Friday, January 4, 2019

Menendez Brothers Karma

Last month, the card universe somehow got swept up by a 1990-91 NBA Hoops Mark Jackson basketball card. It's not Jackson that drove the interest, rather two fellows sitting behind him. The Menendez brothers, known for being convicted of killing their parents, are sitting courtside, just to the right of Jackson's hip. Many believe that based on when this game occurred, that they attended the game after they killed their parents, but before they were arrested.
This is the most common of commons from one of the most over-produced sets in basketball card history. These were so overproduced that my grandma used to buy me boxes of these on my birthday int he late 90s. Of course, I was always interested in the Michael Jordan cards from this set.

I knew I had countless cards of the Jackson at some point, but I'm sure I got rid of many of them when I sold large boxes of basketball commons this past summer. Luckily I was able to dig one up in my small Knicks collection rather quickly. The card was going for around $25 on eBay after it went viral, and I was able to capitalize and sell one for $20 before eBay pulled all of the listings (only to reverse course later).

I didn't feel bad about this. If someone wanted to pay $20 for a card that showed two murderers, be my guest!

I decided to turn a card I didn't care about into one I wanted, so taking the winnings from the Jackson card, plus $5 of my own hard-earned dollars, I bought a lot that included a Gleyber Torres signed rookie card, as well as a base card of his from A&G.

I was excited! Basically for $5 and an NBA common, I had my first Gleyber autograph on the way. The package arrived just before Christmas, and I eagerly opened it and found this:
Two Gleyber! But, um, no autograph. Huh. I scampered back to eBay and checked the listing. I definitely bought the autograph, yet there was no autograph here. Two base cards, one of which I expected, one of which wasn't a card I recognized.

My first thought, admittedly, was that of negativity. That the seller didn't get what he wanted for the autograph, so he duped me into two other cards, would claim error, then re-list the card. Terrible way to think, I know, but I, however unfairly, tend to think the worst of sellers and dealers sometimes.

What the seller did do was include his Twitter handle, so I messaged him and he seemed remorseful and that it was an honest mistake, and that the Gleyber autograph somehow managed to find its way into a different outgoing package. I get it, especially around the holidays. He told me to keep the two Gleybers and that he would refund me.

I appreciated the refund, but I must admit it rubbed me the wrong way overall. Because the seller makes an error, all he has to do is refund me and he's done with the process? In the end, it makes more work for me, because now I have to go searching for the card all over again. Maybe that's expecting too much from someone, but if I were the seller, I would have gone out and reacquired the card and sent it my way.

Unrealistic, I know. I just felt it was unfair for him to so easily get off for his error, other than the refund, I guess.

It took me about 10 days to find the same card at a comparable price, and I'm glad to say that I did replace the card and the proper one was sent from the new seller, so now I do officially this Gleyber Torres autograph:
But I guess karma did have  to make it a little more difficult for me. Thanks, Menendez Brothers.

10 comments:

  1. I have heard more Ebay horror stories in recent months than I ever had before- I am starting to feel less confident about buying cards on the site from new to me vendors...

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    1. I think that's what jaded me a bit and why I assumed the worst. In actuality, it was a mistake and I was refunded. Not a bad result.

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    2. Mistake or not, I would have still left negative feedback after the refund. A good seller should've done as you suggested (go out a buy the right card and send it to you). This is his business, I still feel like it wasn't a mistake. You are way too kind. I am glad you got your autograph.

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    3. Yeah, I just took the high road and am not leaving feedback at all. I get it if it's a low-numbered card that isn't replaceable, but that wasn't the case here. Still, maybe I overreacted a little. I'm not sure. But regardless, I got my card....eventually!

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  2. Glad you got your Gleyber, even if he evaded you for a bit.
    I was able to sell of those Mark Jackson cards for $30... still trying to score myself a high end Vogelmonster with the loot!
    2 junk wax commons for a VOGELMONSTER? What is this world coming to? LOL

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    1. That was my thought too! Free card money, basically.

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  3. I was late to the party because I thought I had gotten rid of my 90-91 Hoops years ago. When I discovered mine, it only went for $5. Still feels like free money, as people have pointed out. I can't imagine who is buying these.

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  4. We both bought an autograph with our Menendez money! Although mine set me back 3 1/2 Mark Jackson's, that reminds me... I really should get around to writing that post.

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  5. I would have done the same thing... except I dumped my 90-91 hoops years ago. If I stumble across one in a dime box, i'll probably grab it and put it into my cheap cool cards binder. I mean... it does have a pretty cool story behind it.

    Sorry to hear about the eBay issue. I'm pretty pessimistic myself when it comes to stuff like this. I've been a similar situation, except the seller automatically gave me refund and messaged me stating the card was damaged. I wasn't amused.

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