COMC damage? What damage?

[obzezzed]

I had 92 / 600 (15%) jersey cards claiming they need condition notes. I don't know about you, but I can't see any damage per the picture. I inspect every card before I send them in, and all were penny sleeved, double-boxed, and sent in a large flat-rate box.

I dunno. I would just be losing money on each one if I bumped them to Select service as they aren't the most high-end jersey cards, so most likely I will have them send them back with the free shipping I got for Spring cleaning. This doesn't sound like a very productive business model for them if people like me do the same.

Thoughts?

[Swipe79]

They are really picky - a slight ding, surface dimple, minor damage to the jersey window, etc.

[checkoutmydeals]

I agree it's disconcerting. My sense is that they're trying to reduce negative feedback from eBay customers, so they'd rather be very strict in giving condition notes to cards even with slight imperfections.

At one time, they would have just flat out charged 20 cents extra for a condition note. With this system, they're giving you a chance of saying yes or no.

If the items are returned to you, it counts as one item. So all 92 cards will ship for 25 cents handling charge, and if you ship 100 "items" in a calendar month, you'll get a $5 rebate on top of that.

If you opt to have them processed, they will be processed in 2 weeks instead of 8, and they will charge 50 cents per card, which is 20 cents more than standard processing.

I haven't done this myself, but some people have reported that if they resubmit rejected items, that often times they will go through the second time without a condition note.

Anyway, it is what it is. When COMC started, there were a few dozen users and if you wanted to see the condition of a card, you would look at the scan. Now, there are millions of people looking at COMC cards in multiple venues, and they'd rather undergrade the card.

On the plus side, the fact that COMC sometimes gives condition notes to cards with very minor defects means that the retail value of the cards aren't generally affected very much. The retail buyer who was going to pay $2 for your card without a condition note is likely to pay $2 for your card with condition notes, if they can't see anything egregious from the scan. Yes, it's obnoxious to pay 50 cents instead of 30. Sometimes it's worthwhile and sometimes it's not.

[obzezzed]

I agree it's disconcerting. My sense is that they're trying to reduce negative feedback from eBay customers, so they'd rather be very strict in giving condition notes to cards even with slight imperfections.

At one time, they would have just flat out charged 20 cents extra for a condition note. With this system, they're giving you a chance of saying yes or no.

If the items are returned to you, it counts as one item. So all 92 cards will ship for 25 cents handling charge, and if you ship 100 "items" in a calendar month, you'll get a $5 rebate on top of that.

If you opt to have them processed, they will be processed in 2 weeks instead of 8, and they will charge 50 cents per card, which is 20 cents more than standard processing.

I haven't done this myself, but some people have reported that if they resubmit rejected items, that often times they will go through the second time without a condition note.

Anyway, it is what it is. When COMC started, there were a few dozen users and if you wanted to see the condition of a card, you would look at the scan. Now, there are millions of people looking at COMC cards in multiple venues, and they'd rather undergrade the card.

On the plus side, the fact that COMC sometimes gives condition notes to cards with very minor defects means that the retail value of the cards aren't generally affected very much. The retail buyer who was going to pay $2 for your card without a condition note is likely to pay $2 for your card with condition notes, if they can't see anything egregious from the scan. Yes, it's obnoxious to pay 50 cents instead of 30. Sometimes it's worthwhile and sometimes it's not.

Thanks for the information. Is it 50 cents to process these or 60 cents? I thought I read on their site it is $1 per group and 60 cents per card.

If I had a card that I wanted to price at $1 (and most of these jersey cards are), it is not worth it if i pay 60 cents up-front to process ... I'd be losing money. Looks like they are coming back to me. What a waste.

[Coug46n2]

I've amassed a pretty good collection of COMC rejects. Here shortly I'll sell them as a lot on BO (full disclosure of course) as many of them would be great items for those doing local shows. Yes, there is some damage, but still great PC items for someone.

It seems to me that if COMC is checking these that closely upon arrival, why not just list them with condition notes? They are already doing the work to check for damage, why charge the sellers more just to list them as damaged?

