jbnark's Blog

Re: COMC

I got an email from Tim and he said that their stage process was proprietary.  So he would not tell me about the 14 stages.  He did say that he might just make it a more general indicator.  I guess that means something like a percentage complete column. 
Another thing I wondered about was the fact that the 2 batches that have already been processed are on stages 12 and 13...... Interesting.
Dkshultz.... I have not had time to take a look at all of your cards and see which ones I am interested in.  I know there are some.  If you are interested in some of my cards, let me know and maybe we can arrange some trades.
I also will have a couple of batches coming out in the next 2 weeks.  Just FYI.....  

Re: COMC

Has everyone seen the new 'My Processing Status' Screen?  Does anyone know what the 'STATE' column represents?  Are the 14 different states listed somewhere?
Here is a sample 'Status' screen:

My Dashboard | My Processing Status

Re: Other COMC Sellers

You are welcome, tiger1984ws.  I prefer to sell and buy from the sellers-collectors on COMC.... and especially the members of this forum.  I wish there were more info on the sellers though(as I have said before).  It would be nice to know who is a real collector and who is the owner of the hobby or baseball card shop down the street. 

And once I get some money accumulated I would love to start buying some of the older and  more expensive cards that you, DKSchultz, and other sellers have on COMC.  Right now I am trying to just accumulate enough money to cover the other cards I have already sent in to be listed on COMC in the next couple of months.  And I have included more of my 61 and 62 cards. 

But I am also trying to find the higher number cards for my 61 and 62 sets.  Some will be fairly expensive it looks like.  For some reason the high number cards did not seem to make it down south here in 61 and 62. 

My Dad would buy me baseball/football cards by the box every 3 or 4 weeks back then. It would make my day when he did......  And that is how I accumulated most of my cards(plus buying a pack or two after school every day or so...).  And Dad did not miss most of the series Topps produced(and Fleer).  But I do have a couple of gaps in my 62's and the latter numbers in 61.  One of these days maybe I will be able to fill in those gaps.
 
Better get back to work.  Talk to you guys later.  
    

Re: Other COMC Sellers

First of all let me say that I am relatively new to all this buying, selling and negotiating.  And I have not had to do that in my own job.  I am a computer/systems programmer.  So, I have interacted with a machine most of my business career.  However, I do not consider myself socially inept(like some computer people I know). 
But, sometimes I do not know if an offer generally means 'let's negotiate'(all part of the game)... Or does it mean that is the highest price that the person will pay.  Generally on 2nd(and especially 3rd) offers, I am giving the buyer my lowest offer to sell or, if I am buying it is my highest offer to buy.  There can be exceptions to this(especially if multiple cards are involved).  And like I have said before, sometimes it is a way to let someone know I am the buyer of the card(like sellers on here). 
As far as flipping cards go..... I generally buy cards that I would probably want myself.  And some I will price at a level to resell. 
However, while I am waiting to have some cards shipped to me I might put an inordinately high price on the card.  I am not really intending to sell it(like my '57 Mantle).  But most people have their price for everything.  So do I.  If someone wanted to buy my Mantle for a $1000, I would probably let it go..... Knowing I could purchase another Mantle like it and have money to buy other cards as well.  I do not intend it to be an insult to the person I purchased the card from.  Some cards I have done this with and after a while I just decide I really don't want to risk losing the card and mark it not for sale. 
Overall, for the most part, I am on COMC to satisfy my love of baseball collecting and hopefully sell enough cards to help finance my hobby.  I told my daughter last night that right now I have spent a lot more money buying cards and paying to put cards on COMC than I have received  in sales.  But, someday I told her it might at least all even out.   

Re: Other COMC Sellers

Also..... in regards to other people on COMC .... At times, I would like to know who is buying my cards.  If it is a seller or just a buyer that is not a seller.  I wonder why COMC does not post this info?  I can understand if the buyer is anonymous and does not want his name on the website.  But I would like to know at least if the person that buys the card is a seller also on COMC.  About the only way you know that is if an offer is made or the card is relisted. 
I often make an offer just to let the person I am buying from know who is buying the card.  Sometimes that will open up a 'trade scenario'.  I wonder if this info is available somewhere on COMC?  Does anyone know?

