What would you do?

Tomi · July 10, 2014 9:17AM

So you are hanging out at a flea market and a couple of people have some trading cards mixed in with their other items. You walk in on a conversation with the seller and a buyer. They agree on a $20 sale for a LOT of vintage baseball cards and you notice a 1952 Topps Mantle in the mix in good condition. Do you tell the seller before the transaction what he has since he obviously doesn't know or do you just walk away and let the transaction take place?

MrSnuffleupagus · July 10, 2014 9:23AM

Simple! You do what you would want someone else do to you or for someone you love.

sbfinley · July 10, 2014 9:44AM

You walk away happy and the guy at the flea market booth pulls out another tin with handful of commons and a fake Mantle.

bigdcards · July 10, 2014 10:00AM

<< So you are hanging out at a flea market and a couple of people have some trading cards mixed in with their other items. You walk in on a conversation with the seller and a buyer. They agree on a $20 sale for a LOT of vintage baseball cards and you notice a 1952 Topps Mantle in the mix in good condition. Do you tell the seller before the transaction what he has since he obviously doesn't know or do you just walk away and let the transaction take place? >>

I'd say, "holy schikees, that's not real is it?" Then they can talk about it.

lawnmowerman · July 10, 2014 11:50AM

Offer him $40

swartz1 · July 10, 2014 12:04PM

Why do you need to tell the seller what he has?

mlbfan2 · July 10, 2014 12:09PM

I'd probably just keep on walking my invisible dog.

jeffcbay · July 10, 2014 12:19PM

<< 

<< So you are hanging out at a flea market and a couple of people have some trading cards mixed in with their other items. You walk in on a conversation with the seller and a buyer. They agree on a $20 sale for a LOT of vintage baseball cards and you notice a 1952 Topps Mantle in the mix in good condition. Do you tell the seller before the transaction what he has since he obviously doesn't know or do you just walk away and let the transaction take place? >>

I'd say, "holy schikees, that's not real is it?" Then they can talk about it. >>

^^This^^

ashabby · July 10, 2014 1:00PM

If your 100 percent sure. You tell the guy. Karma

mlbfan2 · July 10, 2014 1:24PM

<< Simple! You do what you would want someone else do to you or for someone you love. >>

But which person is your loved one, the buyer or the seller?

MrSnuffleupagus · July 10, 2014 1:50PM

<< 

<< Simple! You do what you would want someone else do to you or for someone you love. >>

But which person is your loved one, the buyer or the seller? >>

Immaterial to me - You can choose

I would be upset if someone was taking advantage of a loved one and I would be disappointed and not approve of a loved one taking advantage of someone else.

cardbender · July 10, 2014 3:35PM

If a seller is too dumb to realize what they have, I'm all for the buyer getting the great 'flea deal'.

When sellers are clearly taking advantage of naive or unsuspecting buyers, do you interfere
with those deals too and point out the seller is screwing the buyer. Most people would not intervene here either.

Keep your trap shut and mind your own business.

My one exception would be to not allow an adult seller to hose a kid.

Adult to adult, it's buyer and seller beware.

flcardtrader · July 10, 2014 8:59PM

if there is a 52 Mantle, there is most likely other 50's cards as a 52 Mantle keeps high company so I would doubt we are talking about a lot of boot vintage with the odd 52 Mantle stuck in the pack.

Take away the Mantle for a second

At that point, do you tell him the other vintage commons (at worst) you just bought for $20 are worth more than the $20 you are about to give him? Maybe even say, "hey, I know we agreed on $20, but there is a few hundred dollars worth of cards here, I would rather give you equivalent value". At a flea market, It's not personal, its business.

I think that is what separates a forum like this from a flea market. In this forum, it is personal as relationships are built that span many years. In most cases, none of us actually meet, but over the course of trades, sales, and general knowledge share, we all get to know one another.

