Surprise In Mail

Mickey7

Hi Everyone -

This is my first post on the psa board, but I have been active over on the buy and sell board lately. I've have learned a great deal reading all the interesting threads and have been lurking for quite some time.

Anyway - today when I opened one of my packages of cards, I've discovered that one of the slabs was cracked in several spots. Fortunately, the card seems to be fine and has incurred no damage. Here is my question.

Does everyone only insure their cards if the cost of the cards are over a certain dollar limit? I didn't take out insurance as my total purchase was under $35. Do I have any remedies in this situation, or am I SOL... and take this one squarely on the chin?

Any advice is appreciated.

Vargha

I almost never insure under $50. This one's on you.

BTW -- Welcome to the boards.

Virtualizard

I'll concur with Vargha - chalk it up to the cost of doing business through the mail. I'm sure you've been at it awhile. Is this your first out of 50, 100, 200, or more transactions? Just think about it, if you spent the extra $1.30 for insurance (that's just for cards valued at under $50) for every card you purchased, you would end up blowing at least $130 for every 100 cards you buy. In my experience (about three thousand transactions) I have only had 3 problems. One was a cracked slab on a card worth well under $50 (card wasn't damaged) and the other 2 were cards that never arrived, again, both valued at less than $50.

It is a waste of money to continually insure low cost purchases. At my current rate, I lose on about 1 out of every 1000 transactions. Those 1000 transactions would have cost me an extra $1300 to insure, yet I'm only out $60 or so for the total cost of the 3 items that were damaged or lost.

JEB.

scottsusor

I'll have to agree with what the others have said. The odds are pretty good that it left the seller's hands intact, and if you didn't pay for insurance, then you are SOL. As a buyer, I also agree with not insuring if the amount is under about $40-$50 depending, of course, on the item. If I think its worth significantly more, even though I may have purchased it for under $50, I'll go ahead and insure it. Otherwise, it just ain't worth it.

Scott

onegaucho

First, welcome to the boards Mickey7!

Second, I recently bought a card knowing that the holder was already cracked (I could tell from the scan, but the seller didn't mention this in the auction listing - which was a little disturbing).

Anyways, I just sent it into PSA to have it reholdered. It's a minimal charge, esp. if you plan on keeping the card for a while (as I do!)

Stump

Welcome to the boards.

As far as the card gos you most likely answered the question yourself when you said it was only 35 so I wont buy the insurance. It sounds like to me when it came time to purchase the insurance you felt the risk was not high enough to warrent it.

On the other hand, I as a seller refunded a buyer who did not buy insurance for a slab that got cracked. This was the only time it happened to me and I have shipped over 2000 psa cards in the last three years. Some of the guys here will tell you I am a little anal in my shipping. I resubmitted the card and got the same grade and was out the reslab plus some shipping.

You may want to contact the seller and inquire but I would not push this one.

Dave

FB

Mickey,

Welcome to the boards!

And Stump is absolutely correct - he is anal about shipping!!!!!!! He sold me the last 4 cards that I needed to complete my 1970 Kellogg's set. When I received the box in the mail, grabbed a box cutter and started opening it. Well... lets just say that I got tired and hungry halfway through - grabbed a soda and a sandwich and then went back to it later!!! I don'y believe that a mail truck could have dented the box!

Oh... I guess I'm getting off-thread...

You've got two choices... the first - since you didn't insure it - take your lumps and put it on your pile of cards to send in to PSA for a $5 reholder. The second - if it really bothers you enough and the seller seems like a nice guy - you can ASK if he would refund your money (less shipping) because of the cracked holder. If I were the seller - I would refund your money - but I'd also put you on my list of bidders to watch for in case it happened again.

acowa

Was the card packaged securely?

I had a guy ship me a slab in a regular envelope...that's right a flimsy regular 1 cent envelope...couldn't even get a bubble mailer for my $3 shipping fee. In the case of total negligence, I think you have a right to get your money back.


Regards,


Alan

Putty

Welcome to the board!
I always insure everything over 15 dollars, sometimes it is a pain but to me its worth the piece of mind.
For the most part just chalk this one up as a learning experience.

