An eBay problemo; guidance is appreciated

galaxy27

I'm wet behind the ears where this is concerned, primarily because I recently rejoined the collecting scene after a lengthy hiatus. Long story short, I received a PSA 10 today that looked 8ish to me at first glance. A couple of soft corners & surface smudges, etc. My instincts immediately kicked in and I started checking the holder. Sure enough, blatant tampering on one side. Whether or not it was a successful attempt or if the culprit was indeed the seller mattered not to me -- all I cared about was setting up the return & refund. I voiced my displeasure in a thorough message, but I did so in a tactful way. Much to my surprise, he replied very succinctly: "Please return the card for a refund."

I can no longer trust this cat, clearly, which leads to a couple of questions. Will delivery confirmation suffice with regards to covering my backside? It's a $60+ card. Moreover, what happens if he reneges on his word? I would pose these pertinent queries to a rep, but I quickly remembered that it's eBay's bizarro world that I'm once again living in.

Thanks in advance...

JMDVM

I would insure it to protect yourself. The PO can track it for you. Ebay requires signature confirmation on items worth over $200. I personally think DC is worthless.

stangrider

You will need to purchase delivery confirmation with it just incase you need to file a claim through paypal. They will require a form of tracking that shows "delivered" to ensure that you did in fact return the item to the seller. It also helps that you know when he receives it and when you should be receiving your refund.

KbKards

Given your lack of experience and story there's little chance of there being anything wrong with the holder or seller. When you contact a good seller about wanting to return a card he will tell you, "Please return the card for a refund." They know you're wrong about the holder and don't appreciate the accusations you're making, and a lengthy message proving your inexperience isn't needed to return the card. Just send the card back with delivery confirmation and you'll get a refund. You can then move on to your next disappointed purchase.

tigerdean

Galaxy, You may have very well found tampering as it does happen. I don't ever recall seeing any PSA 10's with truly soft corners so I would be interested in seeing the card. There are enough knowledgable people on this board that if you provide a link to the auction or detailed scans of the card that many will be glad to take a look and give their opinion.

galaxy27

Kb, first of all, I'm inexperienced when it comes to returning items on eBay and covering my tail, not inexperienced in common sense and handling adverse situations in a civil manner. Had you received this particular card, you'd be singing a different tune. Hell, you might be coming out of your shoes. Someone stopped just short of jackhammering the side of the holder, pal. Wasn't detectable on the scan, but it couldn't have been more palpable in person. There wasn't a single solitary word about it in the description, and being devoid of transparency is ultimately what he was accused of. That's it. Read my initial post again closely and you'll be able to decipher that. Maybe. Inexperience is permanently tarnishing the guy's credibility on a whim; experience is not casting boulders and washing your hands of the situation once the dust settles. I opted for the latter. But thanks for your "expertise," I think.

Tiger - it's already heading back toward him as of this morning. Had the holder not been compromised, I wouldn't have thought twice about the card and I would have kept it. Jump on eBay, go to completed auctions and conduct a search if you'd like -- Vlad the Impaler's '95 Bowman's Best. $61 even. He's been my favorite player ever since he broke into the league, and I have an inordinate number of these in 10's. When I compared, there was a lot of contrast. But at the end of the day, it was everything else I mentioned that took precedence, not so much the condition of the card.

digicat

Could you provide a link to this item or a scan of the card?

The "tampering" you're seeing may indeed be tampering, or it could be normal frosting that PSA causes themselves.

cheeser

I think it's pretty cut and dry. You are unsatisfied by the product and you are being offered a refund. What more is there? You're getting a little ahead of yourself by thinking he will renege. I would send the card back with delivery confirmation and tackle that other current non-issue if it arises.

galaxy27

@Cheeser -- not saying he'll renege, just saying if. We're deviating here. I simply abridged the story to set the stage for what I was truly looking for -- input from those who had experience in returns, primarily because you can't actually speak to an individual at eBay to attain clear cut answers. Thanks guys.

bobbyw8469

Please scan the item in question so we may answer your question....

Fabfrank

Galaxy- Seller offered you a refund. Send the card back with Delivery Confirmation (I would personally go with Signature DC). Track to see when he receives the returned card. Give the seller 24 hrs after receipt of returned card to make the refund. If refund is not made, contact the seller. make him aware that you know the he received the card. If refund is not made, open a case with Paypal or Ebay. Keep all receipts from PO and emails with seller. You should be fine.

sportscardtheory

I'm not really sure why people are suggesting you spend more of your own money to return it with insurance and/or signature confirmation when all you need is DC. Send it back with DC and be done with it.

Fabfrank

Send it back with DC and be done with it.

With just DC, if the seller was unscrupulous, (which it seems Galaxy suspects) the seller can claim they never got the package. With Signature DC, he/someone has to sign for it. It's a small cost to pay to make sure he gets his refund.

sportscardtheory

<< <i>Send it back with DC and be done with it.

With just DC, if the seller was unscrupulous, (which it seems Galaxy suspects) the seller can claim they never got the package. With Signature DC, he/someone has to sign for it. It's a small cost to pay to make sure he gets his refund. >>



DC is all PayPal/eBay requires when returning items to sellers on items under $250, so why waste your money on anything more. In fact, I would think that Signature Confirmation in a return situation could hurt you if the seller refused to sign for it. Then what. You would be screwed.

Maurice

DC is enough to satisfy paypal for a $60 transaction. Where's the scan? I'm guessing KbKards hit the nail on the head.

Albertdidit

Here is a $61 one

armyautin

Original Card

Here is the link to where the seller bought the card. Find it weird that this seller would cut off the right side of the card in the scan. Looks like the same card and second seller didn't use same picture in his listing.

Fabfrank

DC is all PayPal/eBay requires when returning items to sellers on items under $250, so why waste your money on anything more. In fact, I would think that Signature Confirmation in a return situation could hurt you if the seller refused to sign for it. Then what. You would be screwed.

Galaxy asked for advice. I told him what I would do. Instead or criticizing, offer something constructive. There have been instances when buyers have returned items with DC, and the seller claims they never received it. EVEN under Ebays under $250 rule, and the buyer was out of luck. For the extra $1 (I forgot how much PO actually charges for Sig DC) you have confirmation that a real person took possesion of the parcel. With DC it can be dropped on a stoop, left on top of a full mailbox, or put into a wrong mailbox and it will be considered delivered. I gave Galaxy a solution that protected his refund in the best possible way.
Also, it's very important to keep your PO receipt showing the services such as DC, they you paid for.

sportscardtheory

<< <i>DC is all PayPal/eBay requires when returning items to sellers on items under $250, so why waste your money on anything more. In fact, I would think that Signature Confirmation in a return situation could hurt you if the seller refused to sign for it. Then what. You would be screwed.

Galaxy asked for advice. I told him what I would do. Instead or criticizing, offer something constructive. There have been instances when buyers have returned items with DC, and the seller claims they never received it. EVEN under Ebays under $250 rule, and the buyer was out of luck. For the extra $1 (I forgot how much PO actually charges for Sig DC) you have confirmation that a real person took possesion of the parcel. With DC it can be dropped on a stoop, left on top of a full mailbox, or put into a wrong mailbox and it will be considered delivered. I gave Galaxy a solution that protected his refund in the best possible way.
Also, it's very important to keep your PO receipt showing the services such as DC, they you paid for. >>



Listen, you over-emotional person you. I wasn't criticizing you or your advice. I was simply stating what anyone who knows eBay and how it works would state. Relax.