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Why is COMC so complicated (Requesting shipment)

I have never understood why COMC has to be so flippin' complicated. When I purchase a card, why do I have to request a shipment? (Sarcasm following) "No, even though I bought the card, I think I will just let COMC hold on to it. It's still mine, but I don't really want it in my possession." Seriously? If I buy a card, I kind of want it shipped to me.

So, I purchased something tonight, and tried to request shipment.....no option to request shipment! After 30 minutes of research, I find out that (I think) if you purchase with a store credit, you have to request shipment. If you purchase via Paypal, it automatically gets shipped to you. Can someone please confirm this?

I won't even mention the fact that you have to have a store credit to make offers.

I do like the selection of cards, but why does it have to be complex like that?

Shane

Comments

  • bobsbbcardsbobsbbcards Posts: 3,254 ✭✭✭
    Just tried COMC. Searched for 1958 topps psa and found tons of (overpriced) cards. Changed search to "1958 topps psa 8" and....oops, no cards found. Odd. Tried "1958 topps psa 7". Same thing. I guess as long as I simply want to buy PSA cards with no thought to grade, I'm in good shape.
  • frankhardyfrankhardy Posts: 8,169 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: mjohnatgt
    That's the design of the site. I usually wait until I have about 20 cards purchased before I request shipment. COMC is great for set collectors that want to buy 100 cards from 1955 Bowman and then have them all delivered in the same box (not 37 shipments that you have to pay delivery for each one). Buying them over the course of months during different sales (not just today's prices) is so worth not having them shipped regularly. It's not that hard to have them shipped. They also don't deliver them automatically upon purchase because you can reprice them on site and try to sell them for more. I have bought cards for $7 on site and had them sell a month later at $75.
    COMC is great because they don't force you to take delivery every time you buy an item... not despite it.


    I understand that, but why would that be the default way to purchase? Why not have a way to change your preferences. Also, why is it different for Paypal purchases than it is for Store Credit. It looks as though I didn't have to "request shipment" for my Paypal purchase last night. I spent 45 minutes trying to figure out how to request shipment, but apparently it is automatic when you purchase with Paypal. Usually, I use a store credit and have to request shipment. They should have a system where you "opt in" to a preference of requesting shipment. Otherwise it should be automatic.

    Shane

  • The idea of COMC is to offer a way to economically purchase a lot of cheap cards. For modern set collectors, many cards are $.50 at most and just can't be purchased on eBay due to the relatively massive individual shipping fees. COMC brings the majority of the material they sell in-house so it is centralized and can be combined from many shippers to avoid repetitive costs. This explains both the default there and why it is not a great place to find high-grade vintage (polar opposite of their market niche).

    As for PP vs Store Credit -- I have no idea why that would matter for the shipping settings. I assume that they require you to have credit before offering to avoid non-paying bidders. It is kind of a racket, though, because you have to add the credit before you know if you're going to be able to make a deal and if you want that money back in the event that it isn't spent you have to pay a percentage for "processing" or some such nonsense. Basically a tax to discourage you from removing $$ from their ecosystem.

    In my experience, COMC has been a helpful supplement to eBay in narrow respects, but could never replace it.
  • frankhardyfrankhardy Posts: 8,169 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I definitely agree that it is a nice supplement to Ebay to find cards for filling sets. I just have a problem with the shipping and store credit. If someone wants to resell a card that they buy, then it should be an "opt in" system. I don't want to sound like I am totally against COMC, because I'm not. I have bought many cards from there. Sportlots is also another nice alternative that I use a bunch (probably more than COMC).

    Shane

  • bouncebounce Posts: 1,094 ✭✭✭
    Agree with charrigan. I started using COMC for my 2011 Contenders football autographs for instance. Most of the low end guys cost about $1-2 per card, but I did that through eBay it would be closer to $4+ per card. I've bought 20-25 of those guys on COMC and nothing cost me more than $1.50.

    I've been looking at "expanding" my offers into some of the other sets I'd like to finish, but again average card cost is something less than $2 per card.

    It is kind of a racket in that you have to put the money in before you offer, and you can't offer more than you have left in your account (and outstanding offers count against you until there's a reply).

    Make sure you've done a little research before you dive in to make sure you've got the right amount on deposit, but I've found it's a much better way to work on those types of sets than scouring eBay for lots. It's a definitely a good supplement for set builders and/or player collectors on the low end.
  • That's good info. The deadline for fee-less returns is 1 month from the deposit?
  • Very helpful--thanks!
  • bishopbishop Posts: 2,917 ✭✭✭
    I only use the site when I want to see card backs.
    Topps Baseball-1948, 1951 to 2017
    Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
    Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007

    Al
  • Originally posted by: bobsbbcards

    Just tried COMC. Searched for 1958 topps psa and found tons of (overpriced) cards. Changed search to "1958 topps psa 8" and....oops, no cards found. Odd. Tried "1958 topps psa 7". Same thing. I guess as long as I simply want to buy PSA cards with no thought to grade, I'm in good shape.




    Dean's Cards has a partnership with COMC. So you'll eventually find PSA graded cards.... I dont think that I have to say how they will be priced though.
    Current T206 Needs: (Updated 9/11/17)

    LaJoie Portrait 3+, Cy Young Bare Hand 3+

    Ty Cobb Bat Off 4+, ANY Red & Green Portrait

  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,838 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: bishop

    I only use the site when I want to see card backs.




    +1





    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.
  • ElvisPElvisP Posts: 1,073 ✭✭✭
    I just went to COMC for the first time hoping to find reasonable prices instead of the usually high BIN prices on ebay. Wow I didn't know ebay prices were so cheap, LOL. I was looking for vintage so maybe this is a site for new cards. No need to go back there. The prices on vintage were just stupid.
  • bobsbbcardsbobsbbcards Posts: 3,254 ✭✭✭
    Originally posted by: mjohnatgt
    Here are all 1958 Topps baseball graded by PSA:
    http://www.comc.com/Cards/Baseball,so,vDetails,=1958+Topps,+PSA,i100

    It's clunky, but it works.

    It's clunky, but it doesn't really work. I agree that it shows all 1958 Topps PSA cards, but I'm probably not in the market for everything from PSA 1 to PSA 11. Baffling that the BROWSE control on the left doesn't narrow down to:

    Baseball
    1950's
    1958
    Topps
    Main Set
    Graded
    PSA
    8

    That would be useful. Also, a website that is able to turn off a customer in a single viewing is flawed. It doesn't make sense to blame that on the customer. Sellers should price their cards reasonably all the time (the heck with sales). Make it easy and intuitive to find them (improve the search to at least the level of functionality that eBay has).
  • byronscott4everbyronscott4ever Posts: 932 ✭✭✭
    I think people who do well there have cards priced right. I sell cards there rarely but when I do, I put a price on it and don't do offers. Some sellers price way too high but accept offers and I'm not a fan of trying to bargain with some.
  • bishopbishop Posts: 2,917 ✭✭✭
    Bob-- when I get up there in June we will see if we can get you straightened out on this.
    Topps Baseball-1948, 1951 to 2017
    Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
    Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007

    Al
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