first post
tonyo
Posts: 25
Hi all,
I’ve been visiting and reading since last summer shortly after I started collecting again after a 10 year hiatus ………
This is really no big deal…. just a little curious to me……. so I thought it would be fun to sign up, make a first post and ask for opinions.
I recently bought two $3 BIN cards from a seller on ebay. They had a third card I needed listed at $2.50. I sent a message asking if they would add this card for $1. It was a Barry Larkin card I need for my player collection. I set a personal limit of Beckett Low Column value for all the Larkin cards I buy and this particular card is $1. Doesn’t hurt to ask.
Here’s the exchange:
Me: “ Hi There, I just bought two $3 cards from you. Wondering if you will add this 90 kahns Larkin for $1 ? That's the Low Column Beckett Price. Also looking for more 95 se golds in the $3 neighborhood. Thanks for your consideration”
Them: “sorry, I just can't make any money after fees, most of these cheap cards we sell are for customer service only, there is no money to be made at these prices”
I thought the explanation was strange. A simple “sorry but we want to stick with $2.50” would have caused me to shrug my shoulders and move on.
Usually I pay right away, but the listing on the cards I bought asked me to wait for an invoice if I bought multiple cards. The next day came and no invoice, so I sent a message to ask if they were going to send an invoice. I decided that while I’m sending a message anyway, I’ll just ask about their customer service statement.
Me: “I'm not a businessman, but if you can't make any money on this card even at the price you are asking anyway, then it seems the better customer service would be to appease a customer who has bought cards with no haggle then offers a fair price on another card. Oh well......Regarding the two cards I did buy, your listing says this: "Multiple card purchases must be combined into 1 invoice. Do not pay for multiple cards until you completely finish your order. Multiple payments from the same buyer will be cancelled and re-invoiced. " Are you going to send me an invoice the two cards I bought yesterday?”
Them: “We were waiting to see if you purchasing the 3rd Card. Now that we know you are not purchasing the 3rd card, your invoice has been sent for the other two. We appreciate your business, and your offers. Sorry we could not discount the 3rd card”
Like I said, no big deal just seemed contradictory to me. I know everyone has different ways of going about their business, so I'd like to hear other viewpoints.
Opinions? Anybody see their point about customer service?
Thanks and glad to make my first post
I’ve been visiting and reading since last summer shortly after I started collecting again after a 10 year hiatus ………
This is really no big deal…. just a little curious to me……. so I thought it would be fun to sign up, make a first post and ask for opinions.
I recently bought two $3 BIN cards from a seller on ebay. They had a third card I needed listed at $2.50. I sent a message asking if they would add this card for $1. It was a Barry Larkin card I need for my player collection. I set a personal limit of Beckett Low Column value for all the Larkin cards I buy and this particular card is $1. Doesn’t hurt to ask.
Here’s the exchange:
Me: “ Hi There, I just bought two $3 cards from you. Wondering if you will add this 90 kahns Larkin for $1 ? That's the Low Column Beckett Price. Also looking for more 95 se golds in the $3 neighborhood. Thanks for your consideration”
Them: “sorry, I just can't make any money after fees, most of these cheap cards we sell are for customer service only, there is no money to be made at these prices”
I thought the explanation was strange. A simple “sorry but we want to stick with $2.50” would have caused me to shrug my shoulders and move on.
Usually I pay right away, but the listing on the cards I bought asked me to wait for an invoice if I bought multiple cards. The next day came and no invoice, so I sent a message to ask if they were going to send an invoice. I decided that while I’m sending a message anyway, I’ll just ask about their customer service statement.
Me: “I'm not a businessman, but if you can't make any money on this card even at the price you are asking anyway, then it seems the better customer service would be to appease a customer who has bought cards with no haggle then offers a fair price on another card. Oh well......Regarding the two cards I did buy, your listing says this: "Multiple card purchases must be combined into 1 invoice. Do not pay for multiple cards until you completely finish your order. Multiple payments from the same buyer will be cancelled and re-invoiced. " Are you going to send me an invoice the two cards I bought yesterday?”
Them: “We were waiting to see if you purchasing the 3rd Card. Now that we know you are not purchasing the 3rd card, your invoice has been sent for the other two. We appreciate your business, and your offers. Sorry we could not discount the 3rd card”
Like I said, no big deal just seemed contradictory to me. I know everyone has different ways of going about their business, so I'd like to hear other viewpoints.
Opinions? Anybody see their point about customer service?
Thanks and glad to make my first post
upgrading The Monster, 33 Goudey, e120 hofers, pre-war hof type cards, Barry Larkin, 95 ud cc se gold
0
Comments
I don't find any responses to be a surprise anymore. There are many not so professional sellers on Ebay and it seems like customer service is better on sellers with high dollar sales vs low dollar sales. I am sure that it is an inconvenience and time consuming to send emails, do the listings, and then ship cards that only sell for a buck or two. That probably adds to the sellers frustrations which are his own fault.
