Mars Attacks horror story on eBay

MarsAttacks

I am building a Mars Attacks set in PSA 8 (no easy task as you all know) and decided to take a chance on adding some raw cards to my collection that were prominently featured in eBay auctions ending yesterday (10/11/09). The visual & stated condition of these cards and the seller's history of high end sci-fi items from the same era gave me high confidence that if successful, I'd be receiving a very nice product. Although I did not win all of the cards I had hoped to (bidding was spirited as one can imagine on NM-MT Mars Attacks cards), I was excited to be the high bidder on a handful at what I thought were reasonable prices.

Immediately after the auctions ended, I received an e-mail (for each item won) from the seller that requested cancelation of the transaction. Those requests were immediately followed by a personal e-mail from the seller that stated the cards were "destroyed that afternoon" when his children apparently spilled milk all over them. Obviously disappointed and concerned the cards had not sold for as much as the seller had hoped, thus causing him to request cancelation of the auctions after they ended, I asked him to call me, which (to his credit), he did promptly.

Although he repeated the same story on the phone (and having children myself, I understand they often get into things they're not supposed to), I became a little concerned when I asked (as I explained for my own peace of mind) for him to send a scan of a couple of the damaged cards. He stated that in the moment, his wife had carried the cards out and thrown them down a trash chute as they "were like sponges for the spilled milk" and totally destroyed. As such, no photographic evidence of the damage exists.

I have spent the day trying to reconcile this in my mind and simply cannot do so. Although I understand that I have limited (if any) recourse, it still irritates the h*ll out of me!

thedutymon

Morning,
I watched those auctions, (Even threw in Pity bids on a couple), and I thought the guy did quite well. BS on the milk, I have kids too, and if you think they are going to be anywhere near 10K of just finished sales with a glass of milk, you are kindly mistaken.
He was offered before the Auctions ended a larger sum of money for most of them and is going that route.
Period.
Neil

Thulnanth

Sigh... I hate to be a cynic, but I've got to agree with Neil on this one - you got hosed. Hopefully karma will bite him in the

Better luck next time.

Take it easy,
Jared

Carew29

If the guy was so concerned about value...why not put a rediculous high reserve that one bids up to ( unless you get those two insane bidders that want it). then you could always relist knowing your potential max// Problem solved and NO SPILT MILK!!!

KatsCards

My guess is that he either saw what they were going for or got an offer he could live with in that 12 hour window where you can't pull an Ebay auction. Shame you lost out on them...

gregmo32

99.9% BS meter.

goose3

so how many negatives can you leave him?

Bunker

<< <i>so how many negatives can you leave him? >>



I am with Goose...

KbKards

It would be wrong to leave all those negatives for the seller right now. He's an active seller and only has some BIN items up. It would be better to add him to your favorite seller list and wait for the next big load of auctions to hit.

Archaninator

.

slacker

rumor has it this is not his first con.

scooperqpr

Tell us more!

MarsAttacks

On May 2, 2009, eBay neutral feedback states that this seller failed to deliver an item, allegedly claiming it had fallen in a mud puddle. Anyone else see a pattern here?

slacker

rumor has it couple years ago he sold a counterfit star trek set 1967 leaf, 1962 topps mars attack set sold as mint buyer recieved as ex buyer wan't happy paying 7k for garbage,casper set sold as mint, buyer recieved as ex, like i said rumor has it as i did not purchase anything from the seller myself so i will not testifi under oath in a court of law, i was requested to by one of the buyers as a witness but i have declined to.you can do the math....

WinPitcher

Anyone have a link?


Steve

lsutigers1973

Don't cry over spilt milk.

MBMiller25

Who was the seller?

MarsAttacks

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110442211920&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

WinPitcher

Is the seller stupid or something? He got 760.00 for a raw card number one and that wasn't enough?????

I also checked his completed auctions and he was getting PSA 7 prices for many cards that may or may not 7

if graded. A few of them got 25-50.00 which IMO is what raw cards are worth. If he wants PSA graded money then he should

have the set graded.


Glad I built my set 5 years ago.


Steve

slacker

you're blessed you bulit your set 5 years ago.
love and laughter,
slacker

WinPitcher

Ummm Not really, there was a few guys (whales) that were paying 750.00 for some 8's, I was patient
and averaged my 8's out at under 250.00, I was able to get 3 or 4 for 100.00 each!



One guy who was paying 750.00 sold his set the same year through BBCE and took a real beating.

IMO it didn't hurt him as he was worth prolly 20 mil.


Steve

rbdjr1

<< <i>Don't cry over spilt milk. >>

slacker

surreal to think about spending all that coin on the holy grail of bubble gum card sets and take a loss selling it on ebay.
i paid crazy money on my #2 psa 8.5 and crazy money for a few low pop psa 8.5 and 8s recently.
i'm better off to wait and be patient but i've never been good at listening to my own wisdom so with faith my set will one day be psa 8.0 gpa.
love and laughter,
slacker

WinPitcher

So has the OP negged this guy or what?


Steve

slacker

gary has a habit of dodging negs

perkdog

<< <i> BS on the milk, I have kids too, and if you think they are going to be anywhere near 10K of just finished sales with a glass of milk, you are kindly mistaken.

Neil >>




Very True

MarsAttacks

The plot thickens...

Here is the ebay message the seller sent me when attempting to cancel the transaction(s) for the cards I won "Dear bidder. Please excuse this intrusion and forgive me however my Mars Attacks and Battle cards were destroyed earlier today as my children spilled milk in my office all over my non sport card collection. The card sets are destroyed beyond repair. A terrible tragedy and loss. I have ended thewithin the time limit. I could not end all of the Mars Attacks auctions except for those that did not have bids. Can I ask your forgiveness and understanding in this. Gary"

However, on 10/21, the ebay user who was the winning bidder on cards #54 & #55 posted positive feedback for the seller, indicating he had received the cards "just as described."

As the auction description doesn't state anything about them being covered in milk and the seller was nearly in hysterics telling me about how his wife threw the cards away after the "terrible tragedy" and therefore no photographic evidence of the damage could be produced, wouldn't it be fascinating if they rose from the trash chute (where he claimed they had gone) like the phoenix and ended up in the someone's hands in perfect condition? It's a miracle!

Negative feedback awaits this clown.

slacker

proud to see you leave negs for this ass hat.
love and laughter,
slacker

WinPitcher

I would have negged him by now myself.


Steve

goose3

no negs yet?

Nathaniel1960

Shouldn't bring your kids into this situation in the first place. Make up some other lie, involve you dogs, crazy uncle, whatever. But not the keeeyyyeeddzzz.

jamesgotpoorman