FB

Acowa,

I know exactly what you mean... I just received 3 cards (2 - 1972 PSA 10's and a 72 PSA 9) that totaled almost $1000 from a well known dealer. I paid over $10 for insurance.

I received the cards yesterday (in fine shape) but they were stuffed in the smallest bubble mailer that they would fit in with no cardboard at all. The postage on the front was $1.86 including delivery confirmation. So - maybe he was self-insuring and its his way of saving money - but why wouldn't you take the extra precaution of wrapping the items so that YOU KNOW that they'll arrive without being cracked or split or whatever?

I'm just happy that the cards made it safely...

scottsusor

<< <i>I received the cards yesterday (in fine shape) but they were stuffed in the smallest bubble mailer that they would fit in with no cardboard at all. The postage on the front was $1.86 including delivery confirmation. >>


I've had the same thing happen quite a few times -- ghastly. That's why when I ship, I take extra care that the cards are well packaged and well padded. I charge a little more than most do for shipping but I feel like the extra time, care, and materials I use is worth it to my customers in having their cards arrive safely.

Scott

WinPitcher

edited to say nevermind lol

Basilone

Frank-

What happens if the neighbor kid down the street steals the bubble envelope out of your mailbox? I wonder if "that dealer who self insures..and its not Fairway54 or DSLSports..and he sells lots of 1970 Kelloggs PSA 9 cards on eBay" would gladly refund your $1000 even though he has proof that it was delivered.....yet you do not have the cards.

Something for all of us (and him) to think about.....its only a matter of time where something like that happens. With a $25.00 card..no big deal...with a $1000 order...then the situation could get ugly fast.

WinPitcher

that is what i was sayin.............. im thinkin that guy took a risk.....all he has proof of it got there, in what condition that is another question....



edited to say:

around xmas time i too had a 1000.00 order, actually1500.00
paid 35.00 postage..........ups left it on my stoop....dealer decided that 30 should be more in his pocket, luckily i was honest and told him cards arrived. no signature, just left inches from a puddle on my stoop.......

Basilone

They only thing Frank can do is ruin the guys reputation (or try to)...other than that....he is screwed if the guy does not want to refund his money.

Some sellers are so huge as they might not care as they have the cards that so many of us need (especially 70's baseball) so they will still get bidders.

The great thing about USPS Insurance is that you have to sign for it (gee...what a novel idea)....and both sides are dealing with a impartial 3rd-party for disputes.

magellan

I just received a card today that I was charged $3 s/h for, in a plain manila envelope with no padding or wrapping whatsoever..........his cost: 83 cents. I'd never send a card out that way & try to estimate as closely as I can what sh is going to cost & charge right around that figure & wrap it well & use either bubble mailers or boxes.

I fear UPS because of their policy to just leave packages anywhere, we get a large amount of deliveries between my wife & I and 1/2 the time the package is at someone else's house because yet another new driver is on the route ....my PO is great, my box is inside the PO so nobody can access it & the postmaster & help are very helpful as far as shipping tips and calling me when I have a package before a holiday but that's small town service I guess.

Dave

WinPitcher

UPS policy is to just leave a package UNLESS a signature is required no diferent then USPS.....

magellan

Yes Win but my USPS mail resides in a box nobody can open but me inside a building that either has someone right there or is locked securely, there is next to zero chance of anyone making off with my mail as opposed to a very high security risk with UPS packages dropped on my (or anyone else's) steps.

Bearsnum34

insure over 50.00...anything less and it will become very costly...I know psa will reslab at a very cheap rate..since you are going to the show this weekend in chicago..just have them do it there

WinPitcher

i c mag what happens if u have to sign for a ups parcel? he leaves u a card?

magellan

Exactly but then you run into the problem of finding the UPS depot open when you have a chance to drive there.....just very frustrating to me. Sometimes I get a really good driver who knows where I work & he'll try hard to make sure I get my package.....but then after a month or 2 , they'll put a new driver on the route so I'm back at square 1. I guess my preference is knowing what to expect which is what I get at the PO.

Dave