Good Luck and welcome
MULLINS5,1966CUDA,nam812,nightcrawler,OAKESY25,PowderedH2O,relaxed,RonBurgundy,samsgirl214,shagrotn77,swartz1,slantycouch,Statman,Wabittwax
Do yourself a favor and throw the beckett pricing away, that went out in the 90's. Not trying to be too harsh, but that is the truth. It was probably worth paying the $3 for the card if you really want it, because now your going to pay that or more if you find another for a dollar when you take shipping into account.
<< <i>Good Luck and welcome >>
Thanks Jimrad
<< <i>Welcome, however I see nothing wrong with their response, at least they were considerate enough to give you a reason and not just a NO as a reply. You can't please everyone and they are right, it is a complete waste of time selling $1 cards on ebay.
Do yourself a favor and throw the beckett pricing away, that went out in the 90's. Not trying to be too harsh, but that is the truth. It was probably worth paying the $3 for the card if you really want it, because now your going to pay that or more if you find another for a dollar when you take shipping into account. >>
Thanks for the Welcome! I guess I buried my real question in a "too long" post.
Here it is: What does this mean: "most of these cheap cards we sell are for customer service only" ?
BTW I'll never pay $3 for that particular card, I'll only pay $1. Is it worth a dollar? Who knows, it's just a guideline I've set for myself and I happen to use the Beckett values. Ironically, the seller used some sort of Beckett Service to list these cards.
<< <i>Here it is: What does this mean: "most of these cheap cards we sell are for customer service only" ? >>
It means he considers his cheaper cards to be loss-leaders... I'm no expert, but it seems this strategy works much better in the real world for large B&M stores than it does online.
<< <i>
<< <i>Here it is: What does this mean: "most of these cheap cards we sell are for customer service only" ? >>
It means he considers his cheaper cards to be loss-leaders... I'm no expert, but it seems this strategy works much better in the real world for large B&M stores than it does online. >>
I figured it was something like that. He probably mis-used the words "customer service"
<< <i>If you have a price in mind and you think it's reasonable, stick with it. Chances are you'll find it eventually. It's just a matter of waiting. >>
Agreed. It wasn't the 90 Kahn's Larkin I wanted per se' , it was the chance to change my Larkin total from 861 to 862. I'm pretty sure I'll never get all 3000+ Larkin cards and the 90 Kahn's Larkin may as well be on of the cards I don't get.
<< <i>There are other places to look too, including www.sportlots.com, www.beckettmarketplace.com, and www.checkoutmycards.com and you may find many cards on there along with sellers who will discount for multiple purchases or may save you money just with lower prices on the cards and/or shipping. >>
Thanks for the advice!
I've tapped all three of those out.....bought all the Larkins that fit under my two criteria: 1. I need it for my collection 2. Less than or equal to Beckett Low value
Actually there may still be some on sportlots, but it's kinda hard to manipulate that site! One of these days I'll mine that site again and see if I can get some more Larkins!
Similar quest with 95 ud cc se gold's but my criteria aren't as stringent
I'll be firmly planted in my barc-o-lounger to find out.
Cobbco
I've done that and it can easily make a repeat customer out of someone.
just yesterday, I sold a set of 15 variations and the the buyer asked if I had the non variations of the same cards. I did and I gave him all 15 of them for nothing.
I know how much I would appreciate it if the shoe was on the other foot and I have been the recipient of those kind of transactions many times as well.
Guess theY never planned on hearing from you again to begin with.
BTW, welcome
<< <i>Good customer service would have been to just give you the damn card for free. >>
That's what I was thinking too. Thanks for the Welcome!
<< <i>Good customer service would have been to just give you the damn card for free.
I've done that and it can easily make a repeat customer out of someone.
just yesterday, I sold a set of 15 variations and the the buyer asked if I had the non variations of the same cards. I did and I gave him all 15 of them for nothing.
I know how much I would appreciate it if the shoe was on the other foot and I have been the recipient of those kind of transactions many times as well.
Guess theY never planned on hearing from you again to begin with.
BTW, welcome >>
So, not answering the OP in a timely manner and honest answer is not good customer service? Is your main source of income from selling sportscards ?
<< <i> So, not answering the OP in a timely manner and honest answer is not good customer service? Is your main source of income from selling sportscards ? >>
They were timely, honest, polite, and respectful. No doubt about that.
<< <i>Who's Barry Larkin? >>
He played shortstop for the Reds before you were born
(I live in Wichita and we were the AAA for pretty much the whole 1990 era Reds team. Good times.)
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Bob
Edit - That was the second thing I noticed about the picture.
Looking for Bob Uecker cards
My Ebay Auctions
(Thrashers suck)