scan manipulation, the latest (at least to me) card scam

[Archive]

Posted By: warshawlaw 

I just got burned for the first time on a manipulated scan of a card. A seller I've done business with once or twice in the past contacted me and offered me an incredibly rare (T229 Kopec back) card, one of the last cards I needed for a type set I am building. He sent along two scans (front and back) which showed a decent lower-grade card (corner wear, a couple of creases, some surface scuffing and dirt, but presentable). I asked further questions about the card, which he answered. I then made the deal and bought the card.

When the card arrived I realized that the images I had been shown had either been enhanced artificially or had been made with a scanner set to hide the true condition of the card. The card itself showed considerable age browning on the reverse (probably from either being stored next to a highly acidic paper or being pasted into an album with flour-type paste), but the scan showed a much whiter reverse.

I was faced with the age-old quandary: do I keep a card that I feel was presented to me under less than truthful circumstances and finish my set, or do I return it and wait another five years or maybe longer to find another one. I kept the card, but also learned a lesson. Don't trust scans of ungraded cards. Next time, I will demand either a return privilege or a (gasps, please) third party grade.

[Archive]

Posted By: runscott

Some jpeg editing software has default settings to enhance the image (sharpen details, whiten, etc.). So it doesn't seem unreasonable for you to send a note to him "...hey, I know sometimes scanner settings sharpen details,whiten, by default,etc...but..."

Just an idea and perhaps a graceful out for the seller.

[Archive]

Posted By: jeff

I actually just worked something like this out with someone: if the cards sold were not in line with the description, offer to "buy" the card at a lower price. Instead of demanding a check for $500 (or whatever) by way of a return, say that you believe you have plenty of reason to return, but you would've bought that card for $300. Thus the seller makes some money, doesn't have to start over, and you keep the card. Obviously this wouldn't work all the time, but it's a good opportunity to turn a bad situation into a win-win.

Jeff

[Archive]

Posted By: leon

I bought a '49 Leaf Robinson rookie (?) and when I got it one of the corners looked worse than the scan looked. I negotiated getting about 10% back ($40) from the seller.....I was happy and he still got the sale albeit at a somewhat smaller price.....just a thought.....good luck and best regards

[Archive]

Posted By: Julie Vognar

is that a scan can and frequently does tell a thousand lies. Disappointment after disappointment! Jeez, you buy a T206 with a bright yellow background; seller says there's a very light spot in the center. yep, I can just barely see it in the scan. How NICE that he told me! Then I get the card, and the faint spot is a good sized squirt of tobacco juice, visable from 3 feet away. And so on, ad infinitum.

[Archive]

Posted By: Anonymous

Adam,
Who is the seller? I wonder if I have dealt with him in the past.
I picked up a really nice set of Jeffries playing cards in the original box and with the instructions on ebay. There was no scan of the item but the seller e-mailed me one and the cards were in the same condition - no Adobe Photoshop manipulation was used!

Eric

[Archive]

Posted By: David

I just (yesterday) got a good digital camera. Before this, taking images with my camera was rough going ( I also have a scanner, but it's not worth the effort for items that will sell for, say $15). For autographs, it made them look worse, making them look shadowy and slightly out of focus. For low grade cards, it could make them look better as it would blur out many creases and wrinkles.

For low grade cards, where the condition looked blurrily better from the image, I would always give an accurate grade and the reasons for the (heavy creasing on front, etc).

For the autographs, I would state that the image is worse than the actual product, and hope that they beleive me.

[Archive]

Posted By: warshawlaw

email me if you want and I will forward the info to you

[Archive]

Posted By: runscott

came out better than any digital camera results I've seen on ebay.