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Can't believe I won this auction...

CWCW Posts: 1,213 ✭✭✭
in PSA Set Registry Forum
Greetings fellow collectors of stuff,

Placed a bid on a PSA 4 #53 '33 Goudey Ruth, and was surprised
to see that my low ball bid stood up (at least I think it was low
ball). Normally I try to snipe to get the cards I really want, so
this one was an unexpected, pleasant surprise. Will probably have
to sell off a PSA 9 Jordan rookie to help pay for it, but what the
hey, this is the Babe!

Bid History

image

SMR for the #53 card in that grade is $2,500. Does anybody know how
accurate SMR is in this case? I can see a few reasons why my bid
might've held up -- fairly low feedback seller, small scan, etc.
It's paypal so I'm covered. Color on the card looks nice & bold, too,
which can make even a PSA 4 look appealing. Looking at ebay sales on
the 4 Goudey Ruth cards over the past 30 days shows that I got a decent
deal. It's almost sad to see what people will pay for a PRO graded Ruth.

Can't believe I'm actually going be adding a Babe Ruth card to the ol'
collection! image If anybody else has a pic to show of their Ruth card,
or a story to share about how they acquired it.... do tell. image

Comments

  • carewfan4lifecarewfan4life Posts: 27
    Last time i checked Paypal coverage, it was only up to $500. Has something changed that i might not be aware of?image
  • martymarty Posts: 202
    Nice pick up. The SMR is good to a bit low. I have sold Ruth's for 10% over.
    Marty
    Old Vintage Baseball Cards

    eBay Auctions
  • CWCW Posts: 1,213 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Last time i checked Paypal coverage, it was only up to $500. Has something changed that i might not be aware of?image >>



    Ah, yes, you're right. Still, I'll have the full amount covered
    under my visa card.


    Marty-- thanks for the pricing info!
  • packCollectorpackCollector Posts: 2,786 ✭✭✭
    I think you won it for the following reasons : lack of recent feedback and no selling feedback at all . It is a good gamble but be wary of the empty box. I would recommend only signing for it at the post office and opening it there before you leave. that way if it is empty or they try to pull a switch by sending some other ruth , you have a witness and you have evidence you did not receive it. It sucks that we have to do things this way but with all the fraud out there , you can never be too safe.
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    I agree with pack....the guy has no sales in feedback and he sells a Ruth? hmmmmmmmmmI d be very very wary of this.

    Good Luck though I hope all turns out well
    did u look to see if that cert is listed in someone's collection?
    Good for you.
  • LuxuryWinesLuxuryWines Posts: 737 ✭
    CW,

    That is a nice pick up and for a good price. For several reasons:

    1.) Most Goudey's have been going for a premium in the 10-20% range, with Ruth and Gehrig generating stronger premiums most of the time.

    2.) Judging from the scan the eye apperance for the card is much nicer than a 4 (IMO).


    A great find for your collection or at least a nice investment piece ...

    Congrats!

    image
    Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... it's about learning to dance in the rain.
  • CWCW Posts: 1,213 ✭✭✭
    Thanks for all the comments and advice, guys. I will definitely
    be very cautious with this one, and if this ends up being a scam
    I'll be sure to post here for sympathy & cry about it. imageimage

    I see that this seller also has a group of 4 Green Bay Packers
    season tickets ending tonight. IF the seller is a scammer, the
    LAST people you'd want to p*** off would be four Packers fans who
    thought they just scored season tickets!
  • FuzzFuzz Posts: 903
    CW,
    Pick it up at the post office (I'd ask for registered mail with insurance). Ask for the station manager while you are at the window. Without leaving the window, open the package in front of him. Makes for the best witness and he can get any paperwork started right away with you that you see fit. The insurance of the Registered Mail, I believe makes the fraud a pretty good crime should it occur. Hope you get the card though because it does look awful nice for a four.
    Fuzz
    Wanted: Bell Brands FB and BB, Chiefs regionals especially those ugly milk cards, Coke caps, Topps and Fleer inserts and test issues from the 60's. 1981 FB Rack pack w/ Jan Stenerud on top.
  • MorrellManMorrellMan Posts: 3,238 ✭✭✭
    CW - that's a great pick for you; colors are vibrant and rich and the centering looks good. I hope everything works out well. Just a guess, but this has a feeling of being right - of course, you could have paid twice as much and gotten this little cutie:
    image
    Mark (amerbbcards)


    "All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing."
  • ScumbiScumbi Posts: 268 ✭
    Most collectors here will not buy from someone who doesn't have substantial feedback. Personally, I don't like to gamble. In the past, I used to take chances. I had a few successes and was riding high until I got royally phocked. The bitter taste of one real beating offset the other decent buys. Hopefully, your card will be fine. It looks like a nice card. However, as the price goes up, the likelihood of a scam increases. Let us know how it turns out.

    S.
  • shagrotn77shagrotn77 Posts: 5,583 ✭✭✭✭
    The fact that the seller included a scan of the back of the card is a good sign that he at least has possession of the card and not just a stolen scan. My guess is that the auction is legit. I hope I'm right!
    "My father would womanize, he would drink. He would make outrageous claims like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. The sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. Our childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When we were insolent we were placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds - pretty standard really."
  • CWCW Posts: 1,213 ✭✭✭
    Well, it's been 2 months & I thought I'd update y'all
    on the outcome of this auction.... The seller did not
    send the card. He strung me along for two months,
    most likely stalling so I wouldn't be able to leave
    negative feedback. Eventually, after a month of
    excuses for why he wasn't able to ship the card,
    the seller did at least refund the money to my
    credit card. Even at that point I gave him the option
    to simply level with me and admit he wasn't going
    to sell that card for that price, but no -- he assured
    me the card was mine, just that his job had him too
    busy to mail it. After another month of emails (and
    more excuses), I gave the ultimatum to either ship
    my card or get negative feedback -- the seller emailed
    back saying all this time I was emailing with his brother,
    and his brother sold the card to someone else.

