For those eBay sellers who show 4 graded cards in one small scan.....
dude
Posts: 1,454 ✭✭
....you'll never get my business again.
There seems to be a proliferation of this laziness lately. I just received a pair of cards from one seller who routinely sells this way and one card is junk and the other is a moderate disappointment too. No more "grab bag" eBay purchases for me.
There seems to be a proliferation of this laziness lately. I just received a pair of cards from one seller who routinely sells this way and one card is junk and the other is a moderate disappointment too. No more "grab bag" eBay purchases for me.
0
Comments
First let me state that the cards in question were not mine. Maybe if the cards in question were overgraded in the buyers opinion, the complaint should be with the grading company and not the seller.
With some of the scans, it's near impossible to determine a cards quality. There are many scans out there on EBAY where I would prefer the seller just provided an adequate description of corners, centering, and surface rather than spending time on a scan that doesn't do me any good. A scan can hide the true quality of the card (either intentionally or unintentionally). If people didn't hide behind the no returns on graded cards nonsense, I wouldn't have a huge problem. I'll stop here because I don't think I am telling you anything that you don't already know. I haven't talked with you in awhile and hope that all is well.
Regards,
Alan
This wasn't directed at you, and yes, you do put 4 cards in one scan, but no, you don't put it in one small image hosting frame. Yours seem to be a lot bigger as I recall. I have no problem showing 4 cards at once, it's the small scans that are the problem.
Yep, no argument from me on that observation.
Do you ever ask the sellers for their copy of the scanned image (which will be at a much higher resolution than what Ebay allows?). The reason I ask, I guess is that part of the issue is that you have a different set of criteria than the grading companies. Not that that is a bad thing (I think it is a rather admirable thing - all things considered) - but there may be a different mindset between sellers who are selling slabbed numbers and collectors who are truly collecting quality cards - not slabs.
But yeah, there are those who provide tiny scans to conceal problems, especially on raw cards. Whether there are 1 or 4 or 8 cards in the scan.
Website: http://www.qualitycards.com
On higher dollar cards, yes, I will ask for larger scans. Some respond, some don't. I probably bid (snipe) on 60 or 70 cards a week and win maybe 10. Asking for larger scan on a lot cards isn't worth it to me. Without giving out any details, it wasn't an expensive card, and I won it at the minimum bid, but the card was overgraded - mainly due to print snow (this one was hideous looking) and was severely diamond cut which wasn't discernable in the scan.
My knowledge of computers is fairly limited, so it could just be me not knowing how to adjust the image size and quality .... but I know it's stopped me from putting up larger scans before.
I can also relate to the saving time aspect.... I hate scanning, listing and selling cards on ebay, it takes a ton of time.... and if I had to list several hundred cards, I might use the multiple scan method too.
Interesting debate. Because it does bring into play the question of "buying blind". Wasn't one of the main benefits of grading supposed to be that we could feel fairly comfortable purchasing a PSA 8 card sight unseen, .... knowing that it would meet a certain level of quality?
Unfortunately, I don't think it's worked out that way ... which is a whole other issue.
Mike
Next time I sell cards, I'll remember this, and perhaps put two cards in a scan.
For the higher ticket items, I do one card at a time. I do, however, always respond with a larger version of the picture when asked by a potential buyer.
I've never given thought to the fact that someone, when seeing my four scans to a picture, might think that I'm trying to scam them.
Good to know.
Doug
Brian Andreas
I am "working on" 1957 & 1964 Topps baseball sets where I only buy 50/50 cards. I'm like you. I don't bid unless I can clearly see the card. I usually ask for a better scan of cards that look like they might fit...but sometimes I just get lazy and pass all together.
Bob,
I don't fault the seller whatsoever. I am looking for something in particular and PSA standards have a wider range than what I want for my sets. A bad scan equates to providing unclear information. When sellers do this, they risk losing some bids...especially if they are selling a high end card and not getting credit for it.
Regards,
Alan
James
But under certain circumstances if it is done right I find multiple cards acceptable like this:
In fact if I am working on a set I kind of like this method .. It alerts me that he has more than 1 auction up for grabs....
However, when I do come across it - since centering is my biggest pet peeve, I usually ask for a separate scan. Most sellers usually comply. If not, then I definitely know to stay away.
<< <i>I still think 1 issue wasnt addressed. The card is in a holder that was given a grade. How do you fault the seller? The seller paid his money to either have the card graded or purchased the card in a graded holder. . >>
Very true - but I am very tough on centering - so much that I don't even consider many PSA 8's for this very reason. I will admit, having a good scan is more important for raw cards - which are harder to evaluate for less noticable features such as surface imperfections, hairline creases, staining, ect....
Regards,
Greg M.
References:
Onlychild, Ahmanfan, fabfrank, wufdude, jradke, Reese, Jasp, thenavarro
E-Bay id: greg_n_meg
As for ungraded cards, without a doubt, a high quality scan of just that card is the way to go.
<< <i>For those eBay sellers who show 4 graded cards in one small scan.....
....you'll never get my business again.
There seems to be a proliferation of this laziness lately. I just received a pair of cards from one seller who routinely sells this way and one card is junk and the other is a moderate disappointment too. No more "grab bag" eBay purchases for me. >>
<< <i>
Costanza,
Thanks for sharing your amazing wealth of hobby knowledge with us! You are the future of the CU Forums!
JEB.
Brian
Edited to add: Could you please post some more scans of your collection? I don't know about everybody else, but I get great pleasure from seeing all of those 25 cent oddball cards from the 1980's in PSA holders.
4littlepictureauction
<< <i>Nothing against this seller, as I've always had good dealings with him, but these auctions really merited 4 different scans:
4littlepictureauction >>
Bobby does everything wrong in this auction:
Horrible, tiny scan with 3 other cards
Reserve Auction
$5 shipping w/ insurance not offered
This guy has some great cards to sell. Unfortunately, he seems to have no marketing skills and basically insults his potential bidders much like that guy from Wisconsin, what's his name?
JEB.
<< <i>Could you please post some more scans of your collection? I don't know about everybody else, but I get great pleasure from seeing all of those 25 cent oddball cards from the 1980's in PSA holders. >>
Not sure what you're referring to. There's only a 1934 Goudy and some 1969 Topps Supers posted in this thread. Can't imagine what oddball 1980s cards you think they are.
That aside, speaking for myself, I do get a lot of pleasure out of odd little cards that aren't worth anything. Money isn't the only driving force in our hobby.
<< <i>DCDSports (Doug) -- I don't recall doing business, but I'm glad this topic was useful and hopefully it will be a win-win situation for dealers and collectors. Thanks for participating on the boards. >>
how's about a football pool this year Dan???
Glad to hear it, many of us do as well.