Ebay question on what constitutes a complete set.

[Flintboy]

Sold a complete 1974 Topps baseball set a couple of months ago. The buyer messages me today and asks where the Traded set is at and that it’s not complete set without it. I never listed a traded set in the title or the description. If one was included, I always state it in the auctions. I guess I’ll have to start stating either way now.

I never really gave this much thought but I’d like some feedback on if this ebayer has a legit issue. I’m a little concerned that he will come back next with “ where are the blue team checklists, and error cards”.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

No they are not part of the set. They are often included but shouldn't be expected. That being said you could always spend 8 or 10 bucks and buy one to send him and shut him up.

[Casey2296]

There's also a little button called Contact Seller that does amazing things when you have a question like: "Hey Brian, I noticed you don't mention if the set includes the traded set, does it?" signed, informed buyer who knows that assuming things is a fools errand...

[Bigdaddy]

Did your listing include the total number of cards? If so, then that should end the conversation.

[Flintboy]

Originally Posted by Bigdaddy

Did your listing include the total number of cards? If so, then that should end the conversation.

It didn’t, I just stated “complete set”.

If I bought an 84 or an 82 Topps set I wouldn’t think the traded series was included. I feel that those are completely separate, just as with the 74.

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by Flintboy

It didn’t, I just stated “complete set”.

If I bought an 84 or an 82 Topps set I wouldn’t think the traded series was included. I feel that those are completely separate, just as with the 74.

Yeah, but those sets weren't included in packs or factory base sets like the 74 traded were.

I do agree they are separate but it's not COMPLETELY ridiculous to expect them.

FWIW, I just looked through ebay listings. Couple dozen set listings. All but 1 specified the number of cards and/or whether the traded set was included.

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

There's also a little button called Contact Seller that does amazing things when you have a question like: "Hey Brian, I noticed you don't mention if the set includes the traded set, does it?" signed, informed buyer who knows that assuming things is a fools errand...

Or, this could all be easily avoided in the first place if eBay sellers were actually somewhat competent and oh, I don't know, listed all the crucial particulars for any item they're selling.

What a novel idea! YOU list and sell something, YOU should be the one stating the important facts. This shouldn't be hard to grasp...

[ALR-bishop]

There was a thread in post war sometime back where set collectors debated whether traded sets should be considered part of the base set or perhaps part of a master set. Most seemed to feel the base set stands alone but some felt, me among them, that you needed the traded set for a complete set, or at least a part of a master set. But I would never expect to get the traded set included in a listing like the OPs unless it specifically said so

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Huysmans

Or, this could all be easily avoided in the first place if eBay sellers were actually somewhat competent and oh, I don't know, listed all the crucial particulars for any item they're selling.

What a novel idea! YOU list and sell something, YOU should be the one stating the important facts. This shouldn't be hard to grasp...

If like any sane person you don't consider a mid year insert as part of the set, all the important facts were mentioned.

Should the team checklists be included? The Washingtons?

[drcy]

They aren't part of the set. PSA catalogs them as different sets, you don't include inserts as part of the base set and the cards themselves are numbered differently and commonly called itself a set.

In future, list the number of cards in the set at sale.

[Huysmans]

Originally Posted by steve B

If like any sane person you don't consider a mid year insert as part of the set, all the important facts were mentioned.

Should the team checklists be included? The Washingtons?

How about something SUPER BASIC like the actual number of cards included??
Is this too complicated to add to the listing for "sane" sellers??

[sbfinley]

Originally Posted by Huysmans

Or, this could all be easily avoided in the first place if eBay sellers were actually somewhat competent and oh, I don't know, listed all the crucial particulars for any item they're selling.

What a novel idea! YOU list and sell something, YOU should be the one stating the important facts. This shouldn't be hard to grasp...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GoIDzEj3rhc

[oldeboo]

Originally Posted by sbfinley

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GoIDzEj3rhc

Fitting clip haha

Have to agree that it's a seller's responsibility to accurately describe an item with at least a bare minimum description. Bare minimum to me would be the number of cards in a set, issues you can't see in pictures, etc.

Yes, the buyer should have asked if in doubt. Just too many shady sellers out there with minimal descriptions to feel comfortable as a buyer. I know I've bought items that were messed up, not from shipping, that you can tell the seller was trying to pull a fast one with the pictures or stock images. Most people just keep the item and live with it.

[JollyElm]

Could the OP post what his auction description actually said? The full text of it? That would go a long way in determining whether or not anything 'untoward' happened.

For the record, I would not expect the Traded Set to be a part of a 1974 Topps complete set being auctioned off, unless its inclusion was specifically mentioned in the description. They are undoubtedly considered two separate entities. When someone mentions the traded cards, they always talk about them being part of the 'Traded Set,' not the 1974 Topps set itself. No one says, "Hey, does anyone have a #612T Luke Walker for trade?" (as if it's just another numbered card.)

[Flintboy]

This was my auction description. The title line stated:

High grade 1974 Topps baseball complete set.



UP FOR AUCTION IS A HIGH GRADE 1974 TOPPS BASEBALL COMPLETE SET. THE OVERALL AVERAGE CONDITION IS NM AND THE SET IS HIGHLIGHTED BY A NM+ WINFIELD ROOKIE AND A REALLY SHARP NOLAN RYAN.THERE ARE SEVERAL CARDS THAT GRADE NM-MT AND A FEW THAT GRADE EX+ TO EX-MT. ALL THE STAR CARDS ARE SCANNED AND ARE INDICATIVE OF THE CONDITION OF THE REST OF THE SET. THERE ARE SOME CENTERING SHIFTS THROUGHOUT THE SET, BUT I DID NOT NOTICE ANY CARDS THAT WERE MISCUT, WRINKLED, OR CREASED. SHIPPING WILL BE $10.00 AND I DO COMBINE ON ANY AUCTIONS WON IN A24 HOUR PERIOD. THANKS FOR LOOKING AND GOOD LUCK.


Lesson learned, from here on out I’ll make sure to put in my auction descriptions that the set doesn’t include Traded,variations, and no inserts.

What bothered me a little is the buyer waited almost two months to inquire about this.

[conor912]

This stinks....I’m sorry. FWIW, I have also waited months before cracking into sets. It happens.

[RL]

unfortunately that is a risk of selling on ebay.

scammers know that ebay always protects the buyers.

[bmattioli]

Definitely Not part of the set. Another buyer to block..

[Fballguy]

Put my vote in the "not part of a complete set" column.

Sold many, many, many "complete" sets over the years. Never* included the traded set. Never got questioned about it. Most people do not expect the traded set to be included.

*One interesting exception though...The one time I did sell a complete set along with the traded set...it was a 1974 Topps baseball. Maybe I set a bad precedent though pretty sure I listed it as "Complete set plus traded".