Or even better, why not get on board with BO's game used program? Let sellers 'sell' their damaged GU directly to BO (through COMC) for the $1.25 each? Or even if I got $1 of credit, I'd take it.

[allstarcollect]

It seems to me that if COMC is checking these that closely upon arrival, why not just list them with condition notes? They are already doing the work to check for damage, why charge the sellers more just to list them as damaged?

Determining if a card needs a note is much quicker, than seeing all the flaws and listing them as a condition note.

[Swipe79]

This is the correct price.

I thought I read on their site it is $1 per group and 60 cents per card.

[checkoutmydeals]

For condition notes cards, I was being charged 50 cents per card through January. In April, a batch of 24 cards was charged $15.40, which would be consistent with charging 60 cents per card plus $1 for the batch. So, maybe they've changed it.

Reprocess Declined Items 24 4/18/2018 $15.40
Reprocess Declined Items 7 1/25/2018 $3.50
Reprocess Declined Items 17 1/22/2018 $8.50
Reprocess Declined Items 5 1/18/2018 $2.50
Reprocess Declined Items 33 1/11/2018 $16.50
Reprocess Declined Items 15 1/10/2018 $7.50

[374cardshop]

I haven't shipped anything to COMC but as a consumer I see where you're coming from I've bought many cards with condition notes (or as I call them qualifiers lol) and I'll have my purchases shipped to me and very rarely do I ever visibly notice any damage. I agree they must be extremely picky.

[Tsquared8]

As a buyer, who gets everything graded, I’m actually really happy they have gotten super picky on what they accept. I recently sent a 1993 pacific prism Jugadores Calientes Nolan Ryan to bgs through them and it came back a 5.5...before I even noticed it was back I had an email from customer service that they apologized for the shape of the card, refunded my grading fee, and offered to buy the card back! I know they catch a lot of heat for what they accept or don’t accept or sometimes where damage comes from, but this situation makes me feel like they are truly trying to keep everything that would grade maybe an 8 or lower with condition notes.

[checkoutmydeals]

this situation makes me feel like they are truly trying to keep everything that would grade maybe an 8 or lower with condition notes.

I think that's the problem. It should be near mint or better, which would be a 7. Even then, if it's just a small amount of wear, they should be able to mark it with some quick and vague "has flaws" or something and either charge $0 or a nominal surcharge like 5 cents.

With gaming cards like Magic the Gathering, Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh, there isn't any of this drama. If a card has play wear, it's marked "play wear" and that's the end of it. No surcharge. No photo of shame. Just processed with everything else and noted that it has "play wear".

[Swipe79]

I get stuff back that is clearly NrMint+ often. I resubmit them with my next batch and usually they are processed. It depends on the person processing the shipment and probably some other factor - like if they're having a good day or ?

[jjj5278]

Yeah they sent me a few back that were damaged and one was their fault I know it. I have scans of it before I shipped it and if it got damaged in shipping a lot of others would have been damaged too. Then I bought a card recently that has no condition notes or anything and when I got it it was worse than two of the three of mine that needed condition notes. I didn’t bother sending them an email or anything about it but I wasn’t very happy considering it should have been noted since in the scan you can’t see it bc of their logo.

[kjetilfan]

Now that a member of COMC is posting on these boards, maybe he can comment on why dozens of buyers don't know how to package cards, but the staff at COMC never cause any of the corner dings

[TheHeel]

Now that a member of COMC is posting on these boards, maybe he can comment on why dozens of buyers don't know how to package cards, but the staff at COMC never cause any of the corner dings

I wouldn’t doubt that the scanner they put the cards through causes all those dings.

[chezball]

Was going to ask if the damage is still going on, just got my answer.

[Jonathon M]

Now that a member of COMC is posting on these boards, maybe he can comment on why dozens of buyers don't know how to package cards, but the staff at COMC never cause any of the corner dings

I wouldn't put money on it, the hard questions like damage and "what happens to the cards if COMC go under" usually get ignored

[checkoutmydeals]

I wouldn’t doubt that the scanner they put the cards through causes all those dings.

They check first, then scan. Plus the cards are in pages when they're scanned, so it's unlikely.