My real life example of this was in 1980 at the Norton Flea Market.....picked up a small lot of vintage including a 73 Schmidt RC, a 63 Bazooka All Time Greats Wilbert Robinson, a 58 Clemente, a 64 Tommy John RC and some other nice gems - a small stack of cards priced for $10. I paid and the seller and the buyer got what they wanted and both were happy after the transaction was over.

charrigan · July 10, 2014 9:07PM

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

ashabby · July 10, 2014 11:37PM

<< The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. >>

I tell my kids all the time to be a leader is lonely at times. You have to do the right thing all the time. We will all be wrong at times. But like I said before if 100 percent sure than make them aware of. I would not sleep well with that card or money in hand.

Another option buy the card get it graded...keep or sell and give the seller half the value. Just ask for contact info don't need to say why if you want it to be surprise.

Dpeck100 · July 10, 2014 11:55PM

A few months back a 1932 U.S. Caramel Presidents William McKinley was listed on EBAY for $9.99 Buy It Now. It lasted just a few moments and was paid for right away.

Is it the buyers responsibility in a case like this to notify the seller that they just listed the card at a pitance of its value?

I think not.

Where would that logic end? $20 profit, $200 profit, $2,000 profit?

bobbyw8469 · July 11, 2014 1:49AM

<< A few months back a 1932 U.S. Caramel Presidents William McKinley was listed on EBAY for $9.99 Buy It Now. It lasted just a few moments and was paid for right away. >>

David, the seller who sold that card is a local man who goes to all the Raleigh, NC shows. I thought it was an auction with a $9.99 opening bid. He had none of the relevant info in the auction title so the card couldn't be found.

mtcards · July 11, 2014 2:04AM

I would look at all his other stuff as well. If he is selling 1988 Donruss Mattingly or Canseco cards for $3 and advertising them as RARE, I take the box and figure he will make it up screwing over the rest of the general population.

JHS5120 · July 11, 2014 2:13AM

I would quietly buy the lot and look at the Mantle back in my car. If I determine it was most likely real, I would go back and tell the seller about his card and offer to split the proceeds of the sale with him.

Generally, I am a believer of Flea market bargains are all fair game, but if we're talking about thousands of dollars, do the right thing.

Jason

tlake22 · July 11, 2014 2:48AM

you do that to me when I am making the buy and you get punched in the face.

Dpeck100 · July 11, 2014 2:55AM

<< 

<< A few months back a 1932 U.S. Caramel Presidents William McKinley was listed on EBAY for $9.99 Buy It Now. It lasted just a few moments and was paid for right away. >>

David, the seller who sold that card is a local man who goes to all the Raleigh, NC shows. I thought it was an auction with a $9.99 opening bid. He had none of the relevant info in the auction title so the card couldn't be found. >>

McKinley

Here is the listing.

esquiresports · July 11, 2014 4:54AM

<< A few months back a 1932 U.S. Caramel Presidents William McKinley was listed on EBAY for $9.99 Buy It Now. It lasted just a few moments and was paid for right away. >>

Here is the listing. >>

Whoa. That's crazy. I imagine the same logic/approach suggested with respect to a flea market purchase should apply equally in the eBay context, although I believe most people would have an easier time closing the eBay deal because they aren't doing it face to face.

CocoaBeachDodgers · July 11, 2014 5:51AM

We have tackled these right or wrong issues many times in the past.

I stand firm in believing there is no right or wrong answer. It is completely up to the morals of the individual.
Also, no one has the right to push their morals on you. You can say what you would do, as the thread ask, but don't tell me what is correct for
me or the world because you do not know.

One can say always do the right thing while others can say you are a fool.
One can say a deal is a deal while others will call you a thief.

