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eBay etiquette question

slum22slum22 Posts: 2,594 ✭✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
So, I recently purchased 16 cards from a seller. All went smoothly but 2 of the cards arrived with damaged holders, one major and one minor. As far as I can tell, the seller packaged the cards well, but a mishap must have occurred during travel to cause damage to these holders. I do not blame the seller for poor packaging causing the damage. I messaged the seller, letting him know of the situation and he kindly offered $10 partial refund to cover the reholdering cost for the cards. This seems like a reasonable solution, but it would involve me basically eating the shipping costs to and from PSA as well. My question is would it be out of line for me to request that the seller pay for the expected shipping cost to and from PSA? I don't want to make it seem like I am extorting him, but I also agreed to purchase these cards at a certain price, which I paid. While not necessarily his fault, the cards did not arrive in the condition expected based on the auction terms and now I am basically having to pay a higher price to receive the cards I already paid for. The other question I have is, if I send in the more damaged holder to PSA what if they feel the card is no longer a 10 due to some unnoticed problem resulting from the holder damage? Would I have any recourse then? What would you do? Thanks for your opinions.

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Steve

Comments

  • charrigancharrigan Posts: 2,293
    I'd either return the cards or pay the costs associated with reholdering myself.

    The problem with partial refunds on eBay is that they are inevitably and unavoidably coercive. Sellers have no option but to say yes because the neg is looming, even if you wouldn't actually leave it.

    Plus, the costs of reholdering are minimal. More important are the established relationships you'll have within the hobby over time.
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,710 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I would expect to be reimbursed for the reholdering fee but not the shipping charge, though I suppose you have just cause to request it, at least for return shipping. I would just wait till I had a new sub and send the reholder sub in the same box so you don't have to pay extra for shipping to PSA.

    OTOH, if the card is not reholdered at the same grade, then I would expect a refund for the difference in value between the grades. How much are we talking about here in terms of value? Perhaps, returning the cards would be easier? Tough call.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • slum22slum22 Posts: 2,594 ✭✭✭✭
    Thanks for the quick replies. Yes, I will just eat the costs of the shipping. If the seller had sent the cards haphazardously, I would probably be a little more inclined to request something for the shipping. But since the packaging was good and the fault is really on the deliverer, I won't bother asking for what amounts to a small amount of money.

    My main concern is what if the card is not reholdered in a 10 holder. It is not an overly valuable card, I paid around $65-70 for it IIRC. It is more the scarcity as it presently has a population of 2. I would like to keep the card, but only if it stays a 10. I suppose I will contact the seller and ask if they will honor a refund if the reholdering results in a lesser grade.
    Steve
  • belzbelz Posts: 1,217 ✭✭✭
    I wouldn't mess with it Steve and return the cards..that's just me though.
    "Wots Uh The Deal" by Pink Floyd
  • charrigancharrigan Posts: 2,293
    I might have been less than clear. I would also either return outright OR keep the card no matter what and pay for the $5 reholder and shipping myself. The reasoning stated above is why.
  • elsnortoelsnorto Posts: 2,012 ✭✭


    << <i>I would expect to be reimbursed for the reholdering fee but not the shipping charge, though I suppose you have just cause to request it, at least for return shipping. I would just wait till I had a new sub and send the reholder sub in the same box so you don't have to pay extra for shipping to PSA. >>



    I'm with Tim on this one.

    From the scans, I have no reason to think the card is damaged and wouldn't come back the same grade. So I would ask the seller for the $5 reholdering fee and eat the cost of shipping, although your reasoning is valid to request the shipping as well. For me, I just save up cards that need to be reholdered and send them in bulk to distribute shipping costs.

    Although if you have any reason to think the cards won't come back in the same grade, I would suggest you return them for a full refund.

    Snorto~
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