Dealer Pet Peeves or "Tricks"

[hcv123]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

All but #2 are criminal acts. Open and shut fraud. #2 is an effort to market as long as the seller doesn't say the card is near mint.

I take issue with number 2 - as most "books" specifically state "the listed prices are for cards in ??? condition" cards in lesser condition sell for x% of the listed price. So if a dealer states the "book price" for a vg card is the price "listed in the book" - they are being highly deceptive and looking to take advantage of an inexperienced buyer (REALLY poor for long term business and building a larger hobby base imo). That said as stated - caveat emptor - if you don't know what you are buying, you shouldn't be buying it. A few local dealers at small card shows tried to pull this one on my kids - including 1 schmuck who said he "hadn't changed the prices on his g-vg 60's and 70's garbage ) in a "long time" and he really needed to put new higher prices on them. Offered my 10 yo a vg 1966 Clemente for I think $120 - yeah right!

[1963Topps Set]

How about dealers who sell "sealed" packs but know they have been resealed and only have commons.

I also hate dealers who sell a "sealed" pack for major $$$$$$ because you MAY get a Hall Of Famer or Rookie. Let the gamble be on both sides.

[nat]

I was always confused by the people who sell a reprint which is listed as a reprint, while saying "card does not say reprint on it". My best guess is that these folks are hoping to sell the card to scammers who will age it and try to re-sell it as original.

[SMPEP]

How about Christmas rackpacks?

There are a few "legit" ones out there (by "legit" I mean made in the 1960s, not the 1990s on), but by a HUGE degree these are all fakes.

And people buy them everyday.

Full disclosure I own one. But I did get it for free and have no illusions that there is anything of value in it.

Cheers,
Patrick

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by SMPEP

How about Christmas rackpacks?

There are a few "legit" ones out there (by "legit" I mean made in the 1960s, not the 1990s on), but by a HUGE degree these are all fakes.

And people buy them everyday.

Full disclosure I own one. But I did get it for free and have no illusions that there is anything of value in it.

Cheers,
Patrick

Are the rack packs of little or no value because the cards are fake, or are you just taking it as a given that its been combed over in advance to simply be common pretty worthless cards? Or are they common cards in lousy condition. Just wondering. If you saw a rack pack with a card of some value face showing would you buy it?

[Chicosbailbonds]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Are the rack packs of little or no value because the cards are fake, or are you just taking it as a given that its been combed over in advance to simply be common pretty worthless cards? Or are they common cards in lousy condition. Just wondering. If you saw a rack pack with a card of some value face showing would you buy it?

You rarely see any of the xmas packs with anything good showing.

[steve B]

The Christmas racks are just repackaged stuff and even the older ones aren't great for condition. Usually way off center but otherwise nice. I bought one years ago just to have one, either a 58 or 59. It has a high number on the back, so it's not entirely junk. They bring some crazy prices though.

Real rack packs are entirely different.

And to get back on topic


Dealers with no prices on anything - more often than not it won't make me stop and ask, it'll make me keep walking.

The now rare overly attentive dealer. You know those guys- "Oh! an actual customer. Look at these 88 Donruss, they're about to become huge, and lemme look, I have some 87s around here too. Old cards you say? I have these 65 topps, they're near mint except for the creases and juice stains. Tobacco cards?! you mean like those redmen things? they're not in Beckett, and there aren't any nice screwdowns for them so I never bothered........"

Most of the rest has been covered already.

Steve B

[savedfrommyspokes]

Originally Posted by Chicosbailbonds

You rarely see any of the xmas packs with anything good showing.

While rare, every now and then a decent card such as a WL McCormick appears on the front of one of these holiday packs....not sure which is more rare, finding a WL McCormick or finding a card with some value appearing on the front of one of these holiday packs

If some dealer did "create" this pack at some point in an attempt to "trick"/defraud a collector, due to his lack of knowledge or inattention to detail he only shortchanged himself by (mistakenly) including a $500+ card in the pack.....

[Snapolit1]

My only pet peeve at shows is the dual listed card phenomena "$500/$125" where the dude it telling me the book value of his ungraded card is worth $500 but out of the kindness of his heart he'll sell it to me a complete stranger for $125. Hell, why not. Of course the book value is for a PSA 7 and his will probably come back a 3.

I now read back and see others covered this. . . .