Re: Welcome

One more thing before I get back to work.... Dpietrack and Powerfam, I agree that I would like my cards to find a good home also.  I would like to believe that my cards are going to someone that loves card collecting as much as I do. 
Unfortunately we know that is not true for all sellers.  Some are just on COMC to make money.  And that is fine.  Too bad Tim and COMC do not give you a little info on each seller and let you know if they own a business selling cards or if they are just collectors like us.  That would be nice to know.     

Re: Welcome

As far as COMC joining this forum.... Have y'all gone to this blog page:

http://www.blowoutcards.com/forums/ebay-online-selling-shows/4934-checkoutmycards-com-207.html

Is this COMC's blog page?  It looks like Tim listens to the people on this blog.... At least he did for the last rate increase......  If the link above does not get you there, just go to the Home page on COMC and click on the link for Blowout Cards forum there. 
Should we all join this group too???????

Re: Other COMC Sellers

Hey, everyone, just wanted to let you know that secondadam is back.  He made me a lowball offer on a card and then withdrew it this morning.  I don't see him as a seller and I have not found any cards he has listed.  Just a heads up.........

Re: Favorite Sports figure and why

I guess if I had to pick my favorite sports figure(s) it would have to be Mickey Mantle for baseball and Johnny Unitas for football. They were both clean cut(or so I thought) All American heroes that could do no wrong. My favorite teams growing up were the NY Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals(early 60s)... and the Baltimore Colts in football.  Yep I am an old guy too. 
The world series was played in the daytime then.  My Mom used to let me stay home from school and watch the series.  I almost cried when Mazeroski hit that home run to beat my beloved Yankees in the 7th game of the 60 world series.  After that I kinda started liking the Pirates too though. 
But the 2 guys I most idolized at the time were Mantle and Maris.  Their chase of Ruth's record in the 1961 was something I will never forget.  But until I saw the movie 61* I never knew how rough it was on them(especially Maris) during that season.  All I cared about was baseball.  I paid no attention to the politics and fan harassment that took place at the time.  It was just a great time(for me) to be a baseball fan.  And that was when I started collecting baseball cards.....   
 

Re: Buy, Sell, Trade

I am like you, jefflasvegas.  I tend to purchase more cards as soon as I get money in my store credit account.  I just started selling my own cards last month and have gotten a little money accumulated.  But unfortunately, I was/am too impatient and tend to spend more money than I take in.  And I think I tend to be a little picky about how much I sell my cards for because I think they are in pretty good shape and some even have sentimental value to them.  Is it odd to attribute such a quality to a baseball/football card???????
Anyway, COMC is a great site and I even enjoy just browsing all the cards.  I actually didn't know how many different varieties of cards came out each year.  I knew there were a lot..... But to actually see them makes you realize how many different sets are put out every year.  Everyone should definitely be able to find something they like on COMC.   

Re: Other COMC Sellers

Welcome, gocubs.  And you are right.  It is nice to know that there are people out there that enjoy card collecting and still get the same rush as when they were kids when they open a pack of baseball/football/etc. cards.  I know I do.
So, you are in Texas gocubs?  The Ballpark in Arlington is very nice.  I have seen a couple of games there.  I also watched a few games there when I went to college in Texas(University of Dallas in Irving).  I even got to play in the old Arlington stadium against the University of Texas at Arlington.  That was a real treat. 
By the way, I noticed secondadam does not have cards on COMC(As far as I can tell.).  I wonder if he messed with one of the owner collectors on COMC or if a lot of other people complained about him.
 
     

Re: Pricing Theory

Congratulations on selling your 6000th card, dpietrack.  And I agree that there are many things that come into play when it comes to buying or selling a card.  Looks are certainly important. 
For example, I am a big fan of Brooks Robinson and have purchased a lot of his cards.  He is from Little Rock and even played at the same field I played baseball at here in Little Rock.  But I have always shied away from his '58 Topps card.  Brooks has a somewhat odd or goofy expression on his face.  I wonder if he complained that they printed it like that.  I doubt it.  He is too nice a guy.  But it shows that a card can be less desirable because of the way it looks.  'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' even applies to baseball cards.  I have been guilty of buying multiple cards just because I like the design...... and not buying others just because they are ugly......  Who hasn't........