IMO.

digicat · July 11, 2014 6:10AM

<< 

<< A few months back a 1932 U.S. Caramel Presidents William McKinley was listed on EBAY for $9.99 Buy It Now. It lasted just a few moments and was paid for right away. >>

David, the seller who sold that card is a local man who goes to all the Raleigh, NC shows. I thought it was an auction with a $9.99 opening bid. He had none of the relevant info in the auction title so the card couldn't be found. >>

I'm curious, what would that McKinley fetch if sold at auction?

mtcards · July 11, 2014 6:16AM

Heres a different scenario, but the same dilemma

"You are playing blackjack at a casino, the dealer has 19, you have a 6 card 19 and the dealer (who probably is on autopilot anyway) pays you your $20 bet. Do you tell the dealer he made a mistake, do you stay quiet figuring you will lose it back anyway or worse yet, do you get pissed off when the player to your left tells the dealer about it and the dealer takes back the $20 in chips"....

Same scenario, but I bet most people would keep the chips since I know if I made a mistake like hitting 13 against a dealer 6, the casino isnt going to give me MY money back

esquiresports · July 11, 2014 6:34AM

<< We have tackled these right or wrong issues many times in the past.

I stand firm in believing there is no right or wrong answer. It is completely up to the morals of the individual.
Also, no one has the right to push their morals on you. You can say what you would do, as the thread ask, but don't tell me what is correct for
me or the world because you do not know.

One can say always do the right thing while others can say you are a fool.
One can say a deal is a deal while others will call you a thief.

IMO. >>

Agree. When I was in law school, I had a contracts professor who said the F-word was "fair." Always made me laugh. There is basic contract law and then there are philosophical/moral views.

esquiresports · July 11, 2014 6:34AM

<< 

<< 

<< A few months back a 1932 U.S. Caramel Presidents William McKinley was listed on EBAY for $9.99 Buy It Now. It lasted just a few moments and was paid for right away. >>

David, the seller who sold that card is a local man who goes to all the Raleigh, NC shows. I thought it was an auction with a $9.99 opening bid. He had none of the relevant info in the auction title so the card couldn't be found. >>

I'm curious, what would that McKinley fetch if sold at auction? >>

I believe in the $15-20K range.

esquiresports · July 11, 2014 6:44AM

<< Heres a different scenario, but the same dilemma

"You are playing blackjack at a casino, the dealer has 19, you have a 6 card 19 and the dealer (who probably is on autopilot anyway) pays you your $20 bet. Do you tell the dealer he made a mistake, do you stay quiet figuring you will lose it back anyway or worse yet, do you get pissed off when the player to your left tells the dealer about it and the dealer takes back the $20 in chips"....

Same scenario, but I bet most people would keep the chips since I know if I made a mistake like hitting 13 against a dealer 6, the casino isnt going to give me MY money back >>

I had a long discussion with a friend about this a couple of years ago. We were both comfortable taking a mis-pay on blackjack but would never accept getting too much cash back at a store. It was interesting that we both felt the same way but neither had really thought it through. We determined the strongest argument was that we were playing a game with rules dictated by the house. The house has the obligation to enforce the rules of the game, like an umpire in sports. If the umpire, in this case the dealer, makes a mistake in rule enforcement, there is no obligation for the player to note the mistake (e.g., I was actually tagged out, the ball didn't hit me, I wasn't fouled). I realize this distinction is somewhat weak. I applaud those who would note the error. I would not. It happens about every third time I visit. About every other time a dealer tries to take my bet on a push.

Alfonz24 · July 11, 2014 7:12AM

Man blames bank for $43,000 credit error

ROSWELL, New Mexico (KOB) – A Roswell, New Mexico man suddenly had more money than he’d ever imagined, thanks to a big “bank mistake.”

He deposited a check for $430, instead he got credit for $43,000.

“I’m not real big into lavish things, I mean you see where I live I don’t even have air conditioning in my house,” said Corey Courts.

Courts makes $24,000 a year. So in November, when the bank ATM made a mechanical error and put $43,000 in his account, he says temptation took over.

“It’s their mess up, it was an expensive mistake on their part, they put the money in my account. I sat there, I didn’t touch the money for months and they never found it, they never corrected it, they never did anything,” said Courts. “I mean you would think an amount like that would be something they would be right on top of.”

Courts is now making payments to the bank.

According to the police report filed by Washington Federal, Courts owes the bank $39,000.