It is possible that COMC sometimes dings the corners while unpacking or unsleeving the cards, but it's more likely that some of the worker bees are just anal about the condition.

[Swipe79]

I'm sure this is the case when they find a single dimple or a slight wear on an edge...however there have been many instances where there are stacks of cards with a significant corner ding that just happens to be on the exact same corner.

Could some of these occur during shipping? Certainly, they could be.

Is it possible that they dropped a stack while processing? Certainly, but I would doubt that they would ever admit to it. It's just easier to say they were shipped poorly and send them back. It's happened a number of times to myself and others. What's odd is that I've shipped tens of thousands of cards and this seems to be the only place that ends up with corner dings like that because of my packing job.

[I] but it's more likely that some of the worker bees are just anal about the condition.

[checkoutmydeals]

What's odd is that I've shipped tens of thousands of cards and this seems to be the only place that ends up with corner dings like that because of my packing job.

What's also odd is that when COMC sends cards to me, they are sleeved in penny sleeves and placed in a white card box. No extra padding or protection or whatever.

So, if that's a perfectly safe way for COMC to send cards to us, it seems odd that when we send cards to them it results in dinged corners.

Even if someone was at the COMC warehouse with a corner dinging machine, I doubt they would admit it. That would just be part of their secret proprietary process for sorting trading cards.

[COMC James]

Now that a member of COMC is posting on these boards, maybe he can comment on why dozens of buyers don't know how to package cards, but the staff at COMC never cause any of the corner dings

The following is verbiage that we use when customers email in with similar questions relating to declined cards:

The members of our processing team who open up submissions have decades of experience handling cards carefully. It is true that we have become more stringent in recent years regarding the condition of cards that we accept without condition notes. In order to ensure that people using COMC have the best experience, we make an effort to accurately describe the condition of every item we list. Additionally, we end up absorbing the cost of cards that are returned to us for refunds due to damage that went unnoticed by us, which is further reason to ensure that cards submitted to us really are in NM-MT condition or better.

Additionally, please know that we take full responsibility in instances in which we do inadvertently cause damage to a consignor's items. If that were to happen with one or more of your items, you would receive an email communication from us inviting you to assist us in making things right for you and in getting the error resolved. We are not shy about acknowledging our mistakes, which do inevitability occur, but an admittedly low rate given the sheer number of items that we handle.

That being said, the matter of declined cards is far too broad even for our one size fits all approach verbiage. In the majority of customer service email conversations regarding declined cards, our Customer Service Team investigate the respective batch history from the moment it arrived at COMC to the time it completed the processing cycle to confirm that an internal error did not occur. We foster a company culture of honesty and openness. Our team is very good with internal communication and documentation for each and every batch.

Although it has been a couple years since I've last done so, I've worked on several of our Processing Teams, including our Sorting Team. Our Processing Team is comprised of collectors no different than you and I, who are deeply passionate about both what they do and the hobby. Not only do I trust their judgement and their handling of cards, I trust them as people to be accountable for their actions.

[Swipe79]

I think what bother me the most is the inconsistency with what does/does not qualify. I get cards back at times that have no visible issues. If the card is worth sending back in, I do and generally the card is processed just fine the second time through with a basic submission.

I also enjoy sending a card in for reprocessing via Select and the card is processed with zero condition notes.

[shrevecity]

I think what bother me the most is the inconsistency with what does/does not qualify. I get cards back at times that have no visible issues. If the card is worth sending back in, I do and generally the card is processed just fine the second time through with a basic submission.

I also enjoy sending a card in for reprocessing via Select and the card is processed with zero condition notes.

That is the part that gets me.

[shrevecity]

I'm sure this is the case when they find a single dimple or a slight wear on an edge...however there have been many instances where there are stacks of cards with a significant corner ding that just happens to be on the exact same corner.

Could some of these occur during shipping? Certainly, they could be.

Is it possible that they dropped a stack while processing? Certainly, but I would doubt that they would ever admit to it. It's just easier to say they were shipped poorly and send them back. It's happened a number of times to myself and others. What's odd is that I've shipped tens of thousands of cards and this seems to be the only place that ends up with corner dings like that because of my packing job.