Re: Other COMC Sellers

I clicked on his name on COMC and all his cards are at high book price or WAY ABOVE!!!!!  Is he going on the mistaken assumption that if you have 10 apples and price them at $1000 apiece.... All you have to do is sell just one?????????????????? 
I feel very bad that I fell prey to his offers.  I won't let it happen again.  Reckon he will get on here and read these comments?????  I hope nobody on here makes the same mistake I did.  But evidently he has purchased all of his cards on COMC and is just flipping them.  He is not listed as a seller..... 
I doubt seriously that he is a 'kid inside' card collector like I hope most of us are.   

Re: Other COMC Sellers

I made the mistake of selling secondadam a couple of cards at a pretty good discount because I had multiples and wanted some money in my account to spend(impatient as I am).  I notice now he has listed them on COMC at full price.  WTF???????????  He won't get another card from me......  We all live and learn......

Re: Other COMC Sellers

I agree.  I have had the same problem with secondadam.  It would be nice to be able to blackball people like that.   We can blackball certain buyers on here just by word of mouth.  Secondadam would be a good one to start with!!!!!

Re: Card trading on COMC

I see no problem with that.  Do you mean trading cards on COMC?  COMC has no problem with trading cards.  In fact they are supposed to set their site up to do that sometime in the future.
If we agreed on here, I guess we could just agree to offer the cards to one another for a certain price(say $1) on COMC.  We would have to trust that the other person would do the same.

Re: Other COMC Sellers

You do have a good point, rhynardg, a low offer is better than no offer at all. 
But I still believe that if a card is in excellent shape and discounted 50%, it is probably priced fair and should not warrant another 50% off(75% off book value). 
Unless you are wanting to dump the card, such offers just waste everyone's time.  And that is especially true when you know the buyer is just going to turn around and price the card at 90% because it is in such good shape.  This is what some sellers on this site do.  Just my thoughts....
Hey.... baseball(and other sports) card collecting is supposed to be fun..... Right?????
I get the feeling that this is the COMC owners attitude toward collecting and one of the reasons they created this site(from what I have read on early Blogs).  I just hope they can keep that attitude through these growing pains.


  

Re: Other COMC Sellers

I tend to go the opposite way on lowballs.... I simply reject their offer as soon as I see it and do not counteroffer..... Thinking maybe they might get a clue.  I have had them make the exact same offer after I have done that..... I just figure they are clueless.... and subtle hints are beyond their grasp.
3 low ballers I have had offers from are powerfam's buddy brianbrusch, a guy named secondadam and JamesCards.  I wonder if we can get COMC to add a feature to allow sellers to automatically reject any offers under their own predetermined percentage(especially on the high quality older cards...). 
Right now the lowest you can offer is 50% of the asking price.  It would be nice to be able to set your own percentage on your own cards and not have to deal with these lowballers each time.   

Re: Other COMC Sellers

Geeeeezzzzzz, powerfam, that is just wrong.  I would be POed too if someone came back with a lower offer after one offer had been rejected already. 
I am like you, it is an insult to get lowballed(especially if you have tried to price your cards at a reasonable low rate already in order to sell it).  I am even insulted if I make a counteroffer and they come back with the same low offer.  Do they think you are gonna change your mind?  Or are they banking on the fact that you might hit the wrong button and sell the card to them at a ridiculously low price? 
Which spawns another question.... What if you do hit a wrong button and buy or sell a card you really did not want to?  Can you email COMC and cancel the transaction?  I assume you would have time to email COMC and reverse the transaction.  Has anyone had this happen to them?  I have had cards end up in my cart without me actually selecting them.  I guess I just hit a wrong button.  But so far all I have had to do is remove them from my cart. 
I believe it would be a good deal if we had access to some of the personal info that COMC collects.  I have figured out that most of the first sellers are the owners of the site.  But it would be better to know who actually owns a card shop of some kind or sets up for card shows regularly. 
At any rate, I have had a small problem with a couple of buyers.  Mostly it is just the lowball problem.  But what is really annoying is that if you try to offer the same percentage they offer you on one of their cards, some of them do not come down at all or very little.  But then if you sell them a card at a discount, you immediately find it out there for 90% of Beckett. 
I also found out that the least you can offer someone is 1/2 the asking price.  I did not know that.  So.... do you have to price your cards at 90% so you can have room to negotiate(and also to keep people from lowballing you even more)?  I thought if you priced your cards fairly people would buy them without negotiating.  But then you open yourself to extreme lowballing.....  Just a matter of choice I guess.
     