“All I can say is have someone put $43,000 in your account and see what you do,” said Courts.

Roswell police say they have closed the investigation and are not pressing charges. It’s now up to the bank, Washington Federal, to sue in civil court to get the money back.

The bank is not commenting.

ashabby · July 11, 2014 7:18AM

<< A few months back a 1932 U.S. Caramel Presidents William McKinley was listed on EBAY for $9.99 Buy It Now. It lasted just a few moments and was paid for right away.

Is it the buyers responsibility in a case like this to notify the seller that they just listed the card at a pitance of its value?

I think not.

Where would that logic end? $20 profit, $200 profit, $2,000 profit? >>

I personally make choices like this each day. Do no harm is the goal. Maybe the guy listed at 9.99 and missed a decimal point and should have been 999.00. I am sure a lot of people would say hey that is only worth 99 in this example.

Personal values I guess is what it comes down and what you believe. Two people can agree to disagree.

digicat · July 11, 2014 7:39AM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< A few months back a 1932 U.S. Caramel Presidents William McKinley was listed on EBAY for $9.99 Buy It Now. It lasted just a few moments and was paid for right away. >>

David, the seller who sold that card is a local man who goes to all the Raleigh, NC shows. I thought it was an auction with a $9.99 opening bid. He had none of the relevant info in the auction title so the card couldn't be found. >>

I'm curious, what would that McKinley fetch if sold at auction? >>

I believe in the $15-20K range. >>

Wow. I'd have a hard time shrugging off an ignorance-loss like that.

BLUEJAYWAY · July 11, 2014 2:29PM

Many years ago was at a card shop looking over the cards in the display cases. A seller was there with a group of cards discussing a price for the lot. I was nearby as the discussion was finishing up. I don't know what the dealers offer was, but the seller turned to me and asked if I'd be interested in looking the lot over and making an offer. Since I would consider this bad form(conducting business on someone elses turf) I declined to even look over the lot. With that the seller completed the transaction with the dealer. I felt it was not worth the bad feelings that may have resulted from nosing in on the transaction. Especially if in the future I needed discounts or a favor from that dealer. The only thing that would of been okay with me is if the dealer had invited me into the discussion, which he did not. Never did find out what the cards were or price involved.

Dpeck100 · July 11, 2014 10:55PM

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< 

<< A few months back a 1932 U.S. Caramel Presidents William McKinley was listed on EBAY for $9.99 Buy It Now. It lasted just a few moments and was paid for right away. >>

David, the seller who sold that card is a local man who goes to all the Raleigh, NC shows. I thought it was an auction with a $9.99 opening bid. He had none of the relevant info in the auction title so the card couldn't be found. >>

I'm curious, what would that McKinley fetch if sold at auction? >>

I believe in the $15-20K range. >>

Wow. I'd have a hard time shrugging off an ignorance-loss like that. >>

I would too. In my view doing some market research should be done prior to selling items. Every day thousands of people scour EBAY and Craigslist looking for deals and every once in awhile they find a diamond in the rough. There is no responsibility of the buyer to notify the seller of what they have on EBAY and that is where a large percentage of collectibles transactions take place.

A few years ago I was out at an event to go to a Magic game and someone said Dave how is the collection going. I said good and right away another guy turned around and said oh wow you collect cards. I said yeah but probably not the type you are thinking. I collect wrestling cards. He proceeds to tell me that his father used to own a shop and that they bought a box of cards for $40 and at the bottom was a Shoeless Joe Jackson card that was worth 100k. He pulled the picture of the card up on his phone and I had no reason not to believe him of the value but was still a little skeptical. Sure enough I went home that night and researched the card and it was indeed a six figure cards that was bought for $40. The sellers loss is their gain. No one asked him to come into the shop and if $40 was what he agreed to for the cards then that is the selling price in my view.

Joe Jackson

This is an example of the card. His is an SGC 1.5. He said they flew it to New Jersey to have it graded.

What would you do?

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