I mentioned this a few years ago, I had a sub of 2016 Heritage mixed with other sets that were sent in together. When I do a sub, I don't put them in any particular order. In this sub the only cards that were damaged were the 2016 Heritage cards and all had a similar looking corner ding when I got them back. So to me the only rational explanation was that they were sorted by COMC by set and then dropped on that corner.

[OLDPAPER]

Out of a recent submission of about 1500 cards....239 were allegedly sent in with some damage. That is 16%. I have no problem acknowledging that some were not perfect....but sure as hell not 239 of them. How NONE of them were COMC's faults defies logic. I have been handling cards for over 30 years and mailing them for over 20.....never been a problem until I send them to COMC.

I seem to do OK selling cards with condition notes and most of them were worth processing even at the higher rate. I am falling for the scam and having them reprocessed.

I never thought that I would consider Sportslots again, but I have already started the process and organization. Still going to submit to COMC...just a lot less than I have in the past.

[kjetilfan]

The following is verbiage that we use when customers email in with similar questions relating to declined cards:



So dozens of sellers manage to ding cards in the exact same corner time after time, despite being 100% certain the dings weren't there before sending?

Denial is not just a river in Egypt, James

[3124508 on COMC]

So dozens of sellers manage to ding cards in the exact same corner time after time, despite being 100% certain the dings weren't there before sending?

Denial is not just a river in Egypt, James

What is he supposed to do? He doesn't call the shots at COMC. I don't really understand what people are expecting James to do here? Admit that COMC is damaging everyone's cards so he can go the way of Moe? If you're concerned, I'd escalate the issue up the management ladder, and if that fails, stop using COMC.

[Swipe79]

Just got the notification on declines from two submissions...anyone wanna guess what I see?

[GoBeavs]

Just got the notification on declines from two submissions...anyone wanna guess what I see?

nothing?

[crimedawg47]

Just got the notification on declines from two submissions...anyone wanna guess what I see?

Corner dings on all the same corner... what do i win?

[Swipe79]

Ding Ding Ding - we have a winner! I don't want to corrupt you, so I am donating your prize to the People Helping People charity.

Corner dings on all the same corner... what do i win?

[Swipe79]

That's what I saw in the first picture - just a shot of some cards sitting on some guys work area. Probably about thirty cards this time and then the second picture shows about ten cards.

As I've said in previous threads, it's the cost of doing business at COMC and I figure I'll review them when they get shipped back to me and see if any are worthy of sending back in. Just frustrating to see corner dings again.

nothing?

[chezball]

Just got the notification on declines from two submissions...anyone wanna guess what I see?

Did it come with a condescending e-mail about how to ship your cards?

[OLDPAPER]

Ding Ding Ding - we have a winner! I don't want to corrupt you, so I am donating your prize to the People Helping People charity.

Instead of the COMC charity account...I want my dinged up cards to go to The Human Fund

[checkoutmydeals]

The members of our processing team who open up submissions have decades of experience handling cards carefully. It is true that we have become more stringent in recent years regarding the condition of cards that we accept without condition notes. In order to ensure that people using COMC have the best experience, we make an effort to accurately describe the condition of every item we list. Additionally, we end up absorbing the cost of cards that are returned to us for refunds due to damage that went unnoticed by us, which is further reason to ensure that cards submitted to us really are in NM-MT condition or better.

That's good to know, but please bear in mind that the consignors have tens of thousands of years combined experience handling cards.

With COMC becoming more stringent about the sort of cards which receive condition notes, maybe it would be prudent to consider some sort of mulligan for cards where the issues are minor, but the cards aren't judged to be strict NM-M.

For example, gaming cards with ordinary flaws are simply marked "play wear" and that's the end of it. There's no photo, and no surcharge. Those cards sell perfectly fine.

If I recall correctly, it used to be that modern sports cards were given condition notes if they weren't NM. Prior to that, they were only given condition notes if there was a significant issue which couldn't be seen in the scan.

