Buying unopened items on eBay

Big80s · February 13, 2009 4:33AM

Is there any verbage that's automatic red flags for you guys? For instance when someone selling unopened wax has "All sales are final" in the description. I understand they're trying to protect themselves - but it also makes me apprehensive as a buyer.
Any opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jeff

storm888 · February 13, 2009 4:39AM

If you buy from Baseball Card Exchange, you don't need
to take any special precautions.

I, personally, would NEVER buy any "unopend" stuff on EBAY
from anybody I did not already know.

..............

Too many vampires in Santa Carla, and too many pack-resealers on EBAY.

Dboneesq · February 13, 2009 4:39AM

Jeff ... on unopened GRADED material I am OK with that. It's tough on ungraded, because how does the seller know the buyer didn't play around with the pack? Unless I knew the seller well, I would not buy ungraded thru the Internet unless you were getting a real good deal ... then again if you were getting a real good deal it has to make you wonder! LOL

CubsFan41 · February 13, 2009 4:47AM

I will have to second using a trusted seller like bbce or someone else recommended here only. Even some of that stuff I have had to question before. You just cant be sure all of the time.

Big80s · February 13, 2009 4:48AM

Thank you for the feedback guys. I buy a lot of product through BBCE, and I agree - they are top notch. However, they don't always have what I'm looking for in stock, and when I see it pop up on the Bay - I can't help but wonder if it's worth taking a stab at.

thedutymon · February 13, 2009 4:51AM

Good day,
Used to be you only had to worry about real Vintage, mid to high dollar stuff. That has changed in the last few years, we now have scammers getting into the stuff that sells for as little as $5-10 a pack. I have noticed recently that key 80's Football is becoming a major concern, 81, 84, and 86 wax standing out as the major culprits. There are so many High grade commons and wrappers floating around.........You figure it out. I am almost to the point where I am buying unopened Racks only of those, harder to open, re-use cello wrapper, if not almost impossible.

I've been doing this for awhile and know a lot of the red flags and know which Sellers have been consistently above board, but still get taken every once in awhile for $20-30, 40 bucks here or there, sometimes its really hard to tell.
Your best bet is to ask here, I often point out the scammers here and ask this group what they think about some guy's auctions.

We have also helped each other to out quite a few Scammers as well.
So use the guy's here to look at stuff for you.
And then there is always BBCEX...Steve's stuff is always good.
Neil

stevek · February 13, 2009 5:03AM

Question: How can ya tell when those selling non-PSA unopened vintage packs on ebay are liars?

Answer: When they type in the description.

Big80s · February 13, 2009 7:07AM

First off - thank you to everyone (especially Neil) for their insight on the matter. I requested a picture of the back of a few of the packs hoping you guys could tell me if these look resealed or not. I know it's a low res picture, but it's the best I could get.

mrmint23 · February 13, 2009 7:09AM

Dont do it...unless you use paypal and use your Credit Card. Look for roller lines and excessive wax. Check out Mike Wrenn thread.

lsutigers1973 · February 13, 2009 7:12AM

Looks like 78 OPC to me. Hard to see the corners on those pics. Fold in bottom right corner on top right pack doesn't look right. Plus, look at the bottom left pack right below where the folds meet. It appears to have been lifted and tucked.

WinPitcher · February 13, 2009 7:13AM

How did that end up? Did Wrenn refund you?

Steve

MeteoriteGuy · February 13, 2009 7:23AM

At least half of the 90s material and most of the 2000 up boxes come with factory wrapping around the boxes. You can find a bunch of these in lots from time to time......and I can prove it with a shelf full of worthless boxes.

grote15 · February 13, 2009 7:55AM

Hard to tell for sure from that scan..I don't think you'll know until you hold the packs in hand and check the roller lines..also, unlike Topps, OPC seals from this era had one dull strip in the middle flanked by two typical glossy strips.

Big80s · February 13, 2009 8:04AM

Thanks again fellas - much appreciated.

Buying unopened items on eBay

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