If you’ve come to Vintage Hockey Cards Report, chances are pretty high that you’ve bought and/or sold hockey cards on eBay at some time or another. Chances are, then, that you’ve experienced at least one of the same ‘peeves’ that I’m listing here. They’re nothing too serious and don’t taint the eBay buying process too much but we could all do without them.
As the great Sir Richard Branson says (paraphrased), “We’re not in the business of selling music, travel or cell phones. We’re in the business of customer service.” The same should go for eBay. Each seller should be doing all they can to provide the best customer service experience for any of their potential buyers to grow their sales.
1. Picture of multiple cards but only one of those cards is actually listed. This is done fairly often and I find it annoying. For example, listers will use the same picture of nine cards for nine different listings. The initial reaction of the potential bidder is that they are bidding on nine cards. Only after reading the details, do you find out that only one of the nine cards is up for auction. I find this to be lazy and somewhat deceiving on the sellers behalf, whether intentional or not.
2. Is it an original or reprint? Some listings do not make it very clear that a card is a reprint, possibly tucking that all-important detail deep down in the description. I purchased a Gretzky rookie reprint in this manner. Luckily, I didn’t pay too, too much and was able to spin it into an article on whether your Wayne Gretzky rookie card is fake.
3. Rediculously high shipping costs. Yes, there is more to mailing a card than just the postage. In Canada, at least, you pay tax on top of the postage. There’s the cost of the padded mailer and the top loader card holder. There’s the cost of driving your car to the post office. However, it does not cost $8-$20 to mail a hockey card! My standard cost is $2.59 for shipping and handling to North America. Anything above $3.50 is gouging unless you’re offering something more than general lettermail.
4. The bitter seller. Listings that include such lines as “If you don’t like it – Don’t bid on it!” This one usually is included on listings by those who charge too much for shipping! Also, “If your eBay rating is below X, then don’t bid.” What?
5. “My boyfriend/husband left me and I’m selling off his huge collection of hockey cards.” Bullshit! There sure are a lot of boyfriends and husbands walking away from thousands of dollars worth of cards.
6. Leaving out important details in a listing. It’s amazing how big things like the card number, the year and the brand can be left out of listings. However, it happens.
7. Listing a lot of cards but not detailing what cards are included in that lot. I don’t expect the names of each player and the condition of each and every card but on a lot of 30, 50, 100, 200, etc. cards I expect at least a listing of the card numbers. The usual trick is to post a picture of the nine best cards in the lot when the rest are commons.
8. Crappy photos! This is 2011 – there is no excuse for a blurred photo of you card(s). You can pick up a cheap flatbed scanner that will provide you with the perfect listing photos.
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