Small Traditions LLC Auctions

MrG

Anyone else experience disappointment with their shipments?

I bid and won the following on the last auction:

Invoice Items - April 2013
Lot# Description Final Bid
151 1982 Topps Traded #62 Chet Lemon PSA 10 Gem Mint Pop 8 $4.00
190 1985 Topps #460 Ryne Sandberg PSA 10 Gem Mint $8.00
283 1979 Burger King Yankees #18 Lou Piniella PSA 9 Mint $9.00
447 1991 Bowman #569 Chipper Jones RC Rookie Card BGS 9.5 Gem Mint $51.00
449 1991 Topps #333 Chipper Jones RC Rookie Card PSA 10 Gem Mint $70.00
450 1991 Topps #333 Chipper Jones RC Rookie Card BGS 9.5 Gem Mint $30.00
579 1981 Topps Baseball Complete Set of 726 NM-MT Overall $24.00
644 Lot of 4 PSA 9 Mint 1991 Topps #333 Chipper Jones RC Rookie Cards $30.00

Received the 10 graded cards pretty quickly (Mid May) in a PSA grading box, but just recently (last Friday) received the 1981 Topps set. The cards were inserted into two 400 count boxes, no padding around the cards other than front and rear blanks, and the two boxes were inserted into a USPS Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope. Is it asking too much for everything to be shipped together in a USPS Flat Rate Box?

Must Be, because when I sent the following email:

Hello,
I recently received Lot# 579 from your auction, and other than arriving much later than the other auction items, was quite disappointed in the packaging of the raw set. Any opportunity I had to send in some of these cards for grading has now been nullified by the lack of packaging in and surrounding the two 400 count boxes. It could have taken very little to make certain the cards were securely packaged in the 400 count boxes, by placing additional cardboard or bubble wrap around all of the edges of the cards. Furthermore, placing the boxes in a small or medium USPS priority mail flat rate box would have improved the security and handling of the boxes, but instead they were shipped in a USPS priority mail flat rate envelope. (I am sure to save on shipping costs.) I will give some leeway as your auction house is somewhat new in the industry, but if this type of packaging is what I am to expect from purchasing raw cards from your site, I will pass in the future.
As an additional note, after looking at every card in this set, I would have graded this set EX-NM or NM at best rather than NM-MT due to the number of miscut cards in the overall set, and after shipping with many now dinged corners.
Kind regards,
Michael

The email reply:

I am sorry you are disappointed, Michael, but the set cost you $24, and you want us to spend $14 to ship it in a USPS Medium Flat Rate box? For free? If you believe the set was in closer to NM condition, I understand, and I apologize. Feel free to return it for a full refund please. Thanks for your bids, Dave Thorn at Small Traditions

Small Traditions LLC
Sports & Americana Auctions


Thoughts?

MooseDog

Well, for one thing he's wrong...a Medium Flat Rate Box is only $11.80 using online postage.

To save ~$5 by pissing off a customer is not good business.

My 2 cents.

bbuckner22

I have bought more than a few raw sets lately that were packaged in a head scratching manner. So because the 1981 set only sold for $24 it's OK to send it out in a cheaper/non secure package. Bad business sense, even worse reply. Considering it will cost around $12 to send it back, it is hardly worth it. that's one more AH that has been crossed off my list.

calaban7

I've won numerous items from this AH and have not run into the issues you encountered . I'm really disappointed in their action and response and hope it doesn't become habit . So far is been good for me , but I'll have to keep and eye and ear out .---- Sonny

scashaggy

Not a good response. Even if they have no plans to change their shipping habits, snapping back at the customer is not the way to go.

zurbs17

The proper response should have been "Our apologies. As soon as I am done typing this email I will issue you a full refund".

MrG

Update:

After a few emails back and forth, Dave apologized for his unfriendly tone in the initial email. He continues to stand by his packaging methods as "No one else has complained about the condition of these sets we've been selling and shipping FOR FREE". He maintains that the raw cards could not have been damaged in shipping by using his packaging methods. I have determined that I will no longer be a part of his buying and selling auction house. He has wished me well in my collecting future.

It is unfortunate that he has missed the point entirely!

Griffins

this is probably the only auction house I haven't registered and bid with yet, but based on his response I won't bother.