Dealer Pet Peeves or "Tricks"

[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

[Snapolit1]

First show I went to (White Plains a few years back) some guy gave me the usual seller "let me know if you are interested in seeing anything" line and I responded with the usual potential buyer " . . . ok thanks . .. just looking for now..." Perfectly harmless pleasantries. Or so I thought. He then acted peeved and mumbled loudly "yeah, just just looking . . just looking . . . that's all I hear just looking." Idiot. Yeah, just looking, and not buying from someone who is going to mimic me. In the last year I could have bought and sold his measly table 15 times over on what I've spent on cards, but sorry for wasting your time bud.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by 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

Those of you who've dealt with me at shows gimme some feedback. This is a fine line as I hear all the time "I hate when dealers just sit there and ignore me until I ask a question." Is there a "perfect" approach?

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Those of you who've dealt with me at shows gimme some feedback. This is a fine line as I hear all the time "I hate when dealers just sit there and ignore me until I ask a question." Is there a "perfect" approach?

Really don't know what needs to be said other than "Let me know if I can help you, or if there is something specific you are looking for." Which is what most people say.

Sometimes I stop at table to check something interesting out -- say football cards -- knowing full well I am not buying any. Just something caught my eye. When I tell the seller I don't need help or am not interested in anything, what I'm acutually saying is "no need to waste time on me . . . I'm not buying anything."

[Timbegs]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Those of you who've dealt with me at shows gimme some feedback. This is a fine line as I hear all the time "I hate when dealers just sit there and ignore me until I ask a question." Is there a "perfect" approach?

No. No guaranteed perfect. But I always like an extended hand, your name, and 'How long have you been collecting cards?' I think it's a win win, as a dealer you can assess the client and it's open ended so they can inform you what they like and what they may be looking for or point you in the right direction. I also like when a dealer is really honest - if some card prices are negotiable and others aren't, say so. Clients understand the business, too. Lastly, if you're close, many guys appreciate a free, nice common from the same set - even a single cheap, low value common - as a gesture.

Hope it helps...

[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.....

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by savedfrommyspokes

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, clearly he was not very knowledgeable and only shortchanged himself by (mistakenly) including a $500+ card in the pack.....

I would guess only a very very small percentage of collectors would know that the WL McCormisk has any value. That is one advantage of being an oddball error collector. Some very rare cards can be found in bargain bins.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I would guess only a very very small percentage of collectors would know that the WL McCormisk has any value. That is one advantage of being an oddball error collector. Some very rare cards can be found in bargain bins.

Plus a psa 2 just went for $168 bucks (yes the one in the rack could grade higher but just saying) with pwcc no less just a few weeks ago.

i assumed those packs go for more than' 168.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Topps-M...kAAOSwo4pYlPmK

[savedfrommyspokes]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I would guess only a very very small percentage of collectors would know that the WL McCormisk has any value. That is one advantage of being an oddball error collector. Some very rare cards can be found in bargain bins.

I would think a dealer would be more astute in regards to recognizing publicized variations such as this one....the earliest price guide I found this variation listed in was a 1990 Baseball Cards Magazine price guide, and it is listed in all of the Beckett guides I have since the late 90s. A PSA 6 recently sold on ebay for $549.

None of this matters if this was a legit (re)pack versus a pack put together by some manipulative dealer.

[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. . . .