card.

[bobbyw8469]

On the other end of the spectrum you have Memory Lane.....

"Get it!"
"Bid to own"
"Joltin' Joe"

you get the idea.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Most of my favorites have already been covered but there are two that just annoy the hell out of me:

"Extreme rarity"
"Extremely rare"

Rare already covers it. Qualifying it is like putting the Deltas on double secret probation.

I generally dislike the verbal diarrhea that most AH writers seem to develop. I imagine they have a menu of random adjectives they can slap them together to create a description. Like:

"This impressive specimen from an ultra rare issue is the highest condition exemplar extant in the PSA database, with radiant color on the obverse and virtually unimprovable color on the back."

You can attach that verbiage to nearly any card. Or anything else.

Part of the problem is that the writers try to sound as erudite as possible on what I imagine is a second-rate education, which leads to some really funny sentences like this gem from Goodwin's recent auction:

"If you are contemplating adding one museum quality card to your collection, this jewel certainly qualifies as a grandeur selection."

WTF is a "grandeur selection"? Grandeur is a noun, as is selection. They might as well write that it qualifies as a card card.

Totally Agree.