    Anyways, like many of you suggested and warned, it
    was indeed a bad deal. Although I did get all my money
    back, I would've much rather got the card (the card's
    SMR value also went UP this month to $2600+).
    Like Scumbi said, it sure does leave a bitter taste in
    your mouth, and I haven't bought any cards in the
    past two months.

    edited to add: btw, negative feedback has been left.

    take care all,
    Chuck
  • ranchranch Posts: 341 ✭


    << <i>edited to add: btw, negative feedback has been left.

    take care all,
    Chuck >>



    Good for you, Chuck. The idiot should have just put a reserve on the Ruth in the first place! I've had a few people mess up like this a few times, and it really gets me annoyed! Anyway, I am glad you got your money back. image

    ~Ranch
  • JonBJonB Posts: 495 ✭
    you're lucky you got your money back, the last time (and only time I have ever been taken on ebay it was for $1,800, and it won't happen again). I have been in touch with my district attorney about once a week about it for the last 2 months. She is about 3 weeks away from issuing an arrest warrant for him if I don't get my money back before then... I CAN'T WAIT!!!
  • BugOnTheRugBugOnTheRug Posts: 1,611 ✭✭✭
    CW,
    Thanks for the update. I think we all have room to learn from our experiences and in conveying your experience, maybe others will think it through with a wide-angle lense during the transaction. Conversely, 2 weeks from now someone will go thru a very similar experience as yours and all will be well. Ya just never quite get that 100% feeling until the deal is completely done.

    But hey, we're all out to find a good deal for our collections and it is hard to know what's genuine; hence, the inherent degree of chance.....of course unless your dealing with Jay!

    Regardless, I hope you will soon be back to purchasing for your collection. For every 'lost transaction' (really glad $0 net loss) there's always a ton on 'AAA+++'s ' to compensate.

    BOTR
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    image + image + image = image (the seller)
    Good for you.
  • theBobstheBobs Posts: 1,136 ✭✭
    at least you did the right thing and gave the guy a negative
    Where have you gone Dave Vargha
    CU turns its lonely eyes to you
    What's the you say, Mrs Robinson
    Vargha bucks have left and gone away?

    hey hey hey
    hey hey hey
  • roastedcatroastedcat Posts: 892
    Hey Chuck

    I feel your anger and fustration, I had the same thing happen to me 4 years ago. I purchased a 1910 Sporting life Honus Wagner card from a guy in New Jersey, and paid with a certified cashiers check of $550. and paid $20 for over night shipping w/ tracking the guy did the same to me, made me wait it out for 6 weeks. So I went I had a business trip to New York, I thought I'd pay a visit to New Jersey and find out why this guy wasn't sending my card. I got a taxi, and found the home. When I got there, I found out that it was some 15 year old punk kid selling his fathers card collection on ebay. I notified them that I will be pressing charges and will call the police. I even brought the email with me. He was surprised that I flew just to see him. I didn't tell him I was on a business trip, Their parents appoligies to me and said he's never done this before, and it was a mistake. never the less I got my card. and my shipping refund, I told them if I ever see him online pulling a stunt like this again I will press full charges. After that incident, I try not to bid High on auctions with sellers who's feedbacks are less than 20.

    Jery
    Jery's T206 set: Looking for PSA 6's & 7's!
  • kobykoby Posts: 1,699 ✭✭
    CW

    Sorry your transaction turned out this way. At least the guy did not con you out of your money.

    koby
  • onlychildonlychild Posts: 312 ✭
    Jery,

    That was one of the best "payback" stories I have ever heard. Perfect ending too!
  • 67standup67standup Posts: 833 ✭
    Some warning signs regarding feedbacks:

    Don't be too swayed by a high number of positive feedbacks if the majority were for items under $10, but the current auction is a high dollar item.

    Also, check the high bidder IDs on other big dollar listings from the same seller, if all are from recent ID creations/low feedback, then watch out.
    “Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.” - George Carlin
  • RuthfanRuthfan Posts: 185
    Jery, Good for you. You should have made him pony up for the cab ride as well. I had a similar thing happen to me a couple of years ago. I went to see the scum bag and lets just say I ended up with my money back and then some to cover my costs in dealing with him.

    Todd
  • ScumbiScumbi Posts: 268 ✭
    I'm really glad you got your money back. It sucks when you get your hopes up and some j-off lies and lies. Like you said, the frustration of dealing with something for two months that you are doing for pleasure is the most aggravating part. When I got taken, I couldn't sleep for two weeks and I lost the money (2500 dollars). Hang in there. It will fade. There's a good list of ebay sellers at the following: http://www.oldcardboard.com/ref/ebay-sellers/ebay-sellers.asp.

    These aren't the only honest ebay sellers, but the list is pretty good for vintage. I personally have a gripe with a few due to shipping and packaging, however you will get your cards.

    Be well and better luck,

    S.

  • CWCW Posts: 1,213 ✭✭✭
    Thanks, everyone, for the comments, advice, and words of
    encouragement. Today the seller retaliated and left me
    an unjustified negative -- it's too bad the ebay system
    allows this, and it's no wonder the system often fails
    because people are often afraid to leave a neg, worried
    that they'll get one in return. Ah well, this one's behind
    me, and I'm sure I'll be back to sniping in no time.

    Cheers all,
    Chuck
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