They have way too much stuff to start scanning it. They exist for folks who just want cards to fill in empty holes in collections without regard to condition.
They provide a needed service and do a good job of it. Certainly they're not for everyone ...
They also never update their prices on beckett.com, so if a card suddenly gets hot, they'll have like 30 copies of it priced way too cheap. Good for the NFL season if a guy like Ryan Grant or someone has a breakout year.
I asked for a scan once, and they told me that they had too many cards to scan and couldn't do it. They offered a "full" refund (minus shipping) if I wasn't happy though. Pfff.
I go in there all the time (live 2 mins away). They have an amazing stock of commons. The owner is a nice guy, but I can see why he could never scan everything in. I would be confidant about any wax that I bought from them. I know I sound like I work for them, but my fiance bought a Carlton Fisk rookie from their commons stock for her dad's B-day and Beckett graded it an 8.
Their selection is the best you'll find anywhere, and sometimes the prices are good. If you need to fill a slot in your album, they probably have it. If you're looking to slab something vintage and make money off of it, look elsewhere.
I've had good luck with them buying lots of the same card to look for a gradeable example, on stuff that is cheap raw like a John Randle RC. If you know what you're doing you can cherry pick their inventory, too. I bought 3 low pop 1962 Fleer PSA commons for SMR that probably would have gone for triple on ebay.
I did buy a couple of cards in person from them a few weeks back. I'm glad that I went in to examine them since you don't know about the centering issue. Some grades they have more than one card and for the most part even though they might have been the proper grade the centering made the card less appealing. So buying a card unseen is not wise but they do have a return policy.
burbank and bill henderson have both been the same for me. Crappy stuff, way overgraded and sold for SMR raw. I have been disappointed everytime with both sellers and don't bother anymore.
I agree with Bill Henderson totally, will not ever buy from again but Burbank has NEVER disappointed me. Maybe I got lucky with what I've purchased but sight unseen all cards have always been graded well and I've bought probably 50-60. Guess it all depends.
I used to go there, but the advent of grading and ebay helped me get better condition cards.
I agree with most here that if you want to complete your collection, they can fill the void, but forget condition.
"So many of our DREAMS at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we SUMMON THE WILL they soon become INEVITABLE "- Christopher Reeve
As a player collector, they certainly can fill alot of holes...however, the prices are dubiously priced thru the roof generally. I don't ask for pics, but serial numbers. Unfortunately, they don't have the time to do that...even for a possible $1000 order.
If they cannot even provide you with serial numbers of graded cards for a large transaction, then they are shooting themselves in the foot. You do not need to deal with them.
A while back, I remember being in the store when two Caucasian males without shirts on came in through the security door. Rob (the owner) let them in, but his mother was shocked.
I pretended not to look, but I wanted to hear what was going on. The dialogue went something like this (not exact quotes but they capture the essence).
Rob: Hello there guys, what can I do for you? (in a straight face, supressing the fact they had no shirts on, were full of tatoos, and scared the heck out of his mother).
Shirtless fellow 1: I have some old vintage cards to sell. I really don't want to sell them, but I am in a bad situation and got to get money.
Rob: Let's see what you have here.... (while grabbing a book about vintage cards to see what counterfeits to look out for).
Shirtless fellow 1: They are 1950s cards and some others in there. I had them for a long time.
Rob: I am looking in this book and it does not describe these cards too well, but these cards you have are not real as it seems. I just cannot take cards that are not real right now. They will be sitting in my display for a long time. But you can go to the other card shops on the street and maybe they would think they are real and take them. There is one there and here (pointing them out on Magnolia blvd in Burbank).
Shirtless fellow 1: (looking dumfounded and following with his head where Rob is pointing). OK. Thank you.
Rob: Yeah, but good luck. Hopefully it will work out (sounding like a diplomatic schmuck).
The two fellows leave without incident. Rob's mother is calm afterwards. She was trying hard to hold her feelings in.
"So many of our DREAMS at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we SUMMON THE WILL they soon become INEVITABLE "- Christopher Reeve
Have filled some holes with them, 100 or so, from 50s to 70s, never disappointed. As with most others you need to know what to expect with raw cards, objects in picture are not as nice as they appear, combines shipping, have yet to use return policy. I will continue to buy if I find what I need, no problems yet.
He's usually overpriced on most items. But he does have almost all of them. I kinda like his store, it's a nice place to visit. The prices are crazy on graded stuff though. The store is far away from the freeway, so it's a pain to get to. lol
Running an Ebay store sure takes a lot more time than a person would think!
Comments
<< <i>nope and I will never buy from them either >>
same here.
<< <i> "Image coming soon" >>
So is Christmas ...
They have way too much stuff to start scanning it.
They exist for folks who just want cards to fill in empty holes in collections without regard to condition.
They provide a needed service and do a good job of it. Certainly they're not for everyone ...
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If I remember correctly dont they use "Stock" photos for their raw stuff?
Steve
I've had good luck with them buying lots of the same card to look for a gradeable example, on stuff that is cheap raw like a John Randle RC. If you know what you're doing you can cherry pick their inventory, too. I bought 3 low pop 1962 Fleer PSA commons for SMR that probably would have gone for triple on ebay.
Joe
hold on.... i'm thinking of sandiegowill, or will's sports cards or some seller from san diego, not the valley.
scuttlebutt
j
== oh yea, i did once upon a time believe i could get a psa 10 from an '81 topps submission, but never did though.
RIP GURU
me either steve, no way,i dont buy a pig in a poke
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I agree with most here that if you want to complete your collection, they can fill the void, but forget condition.
BST: Tennessebanker, Downtown1974, LarkinCollector, nendee
Oh well, I'll pass
A while back, I remember being in the store when two Caucasian males without shirts on came in through the security door. Rob (the owner) let them in, but his mother was shocked.
I pretended not to look, but I wanted to hear what was going on. The dialogue went something like this (not exact quotes but they capture the essence).
Rob: Hello there guys, what can I do for you? (in a straight face, supressing the fact they had no shirts on, were full of tatoos, and scared the heck out of his mother).
Shirtless fellow 1: I have some old vintage cards to sell. I really don't want to sell them, but I am in a bad situation and got to get money.
Rob: Let's see what you have here.... (while grabbing a book about vintage cards to see what counterfeits to look out for).
Shirtless fellow 1: They are 1950s cards and some others in there. I had them for a long time.
Rob: I am looking in this book and it does not describe these cards too well, but these cards you have are not real as it seems. I just cannot take cards that are not real right now. They will be sitting in my display for a long time. But you can go to the other card shops on the street and maybe they would think they are real and take them. There is one there and here (pointing them out on Magnolia blvd in Burbank).
Shirtless fellow 1: (looking dumfounded and following with his head where Rob is pointing). OK. Thank you.
Rob: Yeah, but good luck. Hopefully it will work out (sounding like a diplomatic schmuck).
The two fellows leave without incident. Rob's mother is calm afterwards. She was trying hard to hold her feelings in.
BST: Tennessebanker, Downtown1974, LarkinCollector, nendee
Nice.
Steve
Tim