With eBay / Amazon now accounting for a large percentage of COMC's business, I do understand that it's prudent to add condition notes to a larger percentage of cards than were previously subjected to them. However, for minor issues which can only be seen if the card is being held at an angle to a strong light, it seems like a minor condition note would do the trick. If there is an additional cost to such a service, maybe 5 or 10 cents per card would be appropriate.

[Swipe79]

Two more sets of rejects...two more sets of pictures with corner dings. I remember checking every corner before I sent in specifically, but again...clearly my fault.

[Saraste]

The sad thing is that they are costing themselves money. We all know there are thousands of cards rejected every month. Many are legitimate, many are not. On the ones that are not, they are costing themselves the processing fees and fees from the sales/cashouts that would have occurred had the cards been properly handled. Hopefully one of these years they realize that and handle the cards with a bit more care. Everyone would benefit.

[Jonathon M]

Two more sets of rejects...two more sets of pictures with corner dings. I remember checking every corner before I sent in specifically, but again...clearly my fault.

Of course mate, what else could it be?

[mcgahee21nfl]

I think the problem is very simple.

COMC doesn't know what constitutes a Nrmt/Mt card. Or, more likely, they have a different opinion/poor standard (in our estimation) for determining what a Nrmt/Mt card is.

The majority of cards that I've had rejected have clear, but borderline "minor" corner damage, or chipping damage or some sort. Damage that would never prevent the card from getting less than a Nrmt/Mt (8) or better grade from ANY of the companies. Lots of times, these cards will actually grade 9s+.

In my opinion, the professionals that they hire, that in their words are former collectors who love and care and are knowledgable about cards... some if not more of them are way too strict and trying to police cards and look for damage rather than understand what the actual baseline should be for rejecting or passing a card through. Its like working at McDonalds and not knowing how to put the fries in for long enough, or how to cook the hamburger. Its on COMC for hiring them, and its up to their discretion what product comes out.

Thats my take on the situation. It isn't likely to get fixed.

[OLDPAPER]

I just had about 250 cards from a recent submission get rejected and I decided to have them all reprocessed. I wanted to see card by card on a scan where and what the damage was. Perhaps about 60 were legit and the other 175-200 were bogus. Either the damage was not there when submitted or there was no visible damage. Surface wear seems to be a popular option for the processors to use when they can't come up with something else. Pretty frustrating.

Funny thing is that many of my cards with these condition notes sell right away...they are priced right and there is no visible damage. Buyers realize this and scoop up great deals.

Several cards were not identified properly....probably had to submit 6-7 corrections. Careless mistakes....Missing artist proofs, refractors, etc. Just careless.

[checkoutmydeals]

IMO, the standard should be "would we be likely to get negative feedback from an eBay buyer if this card did not have condition notes?"

[no10pin]

Must be a corner ding epidemic. Got the 40 cards back today from my recent submission. Every card I send in is sleeved, packed so they don't move and double boxed. Every card I got back today is dinged in the same corner, and I can confirm with scans on a few of them that they didn't leave here that way.

I guess I need a refresher on how to pack my cards.

[sthoemke]

What gets me is when you resubmit and pay for condition notes, and they don't put conditions notes on the cards.

[dogzman]

Did it come with a condescending e-mail about how to ship your cards?

LOL I got that email recently after years on there. As others have stated it's odd how they all had damage on the same corners same spot. Never had an issue until this last shipment went out. They were all pack pulls from box breaks which were boxed and shipped to them. ( Yes, I packed them carefully as always )

[no10pin]

LOL I got that email recently after years on there. As others have stated it's odd how they all had damage on the same corners same spot. Never had an issue until this last shipment went out. They were all pack pulls from box breaks which were boxed and shipped to them. ( Yes, I packed them carefully as always )

I want to send them an e-mail about what I got back today, but I know it will do no good and just irritate me more. I'll probably just see if I can get $20 for them here or something.

I especially find it interesting that I loaded the box in an order, grouping together like sets/inserts/etc. 40 out of 150 total cards (plus 10 graded cards) have damage in the same corner, but others from the same insert series don't. I must not have packed certain spots of the box correctly.