Re: Pricing Theory

Pricing theory is a topic I am very interested in discussing.  Other than just trading someone for other cards, I have not been involved in pricing my cards since I set up for one card show over 10 years ago.  Even then I just put high Becket on the card(unless it was in bad shape) and then negotiated with the buyer when he/she was at my table.  Since we don't have the luxury of such communication on COMC, what is the method/thought process one should use when pricing cards? 
Myself, I tend to price my cards based mostly on the old law of supply and demand.  If there are 10 cards like yours on COMC out there already, you don't have a lot of choice except to price the card around the price of everyone else.  Of course the condition of your card(and the other cards) will influence the price you place on a card.  So, in some cases, you know what you have to price the card to even have a shot at selling it.  BUT.... If you have a unique card and there are no duplicate cards, I tend to price the card close to high Becket if it is in decent shape.  Some older cards in excellent shape may warrant a price even higher than high Becket.  But generally, it seems you have to price it lower than book value to sell it in a timely manner.  I also take into account the fact that I may have 2 or 3 of the same card.  That makes a difference too.  That allows you the luxury of pricing it lower and selling it faster.  
Overall I guess it depends on if you are on COMC just to make money or you truly love card collecting and are on COMC to simply finance your hobby..... Or you are wanting to do both(make money and satisfy your interest in the hobby).  That might come closer to describing everyone on COMC.        

Other COMC Sellers

Not sure if this is a good topic to introduce or not..... But here goes..... I am interested in knowing more about the sellers on COMC.  I have been made offers by some that are extremely low(and most of my cards are already reasonably priced..... I think).  I don't want to bring up any names at this point, but I would like to know if people on this forum would want to discuss some of the experiences they have had with certain buyers.  Like powerfam mentioned in an earlier post, I do not want to fall victim to certain 'cardsharks' that appear to be on this site with their only purpose being pursuit of the almighty dollar.  
I admit that it is nice to sell cards and make money.  But my primary purpose is to help finance my desire to complete certain sets, collect my favorite players, collect cards of players from my state(Arkansas.... as if you didn't already know....) and maybe even make a little extra money to boot.  Heck, the way the economy is going and the way people are losing jobs, my baseball cards may be my only source of income when it comes time to retire(or lose my job)!!!!!  Geeezzzz......... 
So, I am throwing this out for discussion.  It might help everyone get a better idea of what to expect and what attitude to take toward certain buyers/sellers.  What does everyone else think????????     

Re: Graded cards

Myself, the graded cards are OK.... But I do not know if I want to pay a premium to get them.  And that may be why many people do not want a graded card..... especially if they can get a similar ungraded card at a lower price. 
Also, I like to put my cards either in an album or in a sleeve, plastic case or toploader.  In a toploader or a sleeve, you can keep them in a box too.  Plastic cases generally fit in a box too.  The graded cards usually cannot be kept on a box or album with other cards. 
Plus the fact that you may have to spend extra bucks to even get them graded.....
Just my thoughts on the graded cards.....

Re: Buy, Sell, Trade

I agree, powerfam.  They collect all this info on their sellers..... But(unless I don't know how) there is no way to find out anything about the other sellers.  What do they use this info for?  Do they sell the info?  I hope not.
At any rate, in the middle of an offer, counteroffer scenario, it would be nice to talk to the other person if you have the desire to do that.  Currently, we do not have that ability.  I wish other sellers on COMC would join this forum......

Re: Welcome

Thanks, azsoxpatriots. 
But my biggest problem is that I keep finding cards I like and buying them before I sell enough of my cards.  I have 2 batches left to be added and I keep adding money to cover the addition of those batches.  However, it seems I spend the money before COMC takes the money out for adding the batches..... Then I have to add more money!!!!! 
Oh well,I have enjoyed it.  And hopefully my cards will start selling faster and I can buy more cards that I have been looking at lately. 
Does anyone else have this problem? 

Re: Buy, Sell, Trade

COMC has been talking about setting up their site to trade cards.  Until that happens, I do not think they would mind 2 people agreeing to a trade on this site and then making a $1 offer on COMC for the cards to change hands. 
I do think they might have a problem with people on COMC trading or buying cards without going through COMC.  Seems like I saw something about that in one of their policies.  Maybe it was one of the conditions for becoming a seller.  Not sure though....